Comments

• Heretic In the Pond✭✭✭

  September 2007 Posts: 230

  During the heating seasons, I found that the use of case humidifiers greatly benefited my instruments. I placed a small humidity meter into the case to monitor the space and found that the Oasis humidifier was very good at keeping the humidity stable.
  Prior to that, the proper lack of humidity was causing my frets to protrude on the edges, and the character of the guitar, and the action was changing unreliably. I've read of very good gypsy guitars splitting without proper humidity. It's an inexpensive way of protection your guitar. I'd strongly suggest getting a case humidity gauge as well. Too much moisture, or too little, can ruin you instrument - let alone play havoc with your tone and action.
• Charlie Ayers Salt Lake CityProdigy

  September 2007 Posts: 287

  Personally I would use one in both the headstock compartment and the body portion of the case, since I assume there is fairly little airflow between the two, in a typical tight case. I've done the same thing for years with self-made sponge eclosures that probably cost about $2 each.
  
  Charlie
• BluesBop Harry Mexico city, MexicoVirtuoso

  September 2007 Posts: 1,379

  Thanks!
  I guess I'll buy a couple of those Oasis.
  
  What about Hygrometers?
  Do you have a favourite one?
• BluesBop Harry Mexico city, MexicoVirtuoso

  September 2007 Posts: 1,379

  I found this as well, which won't need an Hygrometer.
  http://www.planetwaves.com/pcaredetails.aspx?id=7
  Beware though because there has been a product recall due to a defect in a few batches.
  
  For those of you out there with Dupont VR's, Favinos, Busatos, etc?
  What do you use?
• Bob Holo Moderator

  September 2007 Posts: 1,252

  I use those rubber tubes with the sponges inside them. You can find them in any store carrying classical instruments... just go in and say: "I need a humidifier for my Viola" Like this one... http://www.giardinelli.com/product/Glae ... rc=AWFRWXX
  
  So - the biggest thing with humidification is to remember that guitars don't like shocks... so always use moderation. The instrument is made up of many parts... some thicker than others... some denser than others... all of which warm up / cool down / humidify / dehumidify at different rates due to their material and structure. When things get to expanding/contracting at different rates, only three things can happen. 1.) If you're lucky, the glue is strong enough to hold and the wood is elastic enough to absorb the forces. 2.) The glue gives up 3.) The wood gives up. So care for the temperature and humidity of your instrument like you'd steer a ship... many small increments in the right direction.

  You get one chance to enjoy this day, but if you're doing it right, that's enough.
• Joli Gadjo Cardiff, UK✭✭✭✭ Derecho, Bumgarner - VSOP, AJL

  September 2007 Posts: 542

  Just thinking :
  
  Will a European made guitar be a better target for humidity and temperature than a Canadian one ?
  Let say you have a Dupont and a Shelley Park, both with Maple backs but one come from Canada and the other one not. It's easy to assume that the Canadian tree will have been exposed to wider temperature and humidity differences while it won't be the case for some maple trees in Europe under a much milder climate.
  So, under the same condition, the Dupont will crack and the Shelley Park be OK ? Does it make any sense ?

  - JG