My homemade guitar case humidifiers

[Napthol]

This winter I will be doing something I've never done before to my guitars. I'm going to put in homemade humidifiers in their cases. I got the idea from someone on this forum. I could have spent another $50.00 and bought something from Sweetwater, but this fellow said making your own is just as good. Here are a few photos:

[GuitarStv]

Why have a sponge at all? You just need water in a dish.

Edit - Oh, is this for a case that you're moving around a lot?

[ehdwuld]

Is that glass or plastic?

[Top-L]

Oh crap. Should I be keeping my guitars in cases? I have them hanging on a wall. I have fish tanks which keep the room humidified. I haven't had any problems afaict.

Maybe a fish tank is cheaper that buying a humidifier for every guitar case?

I have a dehumidifier for use as needed.

[Napthol]

Dishes are glass. A sponge is better. You can wet in to the max or ring some water out of it. You can regulate it.

[Mincer]

Living in Florida, there is no need for such things. Near 100% humidity all the time.

[DankStar]

Has me wondering if mold would be an issue

[eclecticsynergy]

Some people use plastic travel soapdishes with holes drilled in the lid.
Myself, I just keep a slightly-damp kitchen sponge in the utility compartment of each case.
Have done that since the 70s on the advice of a friend who was Steve Howe's guitar tech.

I moisten the sponges every six months or so - more often for cases that are opened often.
That's for the electrics, where it's really just to keep the fretboards from drying out.

Never had a mold or mildew problem in five decades of doing it that way. But my home base is in the Northeast.
And I wouldn't recommend it for any case that had survived a flood or ever had mildew issues.

Am more careful with acoustics, since adequate humidification is crucial, especially for older ones - a couple of mine are from the 40s & 50s.
I use the plastic D'Addario soundhole humidifiers with microsponge inserts, and I remoisten them on a regular schedule.
Three month intervals during the warmer season, then every other month when the heat's on and the air is drier.
Bought digital hygrometers for the cases too. I only have eight acoustics, so it isn't much work to keep 'em humidified.

[solspirit]

Has me wondering if mold would be an issue

I've been doing it for years with no problem. I don't even bother with the container.

[GuitarStv]

Am more careful with acoustics, since adequate humidification is crucial, especially for older ones - a couple of mine are from the 40s & 50s.
I use the plastic D'Addario soundhole humidifiers with microsponge inserts, and I remoisten them on a regular schedule.
Three month intervals during the warmer season, then every other month when the heat's on and the air is drier.
Bought digital hygrometers for the cases too. I only have eight acoustics, so it isn't much work to keep 'em humidified.

I have never seen damage to an electric guitar from improper humidification. Acoustics yes - they'll swell and crack, but I don't think you really need to worry about electrics . . . I've had mine from 100% humidity in the summer to 5% in the winter with no issues.

[ehdwuld]

I would feel better with plastic containers

I can just imagine picking up the case
And that hard glass waylaying my prized guitar

[ErikH]

I have a Herco case humidifier for my Martin D-28. It needs to be refreshed. It's been a good while. Then again, the humidity here can be pretty stable but this summer was crazy hot with little to no rain so it dropped. I don't take it out of the case a lot bit I do need to keep the humidifier wet. Now is a good time as any. Good reminder.

[beaubrummels]

Post #31

https://web.archive.org/web/20080317020613/http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/faq/seymours-q-a/2650/

Post #100

https://web.archive.org/web/20080323030029/http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/faq/seymours-q-a/76100/

Post #254

https://web.archive.org/web/20080323043332/http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/faq/seymours-q-a/251275/

[solspirit]

Post #31

https://web.archive.org/web/20080317020613/http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/faq/seymours-q-a/2650/

Post #100

https://web.archive.org/web/20080323030029/http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/faq/seymours-q-a/76100/

Post #254
https://web.archive.org/web/20080323...rs-q-a/251275/

A nice little treasure trove of info

[eclecticsynergy]

I have never seen damage to an electric guitar from improper humidification. Acoustics yes - they'll swell and crack, but I don't think you really need to worry about electrics . . . I've had mine from 100% humidity in the summer to 5% in the winter with no issues.

Any guitar could suffer fret sprout if it becomes truly desiccated. I humidify my electrics just to keep the fretboards happy.
But it's not as if I'm keeping them jungle-damp or anything.

When properly humidified, ordinary rosewood opens up its grain a little over the years and begins to feel a bit waxy, almost like Brazilian.
Most ebony seems to look and feel pretty much the same over time regardless of case environment.
However if it's allowed to dry out too much for too long, ebony can shrink quite a lot - enough to see.
Rosewood doesn't seem to do that - it might tighten a bit, but doesn't become visibly smaller.