Moving to High Desert

[ronadair]

Looks like I'll be moving to Santa Fe, NM from CA in a couple years. GAS would have me acquiring a few more wood guitars. I'm wondering if that's a good idea.

For those of you living in arid climates, how much hassle is it to keep your guitars properly humidified?

[Sagebrush Tom]

Keeping all wood guitars properly humidified is an all year round endeavor in Santa Fe just like it is where i live in Carson City. I keep my guitars in their cases with humidifiers when i'm not playing them and check the humidifiers when i play one of my guitars, which is just about everyday. I don't have an humidifier for the house, but if you want to keep them out all the time then you will need to humidify the room you will keep them in. And i make sure that i put away every guitar back in it's hardshell case. You'll get used to doing it. I noticed that the RH level at 12:50pm in Santa Fe is 19%.

Other than that, it's a piece of cake.

[jdinco]

You gotta watch the wood ones, I have a couple I keep in a humidified bedroom, but the CF guitars are well worth checking out (no matter where you live) and something i would highly recommend. Care free and always sitting there waiting to be picked up and played. I'm a big fan of the Rainsongs and Emeralds. I haven't tried the other brands. That being said, it is nice to have at least one wood one for a little variation. Good Luck

[mercy]

I live in the high desert east of Los Angeles and its no problem even when very dry outside, like 17%. It doesnt get that dry inside, I seem to be my own whole house humidifer.

[Dryfly]

From May into October my evaporative cooling keeps things at 45-50%.
Winter months the Essick EA 1407 runs continuously here in Albuquerque.

[AZLiberty]

Originally Posted by ronadair

For those of you living in arid climates, how much hassle is it to keep your guitars properly humidified?

Assuming Santa Fe is about like Phoenix: One has to refill the in case humidifiers every two weeks in the humid season, and every week in the dry season.

[Gasworker]

Mmmmmmmmmm dessert!

[6L6]

I lived in Boulder, CO for four years. That's around 6,000ft.

I never even knew to humidify my 1962 J-50 Gibson nor did my friends know to humidify their nice Martins.

None of us ever had a single problem.

[hotroad]

I live in Bend, Oregon and right now at 3:15pm its at 20% humidity in my music room. My guitars are in their cases kept at 40-50% and checked daily. Trouble is that I go away and my wife then has the duty to check, refill and keep up on this. So if you plan to travel much without some of your guitars, who will do the job and a good job at that? Otherwise, like someone said, you get used to it and its no big deal.

[JohnW63]

Like the above poster, Mercy, I live in the high desert east of Los Angeles. It's rather dry ALL the time.

I used to try to keep track of humidifiers in my guitar cases, but I would always forget to check one or two. Some last longer than others. Some need distilled water. I finally got a Vornado 3 room humidifier and that works out the best. I have a couple hydrometers on the desk that I see frequently to tell me when I need to add water to the Vornado. I needs to be filled about every 2-3 days. I really base it on the RH in the room, not the level of water in the humidifier. Only ONE thing to fill is much easier to take care of then the ones in the guitar cases.

[Rosewood99]

Originally Posted by hotroad

I live in Bend, Oregon and right now at 3:15pm its at 20% humidity in my music room. My guitars are in their cases kept at 40-50% and checked daily.

I always thought that part of the country would have a lot of moisture. Learn something new every day!

[BernebeM50]

I have several large aquariums in the house (150+ gallons each) which keeps the house well humidified. I will be shutting down two of them this summer as they no longer have any fish in them (passed on due to old age and not replaced). That leaves me two aquariums, a 200g saltwater one (that I may also shut down) and a 130g freshwater with two turtles. I should still be good to go. My house relative humidity is around 50 % year round according to my Davis Vantage Vue weather station. Right now it says inside 48%, outside 25%.

[ziapack]

Been in New Mexico, maybe 40 min. from Santa Fe most my life, with guitars, and don't humidify, never have had issues.

[burrlap]

I used to live in Santa Fe. Very cold in the winter and moderate in the summer.....but quite dry. I'd humidify on a regular basis if you have a solid wood guitar.

[J. Scott]

I live in Corrales New Mexico, I have an Advanced Jumbo, I never use a humidifier. Many friends with Martins, Gibsons and Taylor. None of them use a humidifier. NEVER heard of any problems.