Humidifying your guitar room: The Resource Thread

Forgive me if something like this already exists; I looked.

We NEED a thread that is dedicated to keeping our acoustic guitars in good condition. Acoustic guitars more-so than electric guitars, can have issues during the seasons with their expanding/contracting materials and they need much more care with storage. I've had a Martin literally require a neck reset due to poor storage.

I have a room (10 x 12) that I call my "studio." I keep 3 acoustics in here, as well as many electrics. They're not very cheap guitars, either. So isn't there something I need to do to the room?

Yes, you should probably keep your guitars stored in a sealed case. But sometimes, that's just not realistic being that I like them out and ready to play at all times (unless I'm going on vacation or something).

Please recommend a good cost humidifier that doesn't have woes (molding, constant upkeep), and an accurate scale for measuring this, and what the accurate measurements should be.

I'm sure that boiling a pan of water would also solve this problem, but I need something more...realistic.

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I have a room (10 x 12) that I call my "studio." I keep 3 acoustics in here, as well as many electrics. They're not very cheap guitars, either. So isn't there something I need to do to the room?

Yes, you should probably keep your guitars stored in a sealed case. But sometimes, that's just not realistic being that I like them out and ready to play at all times (unless I'm going on vacation or something).

Please recommend a good cost humidifier that doesn't have woes (molding, constant upkeep), and an accurate scale for measuring this, and what the accurate measurements should be.

I'm sure that boiling a pan of water would also solve this problem, but I need something more...realistic.
If you can accept that the humidity is not required to remain CONSTANT, you have a number of ways to go.

The problem with the floor standing units that turn themselves on and off while sensing the RH is that they're really loud. And, they blow cold air. And, because the water is never converted to steam, it requires a quaternary ammonium anti-bacterial additive.

The other "cold air" humidifiers have not worked for me (tried several): they spit water out onto the floor.

I do have two that produce steam and love them. The Vicks model that has a removable tank for refilling works very well. It has two settings for variable humidifying.

An ideal room would have air conditioning to reduce humidity in a humid, warm weather scenario. Then, some ability to add moisture back to over-dried furnace heated air during the heating season. Steam radiators are great as they relieve pressure by periodic releases of steam.

I like that you agree that guitars should be out and played; not locked in a case. I lived 15 years in Tucson with my expensive Lowden for which I rarely remembered to moisten the sound hole humidifier. The quarter-sawn wood withstood life at 7-10% RH and it was made in moist Ireland. Guitars do need neck resets from time to time as older hide glue can age ungracefully, so maybe your Martin was headed there anyway.

Greg

I have a guitar room in dry as heck Co. and I put a bowl of water on the heat register in the winter. It seems to evaporate in a few days. I've never measured the humidity but I havent had any problems with any of my 24 guitars.