Tech Tips >>> Humidity

A wood musical instrument’s most dangerous enemy is insufficient or excessive humidity. In very dry climates low humidity is a year round problem. In temperate climates the cold winter months are the problem. In damp and humid climates high humidity may be a year round or seasonal problem. (i.e., the rainy season.)

Dry climates are typically also hot so most houses run some type of cooling system, which adds moisture to the air.

In damp and humid climates using air conditioning will remove moisture and therefore lower the humidity.

In temperate climates the air gets dried out during the winter because of the heating. Moisture must be added. If your home has a forced hot air furnace it may already have a humidifier attached or, one can be added. This “whole home Humidifier” is the best choice. Besides keeping your wood instruments from drying out, it keeps the wood furniture from cracking and reduces the risk of glue joints coming apart. It eliminates dry scratchy throats and static electricity too. Next best choice is a room humidifier and keeping your wood instruments in that room.

If you have baseboard hot water, radiators or heat with wood a room humidifier is your best choice; you cannot use a whole home humidifier with any of these heating systems. A tray of water on top of a radiator does help but it is not a very efficient or effective way to increase humidity.

For many people a humidifier inside the case is the only practical method to increase humidity. These work quite well with hard shell cases because they are somewhat air tight and non-permeable. An in-the-case humidifier is much less effective in soft shell cases and most gig bags because they are more permeable. My preference for in the case humidifiers is the “Dampit," which was the first good humidifer made. Experience has suggested that contrary to the directions the “Dampit” should not be placed in the sound hole, unless you are meticulous about shaking ever drop of water out first. Otherwise, you will have water drip on the guitar interior, which will cause water stains on the interior back. With any of the in case humidifiers the use of distilled water is recommended. Filtered water or rainwater are good second choices. The reason is that over time the porous material will become filled with the mineral deposits and hold less and less water.

A humidity gauge is a wise investment. Radio Shack sells a fairly accurate humidity and temperature gauge that’s reasonably priced. It’s small enough to be inconspicuous in a room. If you are using a humidifier in the case it is even small enough to fit it most cases.

Regardless of the climate and whether you are trying to increase or decrease the humidity the goal is the same: 50 percent Relative Humidity. But, you are pretty safe if you at least stay between 40 percent and 60 percent.

Bottom Line: You’ve spent a lot of money on your guitars, mandolins, fiddles, banjos etc. A little more money and a little time keeping the humidity around 50 percent is a sound (pun intended) investment.

Ed Taublieb
The String Shoppe Est. 1966