Humidifying Guitars

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Humidifying Guitars

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BarkellWH

Posts: 3459
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Washington, DC

Humidifying Guitars

In winter, with indoor heating keeping the air so dry, the question of how to keep a guitar properly humidified arises. I would like to share a low-tech method I learned from Paco de Malaga, who is the doyen of flamencos here in Washington, DC and knowledgable about all things concerning flamenco and guitars.

Just get a travel soap dish with a top, punch holes in the top, and put a sponge inside that you wet maybe once a week. Keep the soap dish and sponge combination in the headstock end of the guitar case, and the guitar inside the closed case will receive enough humidity to prevent cracking of the wood and dried glue.

Cheers,

Bill

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 11 2009 3:47:05

mark indigo

Posts: 3625
Joined: Dec. 5 2007

RE: Humidifying Guitars (in reply to BarkellWH)

i was told or read somewhere i can't remember, to put a small bowl of water near the radiator to counteract the drying effect of central heating

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 11 2009 4:13:53

keith

Posts: 1108
Joined: Sep. 29 2009
From: Back in Boston

RE: Humidifying Guitars (in reply to BarkellWH)

if you store your guitar in a case laying flat it is very easy to humidify the guitar. take off the top of the little compartment that is for strings,etc. and place a plastic dish in the compartment and fill with water. i have done this for years and can get a humidity of 40% inside the case when the room humidity is 20-30%. one should frequently change the water to prevent mold and bacteria from breeding. a tiny amount of bromide works in any humidifying device to keep down the nasty stuff. one can buy bromide tablets at the supermarket (they are the tablets one would put in the toilet water closet and often are blue). chlorine should be avoided. the other humidifying device that works is the oasis brand tube one puts inside the guitar. no bromide is needed there. and, of course, a room humidifier is necessary to keep the room at a reasonable level.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 11 2009 5:16:58

Ramon Amira

Posts: 1025
Joined: Oct. 14 2009
From: New York City

RE: Humidifying Guitars (in reply to BarkellWH)

They used to sell a device that I can't remember the name of, but it worked great. It looked exactly like a giant condom – (well, for me it was just average) – and it was made of condom-like latex or something, and I think it had a sponge inside. After wetting the sponge, you inserted this into the sound hole. Then you started a slow rhythmic motion . . . No wait – you do that AFTER you put your guitar away for the night. Anyway, this thing hooks inside the sound hole like a pen, and slowly releases small amounts of moisture right inside the body. It was very popular in the sixties and seventies, but I haven't heard of it lately. Does anyone remember the name of this thing?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 11 2009 6:25:28

kozz

Posts: 1766
Joined: Feb. 26 2009
From: Eindhoven NL

RE: Humidifying Guitars (in reply to Ramon Amira)

Don't know if you mean this one, but its called Oasis.
There's gell particles inside wich absorb the water added and slowly releases it.

Filled:

Empty

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 11 2009 6:29:03

Ramon Amira

Posts: 1025
Joined: Oct. 14 2009
From: New York City

RE: Humidifying Guitars (in reply to kozz)

No, that wasn't it, but it's the same general idea.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 11 2009 6:34:03

GuitarVlog

Posts: 441
Joined: Mar. 19 2009
From: San Francisco Bay Area

RE: Humidifying Guitars (in reply to BarkellWH)

Probaby the Dampit.

Bob Taylor demonstrates how to re-humidify a guitar in these two videos.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 11 2009 7:15:33

aeolus

Posts: 765
Joined: Oct. 30 2009

[Deleted]

Post has been moved to the Recycle Bin at Dec. 11 2009 7:20:37

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 11 2009 7:20:12

Ramon Amira

Posts: 1025
Joined: Oct. 14 2009
From: New York City

RE: Humidifying Guitars (in reply to GuitarVlog)

Yes. I just had written the following post, and then I saw yours.

I had a brainstorm. In the sixties and seventies I was a member of the original New York Society of the Classic Guitar, one of the largest and most famous of the many classical guitar societies. We published an internationally known fine art magazine entitled, "Guitar Review." I went to my old stack, picked up the top copy, published in 1979, turned to the back, and sure enough there was an ad for this device. It was called "Dampit." Looked it up, and it's still being made and sold all over the place. Amazon has it for $15, and all the usual venues sell it. I'm going to get one for myself when I get a new guitar.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 11 2009 7:43:47

GuitarVlog

Posts: 441
Joined: Mar. 19 2009
From: San Francisco Bay Area

RE: Humidifying Guitars (in reply to BarkellWH)

I do favour the Oasis humidifiers that kozz mentioned. The design is less likely to leak and they have threel models: Regular, one for very low humidities, and one for restoration (sold only to luthiers/techs/folks-in-the-know).

But the dampits work just fine and they probably require less maintenance.

Me? I just use a humidifier in my home office, ... and it needs 30 minutes of cleaning/maintenance a month.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 11 2009 8:06:54

nogawyks

Posts: 21
Joined: Mar. 8 2006
From: Arizona, USA

RE: Humidifying Guitars (in reply to GuitarVlog)

I live in Arizona and it is quite dry here. I have tried several in-guitar humidifiers. I tried dampit and it works but I had to refill it every other day or so. I used a cello dampit for awhile that had more capacity. Was always afraid I wouldn't get enough of the water out and damage the guitar. I tried another that was a plastic eliptical case, I think Planet Waves. It got moldy and I tossed it. I now use and like the Oasis just like the one above. I get a week or more with each refill and feel secure that it won't leak. I have a hygrometer in with my Green and it never goes below about 29% which is about 20% higher than the ambient humidity. Typically it ranges from about 29 - 45%.

Wayne

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 11 2009 15:32:42

bugeyed

Posts: 56
Joined: Aug. 24 2009
From: Conroe, Texas

RE: Humidifying Guitars (in reply to Ramon Amira)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Prominent Critic

They used to sell a device that I can't remember the name of, but it worked great. It looked exactly like a giant condom – (well, for me it was just average) – and it was made of condom-like latex or something, and I think it had a sponge inside. After wetting the sponge, you inserted this into the sound hole. Then you started a slow rhythmic motion . . . No wait – you do that AFTER you put your guitar away for the night. Anyway, this thing hooks inside the sound hole like a pen, and slowly releases small amounts of moisture right inside the body. It was very popular in the sixties and seventies, but I haven't heard of it lately. Does anyone remember the name of this thing?

Works something like this. First is ready & the second is not ready.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 11 2009 16:20:22

Ramon Amira

Posts: 1025
Joined: Oct. 14 2009
From: New York City

RE: Humidifying Guitars (in reply to bugeyed)

quote:

Works something like this. First is ready & the second is not ready.

That's very funny Bugeyed. But actually, now that I've read some of the above comments, I think I'm leaning toward that Oasis thing, whether it's ready or not. My Contreras guitar is forty years old, so I haven't had to worry about humidifying it in a long, long time. But I'm planning to buy a new guitar fairly soon, so I'll need something. Now that I think back to all those years ago, I think I was always afraid the damn Dampit would leak. The Oasis looks safer.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 11 2009 20:10:40

bugeyed

Posts: 56
Joined: Aug. 24 2009
From: Conroe, Texas

RE: Humidifying Guitars (in reply to BarkellWH)

I am leaning toward a case humidifier. Even if the product isn't prone to leaks, it makes me nervous to put one inside the box. Even though I can't see how the inside of the guitar would get proper humidification with the top of the guitar pressed against the lid of the case, I have been told that it does.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 11 2009 20:22:12

Ramon Amira

Posts: 1025
Joined: Oct. 14 2009
From: New York City

RE: Humidifying Guitars (in reply to bugeyed)

Yeah, I'm nervous about sticking a wet thing inside. However, I've read some reviews and comments about that Humicase etc., and a lot of people simply don't like the case itself, just as a case. I'll go look at one. If you look at one, tell us what you think of it.

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Classical and flamenco guitars from Spain Ramon Amira Guitars

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 11 2009 20:37:06

bugeyed

Posts: 56
Joined: Aug. 24 2009
From: Conroe, Texas

RE: Humidifying Guitars (in reply to Ramon Amira)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Prominent Critic

Yeah, I'm nervous about sticking a wet thing inside. However, I've read some reviews and comments about that Humicase etc., and a lot of people simply don't like the case itself, just as a case. I'll go look at one. If you look at one, tell us what you think of it.

I am not talking about a case. A case humidifier is what I am looking at.
Here: http://www.oasishumidifiers.com/case.html
Same system, except it doesn't go inside the guitar.
Cheers,
kev

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 11 2009 20:46:51

Ramon Amira

Posts: 1025
Joined: Oct. 14 2009
From: New York City

RE: Humidifying Guitars (in reply to bugeyed)

Thanks Kev - I misunderstood. This may be the best solution. You can position it away from the body so that just in case it leaks (it doesn't look like it's going to) the chances are nothing will happen to the guitar.

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Classical and flamenco guitars from Spain Ramon Amira Guitars

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 11 2009 21:47:14

edguerin

Posts: 1589
Joined: Dec. 24 2007
From: Siegburg, Alemania

RE: Humidifying Guitars (in reply to BarkellWH)

I use this electric thingy. It humidifies the whole room (something that the bowl of water near or on the radiator doesn't!)

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 12 2009 1:53:25

mark indigo

Posts: 3625
Joined: Dec. 5 2007

RE: Humidifying Guitars (in reply to edguerin)

quote:

I use this electric thingy. It humidifies the whole room (something that the bowl of water near or on the radiator doesn't!)

how does a bowl of water near the radiator where the drying heat will evaporate the water and disperse the vapour throughout the room not humidify the whole room?

i'm sure all these hi-tech gizmos and electric gadgets etc. do a good job, at a price, but i don't see why a simple bowl of water won't do the job for next to nothing?

i've been doing this for years and never had a problem, but maybe i'm just lucky? i'd like to know if there's any concrete reason why i shouldn't just carry on with this solution?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 12 2009 2:14:13

mrMagenta

Posts: 942
Joined: Oct. 25 2006
From: Sweden

RE: Humidifying Guitars (in reply to BarkellWH)

If it's a chilly, dry winters day, call a friend over. I've found that humidity goes up with more people in the apartment :-)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 12 2009 2:51:36

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: Humidifying Guitars (in reply to BarkellWH)

i'm about to buy a humicase and now i'm hearing that they're not good cases?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 12 2009 2:57:22

kozz

Posts: 1766
Joined: Feb. 26 2009
From: Eindhoven NL

RE: Humidifying Guitars (in reply to bugeyed)

quote:

Works something like this. First is ready & the second is not ready.

The Oasis works well and you don't have to be afraid of spoiling water. It is something like Goretex. Liquid water won't pass the membrane, but vapourised water does. Technically it about the surface tension.

A bowl near the central heating should work in my opinion. Once the water is vapourised it follows the airstream in the room. So if you're not living in an isolation cell it should be ok.

quote:

If it's a chilly, dry winters day, call a friend over. I've found that humidity goes up with more people in the apartment :-)

Or pay more attention to your girlfriend, but don't tell her its all about the guitar

at_leo_87, I've heard some good stories about the case. Why should you be worried?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 12 2009 4:40:25

aeolus

Posts: 765
Joined: Oct. 30 2009
From: Mier

RE: Humidifying Guitars (in reply to BarkellWH)

If you have several guitars, individually hydrating them can be a nuisance so a room humidifier works best for me. I have a digital hygrometer to monitor the RH and it's 47% in the room with the guitars and 35% in the rest of the house. I have always heard that the bowl full of water doesn't work but that should be easy to check with the hygrometer. Then I have electric resistance base board heating so I wouldn't know. The Dampit was the first in instrument device I think and it was always a ritual to prepare, saturating the sponge; hanging it up to drain excess water; squeezing some of the excess out the bottom; then banging it on a table to see if any loose water would fly out. But it is effective.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 12 2009 4:53:16

BarkellWH

Posts: 3459
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Washington, DC

RE: Humidifying Guitars (in reply to mark indigo)

I'm with Mark on keeping it low-tech. In my case, as I mentioned in my original post, keeping a wet sponge inside a travel soap dish with holes in the top, and placing it in the headstock end of the guitar case, has worked just fine. No worries about water getting into the guitar, and it humidifies the neck as well, helping to prevent exposure of the ****ly fret edges caused by shrinkage of dried out fretboard. In any case, whatever one feels comfortable with, as long as it keeps the guitar humidified.

Cheers,

Bill

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 12 2009 5:13:52

bugeyed

Posts: 56
Joined: Aug. 24 2009
From: Conroe, Texas

RE: Humidifying Guitars (in reply to BarkellWH)

Here are a few links about building a case humidifier.

http://www.co-bw.com/guitar_humidifier.htm

http://www.thepodium.com/t-makinghumidifier.aspx

http://guitar.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=guitar&cdn=hobbies&tm=20&f=20&su=p284.9.336.ip_p504.3.336.ip_&tt=2&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DtB8tELj43RE

http://guitar.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=guitar&cdn=hobbies&tm=45&f=20&su=p284.9.336.ip_p504.3.336.ip_&tt=2&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.scenicnewengland.net/guitar/acoustic/info/humidity.htm

Cheers,
kev

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It's what you answer to.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 12 2009 5:40:39

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: Humidifying Guitars (in reply to Ramon Amira)

kozz, prominent critic's comment made me a bit worried. i'm still getting one, i don't really see any other good, affordable options.

quote:

However, I've read some reviews and comments about that Humicase etc., and a lot of people simply don't like the case itself, just as a case.

quote:

If it's a chilly, dry winters day, call a friend over. I've found that humidity goes up with more people in the apartment :-)

good for heat too!

here's my diy humidifier. it's a case for mints. i just drilled holes in it, stuck a sponge in and wet it. it's attached to a string so that i can hang inside of my guitar if i want to. right now it's sitting below the compartment in my case above the heel of the guitar. the room is at 30% humidity. inside the case it's 50%. says 49 because i just opened it.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 12 2009 5:54:37

Ramon Amira

Posts: 1025
Joined: Oct. 14 2009
From: New York City

RE: Humidifying Guitars (in reply to at_leo_87)

quote:

kozz, prominent critic's comment made me a bit worried. i'm still getting one, i don't really see any other good, affordable options.

I do remember reading some negative things about the case, but I just looked at some photos, and it looks okay to me. Also they make different models, so maybe I had read about one of their cheaper models. Here are two review of their "Metro" model, which looks pretty good to me, and the reviews are good. I think it costs a couple of hundred.

1 User Rating
Overall

Quality

Features

Value

Customer Reviews
Overall

Quality

Features

Value

Well built, functunable, and reliable case
Posted by Bono from Alaska on Sep 30, 2008
Experience w/product: I own it
Reviewer's Background: Musician
Reviewer's Play Style: classical
The metro is a fantastic case. The great thing about this guitar is that it has a reliable climate and humidity control system. Although it may seem like it costs alot, the case sports pretty descent quality and value. Not only does it protect your instrument, it also keeps it at an optimal climate. I checked the reliability of the climate contorl with a hygrometer and it seems like it does a proper job. The only down side is that it not airline luggage quality. Overall a great and practical unit.

Submitter: kevinjahr 2007/3/20
Overall Rating 5
Durability 5
Ease of Use 5
Functionality 5

This is an acoustic guitar case with built in humidifiers. It's a great case...made very well and looks very sharp. What sets it apart from other cases are the built in humidifiers because they really allow the guitar to maintain its tone and character.

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Classical and flamenco guitars from Spain Ramon Amira Guitars

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 12 2009 6:43:37

edguerin

Posts: 1589
Joined: Dec. 24 2007
From: Siegburg, Alemania

RE: Humidifying Guitars (in reply to mark indigo)

quote:

how does a bowl of water near the radiator where the drying heat will evaporate the water and disperse the vapour throughout the room not humidify the whole room?

[start nerd mode] Of course it does in theory. The problem is, if you have a bowl with a 20cm diameter, you only have an area of about 0.03 m2 over which the room air can pass to saturate (if there is circulation). The electric apparatus produces a slight circulation and has an area of about 1,4 m2[end nerd mode]

That said, I agree, low-tech is best where applicable.

quote:

I've found that humidity goes up with more people in the apartment :-)

Works best with tinto and bulerias

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El aficionado solitario
Alemania

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 12 2009 6:56:12

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: Humidifying Guitars (in reply to BarkellWH)

thanks for gathering those reviews, prominent.
i'm actually going to get the premier/protege model though. the metro is as expensive as my guitar.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 12 2009 6:59:22

kozz

Posts: 1766
Joined: Feb. 26 2009
From: Eindhoven NL

RE: Humidifying Guitars (in reply to edguerin)

quote:

[start nerd mode] Of course it does in theory. The problem is, if you have a bowl with a 20cm diameter, you only have an area of about 0.03 m2 over which the room air can pass to saturate (if there is circulation). The electric apparatus produces a slight circulation and has an area of about 1,4 m2[end nerd mode]

I like that, there should be more nerds around

....but you are right about the amount that would evapourate....

Good luck with your case at_leo_87..... it should be less scary than the diy

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 12 2009 7:34:33