How Important is Humidity Control? - Page 4

printer2 · #46 09-24-2023, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zach156

thanks, you said a little extra humidity will dampen the tone a little bit. I've noticed. I'd say it's playing at about 95% tone right now. If I expose the guitar to lower humidity for a bit can I expect 100% of the tone back?

Yes, should not take too long.

pvfederico · #47 09-24-2023, 10:58 PM

I've lived in tropical Mexico with extreme summer humidity for 15 years.

I've had zero problems with my acoustic steel string guitars.

I have had problems with two classical guitars (no truss rod). One formed a little stomach (pancita), and the other swelled a bit, but just broke some strings.

I keep the guitars in their cases in my bedroom, which is air conditioned about 12 hours a day. Other than AC, I do nothing about the humidity.

If you find that you're frequently tuning down your guitars when you start a session, watch out. That may may be a sign of wood swelling.

PassingThru · #48 09-25-2023, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Italuke

It's far less important than the Interwebs would have you believe.

Just be reasonable, don't freak out about percentages, dont lose sleep, PLAY your instruments.

- Signed: 60 year resident of Arizona and California deserts.

There is a lot of positives about this post. The key is you bought the guitar to play so play it. In my younger days, I played my D28 inside and outside never giving a thought to humidity. Living along the upper Texas coast, humidity was always high. It lived mostly in its case when not being played. Played that D28 for 18 years and never had an issue with playability. Now I'm in north Texas and this site has "made me" woefully humidity conscious. Humidipaks in my wood guitars. They now spend too much time in their cases.

So, just take them out and play them.

rmp · #49 09-25-2023, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joseph Hanna

I keep them in converted Ikea cabinets. They're at arm's reach, and the RH is easily maintained at 40-42% humidity year-round. No babying. And yes, before someone jumps in, I'm aware guitars are meant to be played and not pampered. Despite what many here think, the concept is undoubtedly not mutually exclusive.

yea but

being mindful of the effects of RH and what happens to any guitar is more like "Best Practice" not pampering.

Joseph Hanna · #50 09-25-2023, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PassingThru

So, just take them out and play them.

As I mentioned earlier, and speaking for myself, although I know others here who feel the same way, I don't need a reminder to play my guitar. That speaks for itself. Also, as I've previously mentioned, there will always be someone in these discussions who contributes to the fact that they don't do much, if anything, by way of humidification precautions and leave their guitars out in the rain and snow and the dang thing plays as new. See post #34 here for some possible reasons and explanations.

Ultimately, I believe your story, and I'm glad you haven't perceived any problems from over or under-humification. You are one of the lucky ones. But the fairly common notion that one shouldn't worry about these things, rather, "you bought the guitar to be played, so play it," is potentially terrible advice for many. Guitars do absolutely explode as a result of humidity problems. I painfully know this firsthand. In the end, playing one's guitar, even eight hours a day, seven days a week, does not need to be a mutually exclusive concept to vigilant maintenance practices.

Joseph Hanna · #51 09-25-2023, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmp

yea but

being mindful of the effects of RH and what happens to any guitar is more like "Best Practice" not pampering.

I'm good with that description as well

Either or, it's not really my point. My proffer is more deflecting those that insist humidity is nothing more than a wives-tale.

rmp · #52 09-25-2023, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joseph Hanna

I'm good with that description as well

Either or, it's not really my point. My proffer is more deflecting those that insist humidity is nothing more than a wives-tale.

exactly Joseph, It's not a wives-tale.

My brother in-laws both play guitar. They have acoustics that they just keep on stands. I've told them both many times, this really wasn't a great idea without some way to keep the RH in range. They just didn't seem to know much about it, or care really. (what ever, it's their gutiar)

These are 300 series Taylors, so pretty nice guitars for what they need.

They both have cracks on the backs that have developed over time.

So,
now they know...

printer2 · #53 09-25-2023, 05:59 PM

As an experiment I let the humidity in the house drop over a winter. A number of guitars were ok, three had cracks.

614ce · #54 10-01-2023, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zach156

I was experimenting with the Boevda packs and the case. Yes, when running the AC on and off the apartment is within a desirable range, but I won't be home all the time and I don't necessarily want to run the AC constantly either. And then there is the nighttime issue too. I thought that the case would hold and sustain the room temperature at the time of its closure, and the Boevda packs would maintain 49% RH, as advertised... But neither happened. If my apartment was 72 degrees and 55 RH, my in-case hydrometer would immediately start jumping up in temperature and RH. Though, it seems like I need silica packs to take down the RH rather than the finicky Boevda packs. Still, I don't know what to attribute the rise in temperature inside the case.

As I just posted in another thread, I contacted Boveda to inquire exactly how their maintenance packs work. They actually do not keep a constant 49%Rh. When new, they put out 55%RH and as they dry out they will drop to 45%RH when they become harder to the touch. I was asking because I wanted to calibrate my hygrometers to the 49%RH pack. They told me not to do this and the explanation of how the maintenance packs work clarified this for me.

mrghostwalker · #55 10-01-2023, 02:40 PM

I saw a video by a Luthier, who said it's the humidity which damages guitars. He explained that when guitars are made, the wood is at a very low humidity (6%). He said when guitars absorb moisture the wood expands. The finish cracks and damage occurs.
Don't attack me, I'm just sharing the info....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd63jVYTnGA

Go to the 34:44 mark.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd63jVYTnGA

printer2 · #56 10-01-2023, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrghostwalker

I saw a video by a Luthier, who said it's the humidity which damages guitars. He explained that when guitars are made, the wood is at a very low humidity (6%). He said when guitars absorb moisture the wood expands. The finish cracks and damage occurs.
Don't attack me, I'm just sharing the info....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd63jVYTnGA

Go to the 34:44 mark.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd63jVYTnGA

You are lucky, we normally shoot the messenger. Hard to argue with him as he said under extreme conditions the wood can crack with low humidity. The 6% moisture is the moisture content of the wood, not 6% RH.

Rosewood99 · #57 10-01-2023, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by printer2

As an experiment I let the humidity in the house drop over a winter. A number of guitars were ok, three had cracks.

How low did the humidity yet?

printer2 · #58 10-02-2023, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rosewood99

How low did the humidity yet?

Around 20%.

Bluenose · #59 10-02-2023, 06:06 PM

Anything below 30% RH could be trouble. Too bad Kyser doesn't make Lifeguard sound hole humidifiers any more. I've used those extensively for the past 7 or 8 years and they've served me well. I like humidifiers that cover the sound hole because that's where most of the the woods' moisture escapes. If I could keep my guitar rooms' humidity above 30% using a misting humidifier, I could leave them out on stands as long as I put on a Kyser on them before I put them up.