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Post by dave100 on Feb 6, 2016 0:59:01 GMT
I'm just wondering what your thoughts are on using humidifiers here in the the uk. Do we need to use them or should we used them. Regards dave.
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Andy P
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Post by Andy P on Feb 6, 2016 1:25:12 GMT
I should think it depends on several factors, not least of which is where your guitar was made. For example a Breedlove from the High Desert of Oregon will have less inherent moisture content than a Brook from Devon and will therefore be more susceptible to higher relative humidity in for example the western UK.
So it also depends where you live and how dry your house is. I live in Cornwall - damp! - and I keep a bag of crystals in the case just to be on the safe side. They haven't changed colour yet, indicating that they're not absorbing much.
I'm sure people who know a lot more about it than me will be along with their thoughts.
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Post by earwighoney on Feb 6, 2016 9:42:03 GMT
It depends on the guitar and your conditions. The generally accepted range for acceptable humidity for guitars is between 40-70%. In the UK, the only times I believe it's worth really worrying about humidity is when it snows, and even then if the guitar's in it's case it's generally fine. A lot of preconceptions though, no two guitars are ever the same (different materials, build etc) and they react differently.
I'd recommend getting a hygrometer for where you keep your guitars and to keep an eye on humidity levels and take action accordingly.
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colins
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Post by colins on Feb 6, 2016 11:04:54 GMT
As has been said it depends on a lot of different parameters, mostly the conditions under which it was built. I do keep a dehumidifier running in the room where I store my wood and the guitars in progress, it is set to keep everything at about 45% RH. I don't control the humidity in my shop as the wood and the guitars under construction are only taken to the shop to be worked on then returned to the 'safe room', so there is no time for their moisture content to change. If a guitar that is built under these conditions, which should be all luthier made guitars and from the more reputable factories, then as long as it is kept in it's case in, in relatively stable conditions, then all should be fine. Leaving it on a stand in the corner or hanging it on a wall near a radiator might not be the best plan however, or in the boot of a hot car.......
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Feb 7, 2016 13:26:50 GMT
Just a quick word on too much humidity My guitars (in their cases) are in a room next to where our dryer is. The steam bled into the room while I was away and caused humidity to rise to over 70% for an extended period. As a result, the string height this morning has risen on the instruments by around 1mm!
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lefthook
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Post by lefthook on Feb 7, 2016 14:17:32 GMT
Our home is currently extremely damp due to leaking septic tank of a neighbour, and on the other side a leaking water main. The house has been extremely high in humidity, the only change in my Freshman that I have noticed is the difference in sound! High humidity softens sound, and now we are drying out after repair a stronger sound. It is not in a case. just on a stand in the lounge!! But no movement or change in colour.
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Post by plumbum on Feb 10, 2016 8:21:36 GMT
We have high humidity the majority of the year. I don't know if that's where we are (edge of the Mendips), type of house (1890s stone terrace) or something else. It's rare for humidity to be naturally below 70% a lot of the year. I bought a dehumidifier from Screwfix a couple of years ago and it's run a lot. It's surprising at first to have to empty a gallon of water every day to two days ! I try to keep humidity down to around 60% for general comfort. I've nerver noticed ill effects in any of my guitars (bellying etc.) but they are all kept in cases/gig bags and never left out (thanks to a house rabbit who likes to sink her sharp choppers into anything wooden ). However, I can usually tell if there has been a change in humidity by whether the tuning has gone sharp or flat so I know the guitars definitely react to the change. From what I've read, low humidity can have more dramatic effects (cracking etc) than high but I guess any extreme is bad. I'd agree with the suggestion of getting a hygrometer to see what your particular conditions are. Martin
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Akquarius
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Post by Akquarius on Feb 10, 2016 19:52:43 GMT
+1 to getting a hygrometer.
I keep 2 of them close to the walls were all the guitars are hanging. Average over here is between 35% and 60%, depending on the weather.
Of course, Colin is right when he says that the safest place for a guitar is in its case.
However, I prefer a place from where I can grab a guitar in an instant whenever I want to. Less safe, but more likely to be played as often as possible. Then a hygrometer to check humidity is a must.
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Post by passfan on Feb 21, 2016 14:17:38 GMT
Just joined the forum and thought I'd chime in re. Humidity. I play a "Hook" acoustic. Made by a luthier here in Northern Ireland. All my guitars are on stands.quick access. The room usually is about 50 to 60 ℅ humidity and yet I had a few cracks develop on the top of the aforementioned guitar. I had the cracks repaired in the Avalon factory about a year ago and so far so good.Just as a precaution I hang a flat backed flower pot on the radiator filled with water and it's surprising just how quickly the water evaporates.I know it's not supposed to be necessary in our climate but for what it's worth that's the story. The top,by the way is sinker redwood but I don't think it's any more susceptible to cracking than say,spruce or cedar.131695807023
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Feb 21, 2016 15:42:38 GMT
Hello passfan and welcome to the Forum! Well chimed! Feel free to say Hi to everyone and maybe with a little about yourself and your musical tastes etc in a thread in the Introductions section. Keith
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Post by RosieTGC on Feb 24, 2016 9:46:11 GMT
Just a quick one add in here as I think most of the main points have already been covered. Just to say if you are keeping your guitar in your case and using standard desiccants (like silica gel or the like) I would just be careful and leave a hygrometer in your case to see how the humidity changes in there with these in. I was interested in experimenting with these and contacted a chemical company to see if they had any knowledge on using silica gel packs in guitar cases and whether it was possible to achieve an equilibrium that provided a constant relative humidity (ideally 45%-50%) or if silica would just attempt to dry the environment as much as it can - which is what it is essentially designed to do in industry use and remove all moisture. Here's what they said:
"Your application is an interesting one, and you are correct Silica gel is typically used to reduce the moisture content within a sealed container to as low as possible. Silica in most applications will reduce the content to as low as 5% rH, in fact you only need the rH to be lower than 30% to prevent corrosion occurring (its primary use in industry) . In the museum sector though, they want their items to be protected but not to be too dry. Your initial comments are correct and Silica gel can reach equilibrium in the right concentration. You really would need to trial the application, as your guitars and cases will have some inherent moisture content in the wood / fabric etc. You would need to use a rH meter to determine, after silica gel insertion, how low it goes. One issue you would find though, is after the instrument has been out of the case, and then put back in, you will then need to re assess the rH , and the air (an inherent moisture content) will have been refreshed."
So it does get a bit complicated but it is achievable. Planet Waves have their "Humidipak" product which I can only guess utlises something similar to this idea, and they claim to keep the closed case at an approximate constant of 45-50%, so if in doubt of quantities when using desiccants maybe try this product, or just keep an hygrometer in the case to be on the safe side.
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Akquarius
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Post by Akquarius on Feb 25, 2016 18:02:34 GMT
Dave, maybe you want to have a look at the boveda system aka D'Addario Two-Way Humidification System. It works without water and is very easy to handle.
I've never used the guitar humidifier, but I have the version made for cigars and tobacco. And it works quite well.
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