Humidification Frustration - Opinions Please

[86general]

I am frustrated with the issue or proper humidification of my guitars. This will be a long-ish post, but please bear with me, as I value all of your opinions.

1. I own 5 solid body guitars (one is a tele thinline), a Gretsch Tennessee Rose (hollow with f-holes), and a Martin D-16.

2. Recently my wife designed a beautiful music room/jam room for me in my den, and we have the guitars hanging on hooks on a wall. It's a beautiful room.

3. Humidity in the room is between 35-55% (usually above 40%) in summer months. This winter, if not treated, the humidity is around 30%. We have a forced air heating and cooling system, and live in New Jersey.

4. I have a humidifier in the room. I'm pretty good about keeping it filled, and as such I've done a decent job keeping the humidity over 40%. But there are occasionally days where I don't get to fill it in time.

Recently, I noticed a little white dust accumulating on the guitars and furniture surfaces. I changed the humidifier filter (designed to prevent the white dust) and this helps alot, but it doesn't entirely eliminate the white dust. My wife also hates the humidifier unit which is, admittedly, ugly, in her otherwise beautifully decorated and designed jam room.

I'm looking into a system of humidification for the entire house's system, which would mean I don't have to fill up a tank, but I'm guessing there would still probably be white dust issues. But I don't know for sure.

I'm picky about my instruments, and so I feel like I'm between a rock and a hard place. If I want to keep them out and displayed, then I have to deal with the white dust issue. If I don't humidify, I risk damaging the guitars. If I humidify in cases, then I don't get to display them, and I have to walk to wherever I keep them in the house to play them.

So, I'm asking, what do I really _need_ to do about humidification? My Martin is 22 years old, and had a neck reset done this past year. In the prior 20 years, I never did squat about humidity, and the guitar developed one small crack, and I had to have the binding repaired. The fingerboard shrunk a little and I had to have the fret ends dressed, but other than that it's been fine.

1. Do I need to worry about humidity for the solid body guitars?

2. For the Martin, what do you guys recommend? Keep it in the case?

3. How about the Gretsch? It is hollow but has a laminated/ply body, not solid wood like the Martin.

4. Does anyone have a house humidification system, and have any recommendations? What level of humidity do you shoot for?

Any other thoughts are appreciated!

[still_fiddlin]

Keep your acoustic in its case. I wouldn't worry about anything else.

The actual humidity level isn't the biggest problem - people in Phoenix and Seattle both manage to own acoustic guitars. It's the change in humidity that causes problems. (You should see my old beater - moved from Oregon to mountains of PA in December, about an 80% humidity change, and left it out of the case - not pretty.) So, pick a level and keep it there all the time. I'd adjust seasonally, if you plan to take the instruments out, so it's not a big shock.

I would try to get a better source for the water you're putting in that humidifier, but if your water has a lot of dissolved solids (not necessarily "hard" water), you'd have to get an RO filter or something ($).

[Martin R]

Here in Albuquerque the humidity is often below 10%. I moved hear from Florida and kept my D18 in the case for 6 weeks, (it was at a friend's house while I waited to close on my house).

I was really concerned about the lack of humidity, but after 6 years it doesn't seem to be an issue. I agree with still fiddlin, any big change is probably a problem.

[tdu]

Originally Posted by still_fiddlin

Keep your acoustic in its case. I wouldn't worry about anything else.

The actual humidity level isn't the biggest problem - people in Phoenix and Seattle both manage to own acoustic guitars. It's the change in humidity that causes problems. (You should see my old beater - moved from Oregon to mountains of PA in December, about an 80% humidity change, and left it out of the case - not pretty.) So, pick a level and keep it there all the time. I'd adjust seasonally, if you plan to take the instruments out, so it's not a big shock.

I would try to get a better source for the water you're putting in that humidifier, but if your water has a lot of dissolved solids (not necessarily "hard" water), you'd have to get an RO filter or something ($).

Ya the humidity at my place changes from over %50 in the summer, to %20 in the winter when the heat comes on. It's a pain to keep up with. I didn't have a meter to check levels my first winter here, and that change did indeed cause some major changes with the necks on my electrics.

My parents got some type of humidifier installed right into their furnace/central air last year. I am sure it wasn't cheap, but it's fantastic. The air feels so good in that house, the humidity levels are always consistent.

[KevinB]

I live in central New Jersey too (New Brunswick area) and I have the same problems.

My house has forced air heat and air, and I have a whole house humidifier built into my furnace, but the upstairs bedroom/office where I keep my guitars still gets down in the 30% range during the coldest months.

In your case the only concern is the Martin, the others - including the Gretsch - should be fine. I have several room humidifiers, but as you say, they're a pain to keep filled. I think the only real solution is to keep solid wood, acoustic instruments cased with their own humidifier (dampit) .

I used to leave mine out until my Guild 12 string developed a back crack - since fixed - a couple of years ago, so now it and my Martin J18 are stored in their cases for January and February. I have heard that acoustics are much more prone to cracking in their first few years, and once they get to be about 5 years old the likelihood is much less, but of course there are no guarantees.

Also, there are some humidifiers available that produce no white dust. I have a couple of Hunters that work very well and are safe, easy to fill and require minimal maintenance.

[Sterling Indigo]

White dust is probably too much calcium in your water supply. Use filtered water or distilled water instead of tap to control the white dust.

[RobPvd]

I keep 3 guitars on the living room wall at any given time, including my Martin D-15. I have one of those Emerson console humidifiers w/ the fake wood grain from Home Depot, and don't get the white dust. It is a pain to keep filled, but I can keep everything the same humidity and have them within easy reach. I find that if the are in the cases, I don't play as much. I would install a whole house humidifier if I didn't have steam radiators.

Btw, I had a Taylor Baby damn near explode into splinters from low humidity befor I got the console unit!

[Phat-o-Caster]

I would suggest adding a simple water feature to the room. I have a medium size zen waterfall panel that takes up very little floorwall space + looks/sounds great & adds humidity-Brian

[mellecaster]

Guitars...Guitars ???...Hell, how about you and your family's well being ?

The White dust is from those Newer style Yuppie type Humidifiers...see if you can locate a Bemis Console type that uses a Water wheel design (been around for years) has about a 10 gallon capacity...and keep it filled....they used to be around $159.00....they will keep most of your house around 45% (don't know how big your house is ?)....You should only have to add a few Gallons a day during the worst months...How hard can that be ?

[tcarp]

I'm in NW NJ, so extreme variants in temps/humidity as in other parts of the state is just something Jerseyans have to deal with. I have 3 acoustics...2 Martins, an Epi M'bilt, and a Tele. All are left out of their cases in a room with a Kenmore humidifier. I've finally figured how to maintain the RH between 45%-55%. I think my tank hold 2 gallons, and as soon as it empties into the tray I'll fill it again as a backup reserve. I try to stay on top of refilling.

On those occasions where I let the tank run dry, the biggest issue I face is keeping my guitars in tune. I've never had an issue with cracking, checking, or neck separation on the acoustics. My D18 is the most sensitive to low humidity....it sounds brittle and stiff when dry, but once it hydrates it becomes a cannon.

As far as the white dust, well, the wife and I are smokers, and we have 2 cats and 2 dogs, so dusty guitars are a way of life. But nothing is more pleasurable and relaxing than giving my guitars a thorough cleaning before playing....a labor of love so to speak.

Tom

[thejerk]

Hey, another central NJ twanger! Highland Park/New Brunswick here.

I've got a small humidifier in my (small) guitar room, but it is sure a challenge keeping it refilled. I've noticed some fret sprout on my strat style guitar, but the others seem OK.

I wish there was a cheap, easy answer. How close is your guitar room to the bathroom or kitchen? Leaving the door open while showering, or leaving pans of water on the stove can help some. Try using only distilled H2O in your humidifier, too.

[jwsamuel]

I bet you have a misting humidifier. I had the same problem here in southeastern Pennsylvania.

There are two ways to deal with it.

1. You can keep the humidifier you have and use only distilled water in it. That can get expensive.

2. You can go buy an evaporative humidifier and use tap water.

Your water has calcium in it and the misting humidifier is just spraying the calcium all over the room. An evaporative humidifier does not mist and does not spray the calcium.

Jim

[mellecaster]

Originally Posted by jwsamuel

I bet you have a misting humidifier. I had the same problem here in southeastern Pennsylvania.

There are two ways to deal with it.

1. You can keep the humidifier you have and use only distilled water in it. That can get expensive.

2. You can go buy an evaporative humidifier and use tap water.

Your water has calcium in it and the misting humidifier is just spraying the calcium all over the room. An evaporative humidifier does not mist and does not spray the calcium.

Jim

Exactly what I was trying to convey, in my own crude way....

[mellecaster]

Originally Posted by thejerk

I've got a small humidifier in my (small) guitar room, but it is sure a challenge keeping it refilled.

Why ??

[dr. love]

A friend has the misting kind of humidifier and was actually talking about the white dust problem the other day-first time I'd ever heard about it.

The weather and water in my area are pretty rough: the water is so hard you about have to cut it with a knife, and in the winter if I don't humidify the room gets low enough that my digital hygrometer can't even measure it, but I have a twin fan evaporative humidifier that works pretty well at keeping the room about 45%, and have not seen the white dust.

My unit holds about 5 gallons and I have to top it off with an average of 1-3 gallons a day.

[tdu]

Originally Posted by mellecaster

Why ??

I can give my own experience why. I run 2 large humidifiers in our apartment, which is full of hardwood floors and stairs, and gets extremely dry when the heat is on in the winter. Both of them are set to automatically try keep the humidity level at 40% in the apartment. To do this though, they basically run almost non-stop on a high setting. So they have to be filled twice a day, and there isn't always anyone around to do that on a work day. So they end up shutting down. If they shut down for even a few hours, the humidity levels drop right back down to %20. Some houses are just extremely dry and very hard to humidify.

As someone else mentioned, the guitars are only one concern for me. I get eczyma, and the dry air when the heat comes on in the winter kills me.

[jwsamuel]

Originally Posted by tdu

I run 2 large humidifiers in our apartment, which is full of hardwood floors and stairs, and gets extremely dry when the heat is on in the winter.

Do they both have to run at the same time to keep the humidity down? Or, could you put them on timers so that one shuts down and the other starts halfway through the day?

Jim

[tdu]

Originally Posted by jwsamuel

Do they both have to run at the same time to keep the humidity down? Or, could you put them on timers so that one shuts down and the other starts halfway through the day?

Jim

To even make a dent in the humidity, they both have to be running at once lol. And they are both fairly large humidifiers.

Obviously not all houses/apartments have such an extreme humidity problem, I was just pointing out that they do exist, and that saying it's a 'challenge' to keep up with it isn't far fetched.

[Hucklebilly]

You know, I'm always amazed how durable acoustic guitars are. I have a beautiful Santa Cruz D-model, and despite my best intentions I've committed just about every humidifying mistake known to man. But after almost 20 years it plays great, looks great, and sounds great. I'm not recommending my bone headed approach, just submitting my 2 cents.

[jwsamuel]

Originally Posted by Hucklebilly

You know, I'm always amazed how durable acoustic guitars are. I have a beautiful Santa Cruz D-model, and despite my best intentions I've committed just about every humidifying mistake known to man. But after almost 20 years it plays great, looks great, and sounds great. I'm not recommending my bone headed approach, just submitting my 2 cents.

It's funny...but I never had problems with guitars and humidity until I started reading about problems with guitars and humidity.

Jim