1/2 a single sponge (they are 6 per pack at a Dollar Tree) wrung dry/dampened inside a guitar case is enough to moisten a guitar and prevents the top from cracking.
I was up on the Alaska Pipeline in 75 @ Dietrich camp, above the arctic circle and one guy was a player, had a D-45 (pipeline wages made that an affordable guitar) and he had a case humidifier. i thought it was a bit fussy and un necessary, but I now have some nice guitars and realize yeah it's necessary here in Maine Winters. The humidity gets low here during cold spells. In interior Alaska, the humidity hits 20% or less in the Winter...a health problem for living things and guitars.
Wow thanks Kevin. I never knew this about humidity and guitars. My Dad was a guitar player. Have been around them all my life. My two brothers and myself all learned from him. I'm 67 and just started playing again back in December. I've been playing more in the past few months than I have in 40 years. My husband of 40 years passed away 4 years ago and never really heard me play much. It's amazing how much I can still learn. I love following you even though I learned growing up I'm not really a beginer but more so intermediate I guess. I'm having to relearn things I forgot. I have my grandaughter trying to learn now, so I have her following you. I told her you're the best teacher on you tube. Thankyou very much. Ohhhh and would love to see Vicki's face someday on here. You match a face with a voice
Thanks for subscribing and sharing with your grand daughter! You are never too old to learn. May just take a little longer. Stick with it. Vic is camera shy :). But we will see you soon!
For $6.79 you can get the D’adarrio guitar humidifier. I have the music nomad version that is $15, but got it for the D’addario price. The sponge in the music nomad one is nice because when it gets dry it gets hard. It makes it easy to check. However, these are one way humidification meaning they are just adding moisture to the guitar and case. For two way humidification, ( meaning add or subtract moisture to target a specific humidity, you can buy either D’addario or Boveda guitar humidity packs and they will either absorb or emit moisture to target 49% humidity. They aren’t as cheap but they work well and don’t require re-wetting sponges every day. For about $10 you can buy Bluetooth connected hygrometer/thermometer that can store and graph the temp & humidity and see how it’s changing minute to minute, hour to hour, day to day, week after week, etc. You probably want to target 45-55% humidity rather than 40-60%, but consult your manufacturer. They don’t all season wood the same.
I live in a travel trailer, so if I'm not playing my 2 guitars are in their case. I ordered 2 from the net that are similar to the glad container one. Since the AC is running most of the time I dampen mine every 7 to 10 days.
My house stays in the 40 to 50% range so I have no need to humidify. Your setup with the sponge and baggy is the one I would use. Bought a hydrometer from China. It is still around some place.
From the first hand experience, all laminate guitars also needs taking care of humidity. There's still lot of wood - neck, fingerboard, brige and especially braces. If you don't believe it try it for yourself, difference is obvious and as you see it's not costly
Good vid. Question, I live here in NC and it rains alot. I have two singnituare acoustic guitars. Since the humidity is so high here, do I need a humidifier? I keep the guitars in my house out of direct sunlight.
I think it depends on the humidity level in the room where you keep them. Probably not. I live in Ohio and we get all sorts of weather. In the spring when it rains a lot I don’t need one for those months. I mainly use one in the winter when it’s drier
Hello, Just found your video for the first time. Liked and subscribed. I am frugal myself and appreciate the creativity that serves the purpose and get a job done without spending bread money. Super useful inexpensive way to keep my guitar in the right humidity! Thank you very much! I received the guitar for my birthday. Very happy about it. I agree that it is never too late to learn new things or start investing into your long time dreams... I have noticed that the frets on my guitar are sharp on the edges. My guitar case is soft , not sure if putting humidifiers inside will help, ... But, I'm like you, if guitar is out sitting on the stand I'll play more often. My question is, can I put damp cloth over the headstock while the guitar is sitting vertically on the stand? Maybe it will help to widen the neck so frets are not sharp anymore and my guitar is happy. Need your advice, please.
Hello my friend I have noticed that the action seems to be getting higher. I have small hands and I am getting older,thought my hands were getting smaller. Will this help, living in Bluefield w.v and winter is coming.
Check out this lesson on taking care of your guitar:czcams.com/video/uA-IXlSdPIE/video.html
1/2 a single sponge (they are 6 per pack at a Dollar Tree) wrung dry/dampened inside a guitar case is enough to moisten a guitar and prevents the top from cracking.
I was up on the Alaska Pipeline in 75 @ Dietrich camp, above the arctic circle and one guy was a player, had a D-45 (pipeline wages made that an affordable guitar) and he had a case humidifier. i thought it was a bit fussy and un necessary, but I now have some nice guitars and realize yeah it's necessary here in Maine Winters. The humidity gets low here during cold spells.
In interior Alaska, the humidity hits 20% or less in the Winter...a health problem for living things and guitars.
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for this simple easy solution. I’ve only recently learnt about the importance of humidifying your guitar 😊
Glad it was helpful!
Wow thanks Kevin. I never knew this about humidity and guitars. My Dad was a guitar player. Have been around them all my life. My two brothers and myself all learned from him. I'm 67 and just started playing again back in December. I've been playing more in the past few months than I have in 40 years. My husband of 40 years passed away 4 years ago and never really heard me play much. It's amazing how much I can still learn. I love following you even though I learned growing up I'm not really a beginer but more so intermediate I guess. I'm having to relearn things I forgot. I have my grandaughter trying to learn now, so I have her following you. I told her you're the best teacher on you tube. Thankyou very much. Ohhhh and would love to see Vicki's face someday on here. You match a face with a voice
Thanks for subscribing and sharing with your grand daughter! You are never too old to learn. May just take a little longer. Stick with it. Vic is camera shy :). But we will see you soon!
Thanks for that moisture tip. That will be very helpful this winter.
Any time!
Great information on hydration and humidity and how it affects our guitars. Inexpensive solution, too! Thanks, Kevin.
Happy to help!
For $6.79 you can get the D’adarrio guitar humidifier. I have the music nomad version that is $15, but got it for the D’addario price. The sponge in the music nomad one is nice because when it gets dry it gets hard. It makes it easy to check.
However, these are one way humidification meaning they are just adding moisture to the guitar and case.
For two way humidification, ( meaning add or subtract moisture to target a specific humidity, you can buy either D’addario or Boveda guitar humidity packs and they will either absorb or emit moisture to target 49% humidity. They aren’t as cheap but they work well and don’t require re-wetting sponges every day.
For about $10 you can buy Bluetooth connected hygrometer/thermometer that can store and graph the temp & humidity and see how it’s changing minute to minute, hour to hour, day to day, week after week, etc.
You probably want to target 45-55% humidity rather than 40-60%, but consult your manufacturer. They don’t all season wood the same.
Woke up to the binding coming off my Martin. Great timing on this video.
Good luck!
Thank you
Thanks Kevin!!
You are welcome!
I live in a travel trailer, so if I'm not playing my 2 guitars are in their case. I ordered 2 from the net that are similar to the glad container one. Since the AC is running most of the time I dampen mine every 7 to 10 days.
sounds like a good plan, thanks for watching!
Yeah a/c as well as heater can dry the air inside the home. So keeping optimal humidity (45-50%) is a year round effort.
@@blueser100 I'm in the south, so I run the AC more than the heat.
Great care tips! 😊
Thank you! 😊
Thanks!
Welcome!
That's great thank you
You are very welcome
My house stays in the 40 to 50% range so I have no need to humidify. Your setup with the sponge and baggy is the one I would use. Bought a hydrometer from China. It is still around some place.
Sounds good!
From the first hand experience, all laminate guitars also needs taking care of humidity. There's still lot of wood - neck, fingerboard, brige and especially braces.
If you don't believe it try it for yourself, difference is obvious and as you see it's not costly
Good advice. Thanks for watching
@@Relaxandlearnguitar always pleasure
Sorry for not so good english, I hope everyone understands
Good vid. Question, I live here in NC and it rains alot. I have two singnituare acoustic guitars. Since the humidity is so high here, do I need a humidifier? I keep the guitars in my house out of direct sunlight.
I think it depends on the humidity level in the room where you keep them. Probably not. I live in Ohio and we get all sorts of weather. In the spring when it rains a lot I don’t need one for those months. I mainly use one in the winter when it’s drier
Hello,
Just found your video for the first time. Liked and subscribed. I am frugal myself and appreciate the creativity that serves the purpose and get a job done without spending bread money. Super useful inexpensive way to keep my guitar in the right humidity! Thank you very much!
I received the guitar for my birthday. Very happy about it. I agree that it is never too late to learn new things or start investing into your long time dreams... I have noticed that the frets on my guitar are sharp on the edges. My guitar case is soft , not sure if putting humidifiers inside will help, ... But, I'm like you, if guitar is out sitting on the stand I'll play more often. My question is, can I put damp cloth over the headstock while the guitar is sitting vertically on the stand? Maybe it will help to widen the neck so frets are not sharp anymore and my guitar is happy. Need your advice, please.
I probably wouldn’t put anything damp right on the wood. You could try putting in a case overnight with humidifier and see if you notice a difference.
Hi great video Do you change your own strings ? If so can you do a video on it ? Thanks
Yep- here you go czcams.com/video/18DMtVP9kw4/video.html
how can a bowed neck be fixed?
Probably depends on how bad it is. I would definitely have someone that knows what they are doing take a look. Could just need an adjustment
Hello my friend I have noticed that the action seems to be getting higher. I have small hands and I am getting older,thought my hands were getting smaller. Will this help, living in Bluefield w.v and winter is coming.
A very dry guitar could cause high action. Or you may just need the neck adjusted.
How would this work on newer Ovations electric acoustic ??
Is it made of wood or plastic?
Wood on the inside in places, and the front, plastic in the back.
DIY for high humidity
I added it to the request list :)
Humidity runs from 52 to mid 60’s in my guitar room. I keep my guitar’s on stands or wall hangers. Any DIY for high humidity?
Hey there. I don’t have a lot of experience there. Other than using a dehumidifier. But be pretty careful with that.
Distilled water necessary or just plain water?
Plain water
How about a dehumidifier for us beach guys?
Hmmm. I will have to research that one. And by the way, I wish I was a beach guy….
I use a 1 room dehumidifier where I store my guitars.
So if the hydrometer shows 70-80% in the room, nothing needs to be done? But if it shows 30% in the room, start the hydration measures?
If your humidity is 70 to 80 then you have the opposite issue and probably need a de humidifier in the room where you keep your guitar
@@Relaxandlearnguitar Thanks!
What about Alabama?
Depends on your humidity
@@Relaxandlearnguitarwe have high humidity
Same in central Mississippi
So you don't even need to keep it inside a case when you're humidifying it with the sponge
I don’t. But depending on your climate you may need to to get the best results.
Amazon sells small coin shaped hygrometers 5 for $15 - yeah can’t buy just one.
Nice !