California Transplant in Denver, CO

[Livingston]

Thanks again EVERYONE for you replies and advice. I'm on it. Thinking of also trying a salt brine...works on turkey and chicken...should work on my Taylor 912C.

Appreciate everyone's advice.

[l80241]

It gets down to 22% in the winter in my house. I hang them in my music room and humidify the room with a vornado.

In the summer I can go long stretches without humidifying the room and it stays around 40% - 42%. Good enough for me. I tried humdifying in cases but what a pain and as I got more guitars the room was easier. Plus by the time I got to checking the cases they were bone dry anyway.

[KenL]

I live 2 hours west of Denver at el. 8500 feet. Moved here 1.5 years ago.

Some days in the summer the Rh is 6% up here. I didn't know that was even possible! Makes for a very comfortable climate, as the temperature is generally around 80 or so. We don't even have A/C, and don't miss it.

Not good for guitars, though. Mine stay in their cases with Planet Waves humidifiers, and I use distilled water. I also have an ultrasonic humidifier in my guitar room, left over from when the kids were little, and I run that enough to keep the humidity level at around 30%.

We moved from eastern Nebraska, and between the climate and the elevation it took some getting used to, 6 months or so. But you couldn't drag me out of here now with a bulldozer.

Welcome!

[shawnco999]

Originally Posted by unimogbert

Carbon fiber guitars. Humidity has no effect.

This. I’m a Colorado native and lived in Colorado most of my life. Currently living in Grand Lake at 8500 feet elevation and it’s even drier here than Denver. Sold all my guitars and went composites, RainSong WS1000 and Blackbird Savoy - keep them hanging on the walls year round.

[Livingston]

Thank you for the add'l 3 comments! All very helpful and interesting.

I came home (California) from 4 days in Denver. Walked into my home office/music room and glanced at my Stew Mac Hygrometer. 50% humidity. San Jose, CA is not Denver, CO.

At this juncture, while carbon is a great option, I don't think I can afford nor find a carbon substitute for all 14 guitars.

Okay, I've got my work cut out for me. Hoping to achieve optimum humidity in my Denver home, and avoid cracking, sharp fret ends, etc.

Thanks again all!

[mdhttr]

Do any of my fellow Colorado front-range residents notice a big difference between the basement and the rest of the house? I keep my guitars down there and find the humidity to be much more manageable.

[DenverSteve]

No basement, hi-rise.

[KenL]

No basement either, too many rocks.

But I can see where that would make a difference.

[mesa]

Originally Posted by KevWind

Moved from the Willamette Valley of Oregon (where I never thought about it )
To Jackson Hole Wyoming (where you should) in 1980
Since then and because I am unwilling to do whole house or even a single room Humidifier
My guitars are always in the case when not being played. and I use the Oasis tube style that suspends between the strings

This is a must and I might also add guitar cases can be very different in how they maintain the humidity level. I don't have 14 guitars to care for just five. I simply use sponges in modified ziplock bags, a soundhole humidifier and I keep a small hygrometer in each case. My better cases can hold a 40-45% level for 2-3 weeks the cheaper ones about a week maybe two.

I live in Western Colorado and it is very dry here between 4-15% with very little rain. I have never had an issue with my guitars but they are in the case when not being played.