Just another humidity issue

[Methos1979]

My rule of thumb is, 'If I'm comfortable in both temperature and humidity levels (in my house) then so is my guitar.' My guitars have always hung on their wall hooks (on - gasp! - outside walls) in my living room where they can and do get regularly played. In the summers it can get very humid on occasion but we run the AC on those days which dries the air out. In the winters the air can get really dry on days we have 'cold snaps' where the temps drop down below zero but those generally only last several days. I'll put a soundhole humidifier in then.

But generally speaking I'm one of those guys that doesn't freakout about humidity and temperature levels and I have yet to have any issues of any kind with my all-wood acoustic guitars. I would think if you left your guitar out of its case on a stand or wall hook, it would be just fine. Especially in California. But I am also aware that there are many here that are terrified if their precious babies are not 100% cased when not in use and I can at least respect that. Everyone has their own level of concern for which they are willing to accept with their own guitars.

[TiffanyGuitar]

Originally Posted by pagedr

You're in coastal CA, from my experience out there you really don't need anything. I lived by the coast in the LA area and my guitars hung on the wall year round with zero issues. There would be a week here or there where I'd run a small dehumidifier, but generally could just let them be with no worries.

I live in upstate SC, my guitars live in my finished basement. I have found I rarely have to do anything for humidity, esp when i keep them cased . I think for most folks in the US, you should not need to do anything in the warm months. I would pull the humidpaks and the sponge out in the warm months and then see when its gets cooler and drier if you need to do anything at all.

[Earl49]

Originally Posted by Methos1979

My rule of thumb is, 'If I'm comfortable in both temperature and humidity levels (in my house) then so is my guitar.'

This bears repeating. I always tell students to treat their guitar like a pet or a small child. No hot cars, no freezing cars, and if you are comfy then so is your guitar. If you get a static electricity zap every time you pet the cat, it is too dry.

Originally Posted by TiffanyGuitar

...I think for most folks in the US, you should not need to do anything in the warm months.....

I would add that data is power. Get a couple of hygrometers and measure RH inside your home, watching the trends. When I lived in NorCal I knew nothing about humidity. But I learned BIG TIME about moisture care for fine wood things upon moving to Alaska.

Your guitar is most sensitive in its youth, as the wood figures out that ti is a guitar and no longer a tree. You mentioned six months old, so care is warranted right now. In a dew years, the wood will be fully seasoned and it will be much less sensitive to small slow changes. Don't abuse it, but don't fret either.

[Joseph Hanna]

Originally Posted by Methos1979

But generally speaking I'm one of those guys that doesn't freakout about humidity and temperature levels and I have yet to have any issues of any kind with my all-wood acoustic guitars.

Here's a bit of a counterpoint This is a sentiment I see for many here on the forum that haven't had a problem with humidity. At one point in my guitar journey, I was pretty darn cavalier about humidifiers and de-humidifiers and the issues therein. Then, a catastrophic over-humidified Breedlove began to fall apart, braces popped, the bridge separated, and the age-old "sounds like a wet sock" convinced me I had indeed been too cavalier. Thank you, Breedlove, for putting the thing back together but a costly lesson nonetheless. I still have that guitar, and it's still the one that reflects high humidity problems the quickest. Every guitar is different in its ability to remain playable in a less-than-perfect environment. I'm not inclined to take it to the level of freaking out, but I am compelled to be mindful There is a difference.

Originally Posted by Methos1979

But I am also aware that there are many here that are terrified if their precious babies are not 100% cased when not in use and I can at least respect that. Everyone has their own level of concern for which they are willing to accept with their own guitars.

I'm not terrified, nor do I baby my guitars. I still use them as part of making a living, but both my Martin and especially my Breedlove are quick to take on moisture, and it reflects heavily on the sound of the guitar. That, and the fact I had the Breedlove implode, keeps me vigilant.

[TiffanyGuitar]

I would add that data is power. Get a couple of hygrometers and measure RH inside your home, watching the trends. When I lived in NorCal I knew nothing about humidity. But I learned BIG TIME about moisture care for fine wood things upon moving to Alaska.

And I agree with this. I have a room hygrometer for my guitar room and case hygrometers and after watching them for a few years, I know when I need to do something. Certainly, Alaska, or Arizona, and other dry areas, what I said before would not apply.

[Corndog]

Some of these comments about "California" climate are just bad advice IMO.
California is a big state and there are places that have very high humidity most of the year and other places with very low humidity much of the year.

That idealized weather some refer to is are the coastal valleys of southern and central California, but even that can change. I live in the same county as the OP and this year has been unusually humid so far. Last fall/winter we incurred humidity in the single digits 10 miles from the coast. When the Santa Ana winds (high pressure event) blow here, there are few places drier on the planet.

So while it's true that much of the time much of the populated parts of the state have good weather for wood instruments, be informed with hygrometers and take action when needed.

[abn556]

Just to satisfy my curiosity I checked on the weather channel app and the current humidity level in Nazareth, PA is 69% as of 1310 CST on 06/22/23. That means that Martin must be running dehumidifiers in their factory to meet their advertised build humidity level. By comparison my outside humidity in one of the northern most burbs of Houston is 60% at 94 degrees. My music room is set to 45% humidity on the dehumidifier, but it fluctuates between 45-48% at 77 degrees. My guitars said to tell you all that they were pleased with that humidity and temperature level….

+

[Joseph Hanna]

Originally Posted by Corndog

Some of these comments about "California" climate are just bad advice IMO.
California is a big state and there are places that have very high humidity most of the year and other places with very low humidity much of the year.

That idealized weather some refer to is are the coastal valleys of southern and central California, but even that can change. I live in the same county as the OP and this year has been unusually humid so far. Last fall/winter we incurred humidity in the single digits 10 miles from the coast. When the Santa Ana winds (high pressure event) blow here, there are few places drier on the planet.

So while it's true that much of the time much of the populated parts of the state have good weather for wood instruments, be informed with hygrometers and take action when needed.

I absolutely agree. The humidity here in Belmont Shore has been exceedingly high, and as I mentioned earlier, I have not seen the humidity drop below 71% since last year. We've gone weeks with it at 80% and above. As we sit this moment, it's at 74%.

I also agree concerning the widely varying conditions within any area of SoCal. The weather (and humidity) can change dramatically over the course of a couple of miles. Anyone who lives in (or lived in) the Valley, can attest to the massive summer temperature swings when going over the hill. When I lived in Topanga, it wasn't uncommon to be 96 degrees in Woodland Hills and five or ten minutes later 75 degrees up in Topanga.

As I mentioned earlier, however, when I was a Vallyite the humidity maintained a consistent 50%, and to my recollection that was daily for the ten years I spent there. In short, the conditions in SoCal are widely different.

[614ce]

Originally Posted by Mike4mus6

Thank you all for the suggestions and practical advice on what works for you.

I love the idea of the glass case with little dehumidifier hooked up.

I heard boveda paks supposedly work better than the Dadarrio’s ??

I do not want to be a nervous Nellie but definitely want to do everything that I can to protect my guitars.

Thanks again

Boveda makes the product for D'Addario.