|
Post by teleZgrl68 on Jan 8, 2007 13:45:58 GMT -7
Hey guys! I'm looking to get a humidifier for my guitars. Living in FL has played havoc on my guitars especially my acoustic. I find that I'm constantly changing out strings and lowering my action. I've started keeping my guitars in their cases but it'd be so much more convenient to keep them out...not having to tune em' and all that jazz everytime I wanna play. So I was just wondering what do you guys recommend Thanks a bunch! ;D
|
|
|
Post by kruzty on Jan 8, 2007 13:56:14 GMT -7
Does humidity in Florida change that much? I'd say if you think you need a humidifier for all your guitars, just get a room humidifier and put in the room where you're leaving your guitars. I only have one in my nice acoustic and leave it in the case. It is a Planet Waves one that you fill with a little distilled water every few weeks. It fits between the string and hangs down in the sound hole. I only use it in the dry months (about November - March in Indiana). I don't notice any changes on my electrics from humidity changes.
|
|
|
Post by nitehawk55 on Jan 8, 2007 14:16:54 GMT -7
Up here in SW Ontario we get cold dry air in the winter so I just humidify the house and keep it around 40-45% which makes it feel warmer also . We have the opposite problem in the summer and get high humidty in part from the Gulf of Mexico heat & moisture coming up this way and also the fact we are surrounded by the Great Lakes so I use dehumidifiers !
TPG68 , I'm kind of surprised too that Florida would get low humidity in the winter . I'd suggest you get a humidity gauge thingy ( can't think of what they are called...duh ! ) and just see what the humidity in your house is . If it's around 40% it should be OK .
|
|
|
Post by teleZgrl68 on Jan 8, 2007 14:37:52 GMT -7
Guess what I should have said was a de-humidifier... sorry. It's high humidity levels that's causing the wood to expand. In the winter like now the levels aren't as high but come summer they practically go through the roof so I'm trying to see what I can do to protect my guitars before summer creeps up on me again. I guess I should start with getting a "hygrometer" first (think that's what it's called) so I can see what the levels are then if I need get a DE-humidifier I'll get this straight guys Thanks for the help!
|
|
|
Post by kruzty on Jan 8, 2007 14:46:18 GMT -7
Ah - yes, I do have a dehumidifier in my basement (where most of my stuff is) that I run in the summer. I have a hygrometer down there and when it starts to get 40 or 50%, I turn it on. You can get a room dehumidifier at Lowes, Home Depot, etc.
|
|
|
Post by Joey Beverages on Jan 8, 2007 14:54:20 GMT -7
Uh-oh ... now I have more toys to buy to maintain the gear seriously, though, I just tend to keep all the gear in the basement with occasional use of de-humidifier.
|
|
|
Post by zdogma on Jan 8, 2007 15:04:39 GMT -7
Bit different here in canada. Usually only need the dehumidifier in fall and spring. Winters are a bit drier up north. Usually need a case humidifier in the winter, even in the basement (goes down to about 30%, too dry for the acoustics).
Wish I was in Florida.
|
|
|
Post by teleZgrl68 on Jan 8, 2007 15:28:53 GMT -7
No believe me you don't. The weather here will drive you completely batty. Today for example it was practically in the 80's but by tonight it's gonna be down to the 40's and 50's....thanks to you Northerners sending us a nice refreshing cold front! I'd trade this heat anyday over some cooler drier air ;D Thanks again for the help guys, looks like I'm gonna be adding a dehumidifier to my rig ha!
|
|
|
Post by billyguitar on Jan 8, 2007 15:31:07 GMT -7
Winters are dry here in Kansas so I just use one of those room humidifiers when it's needed. I keep a lot of amps and guitars in my basement all year long. I have a dehumidifier down there. I have it set up over the floor drain so it drains right into the drain and I don't have to deal with emptying the reservoir. A few times a year I get water in the basement. When that happens I turn a fan on to circulate the air. In a day or two it's dry again. I never have mildew and don't have that 'basement' smell.
|
|
|
Post by mudskipper on Jan 8, 2007 15:32:33 GMT -7
Q's...
- does the humidity level change drastically on the daily basis through out the year? - do you keep your windows closed all year around? - do you have an aircon for the summer months? - do you have to tweak your trussrods every week to maintain your string action/height?
|
|
|
Post by dock66 on Jan 8, 2007 18:40:59 GMT -7
I too live in Florida. I don't use any dehumidifier,although,I do keep all my guitars and amps in one room that I have set the temp in the mid 70s all year round.I keep all the windows shut and sometimes have the fan on to circulate the air in the room when needed.That seems to solve the temp fluctuation problem,hence,adversely affects delicate instruments such as acoustic guitars,banjos,semi hollow guitars and etc that are prone to temp changes.
|
|
|
Post by Hohn on Jan 9, 2007 20:09:48 GMT -7
My guitars have never sounded better or more consistent since moving to Hawaii. The house maintains about 50% humidity all the time at about 72 degrees because the A/C is always on.
|
|
|
Post by johnnyl on Jan 11, 2007 0:18:54 GMT -7
I've always heard to keep 'em out in the summer and in the cases in the winter. I'm really particular about humidity & my acoustics to the point that I obsess about it a little more than I should probably.. it drives my wife nuts.. I make her turn on the dehumidifier if she's running the washer in the basement and I don't let her do more than two loads in one day.. I'm starting to let go a little bit and just not expose them to extremes - don't ever leave them in the car if it's cold or hot out etc.. I have learned that high humidity can wreak more havoc than low humidity though.. If it is pretty extreme in the summer there and you think you need one, you can pick up one at Best Buy. I got an LG for about 150 and it does the trick. I bought a cheap little humidity thermometer and if it gets up over 55% or so I fire up the LG. Most of them have a built in thermostat where they'll shut off at a certain percentage. For your maple neck electrics I wouldn't worry about it. Those suckers always stay in tune.
|
|
|
Post by guitarstan on Jan 11, 2007 6:53:50 GMT -7
70 degrees and 55% is what Martin suggests as the target. Quick changes in either are the enemy. Never leave in a car. I always have to monitor both temp and humidity here in the South. Winter months require adding moisture to the room and summer months require use of a de-humidifier. It's a pain. I once had a Marcelino Barbaro classical geetar before I learned what could happen if you ignore environmental conditions. The top began to split at the seam as the wood dried out and shrank. Man, heartbroken, my handmade guitar, I ignored it and look what happened. Kick self!
|
|
|
Post by benttop (Steve) on Jan 11, 2007 16:22:06 GMT -7
|
|
|
Post by dock66 on Jan 12, 2007 11:00:47 GMT -7
Thanks for the links,Steve.
|
|