40% humidity...my guitars are revolting

[mixmkr]

Yes...super duper low action....too low to be more exact. The warning signs of fret ends ripping my panty hose! Oh my!
Additional humidifiers enroute.

For some reason, this has been the worst 40%RH year in memory.

Could extra guitars be sucking up more water? Lol.

 

[Rider1260]

I have to set my Humidifier to 50% to keep the room over 40%

 

[DreamTheaterRules]

Yeah, I’ve seen people say 40% is ok before. MAYBE it is if you’re low humidity all year and your guitars get used to that. MAYBE. But my music room dropped to 40% for a few days during that deep freeze spell we had a couple weeks ago, and every guitar had to be retuned, including some I barely have to tune when playing, had to be tuned every time I picked them up. After a couple days, I threw a humidifier in there until the whole house came back up to 50% when it warmed up a bit.

Anything below 50% and even my PRS react a little 40% throws the Axis off significantly.

 

[deathworlder]

How old is your sensor?
Is it temperature compensated?

 

[TonyT]

I’ve heard 40% is a good level and believe that is what the PRS factory tries to maintain. I am in AZ for a few weeks and the outside humidity here was 4% earlier this week … never seen it that low. We keep a humidifier running that gets the room level to 32-35%. I keep my 2016 McCarty 594 in the case during the winter with D’addirio humidipaks and they consistently keep it in the 39-40% range and I have not experienced any tuning or fret issues. Great product.

 

[DISTORT6]

I’ve heard 40% is a good level and believe that is what the PRS factory tries to maintain. I am in AZ for a few weeks and the outside humidity here was 4% earlier this week … never seen it that low. We keep a humidifier running that gets the room level to 32-35%. I keep my 2016 McCarty 594 in the case during the winter with D’addirio humidipaks and they consistently keep it in the 39-40% range and I have not experienced any tuning or fret issues. Great product.

With those humidipacks, how do need to keep your case oriented?
I just purchased a storage rack that keeps my guitars in their cases sitting at an angle - THIS ONE - and wanted know if the packs could be used in this situation. Also, do you take everything out of the storage compartment?

 

[veinbuster]

With those humidipacks, how do need to keep your case oriented?
I just purchased a storage rack that keeps my guitars in their cases sitting at an angle - THIS ONE - and wanted know if the packs could be used in this situation. Also, do you take everything out of the storage compartment?

Yes, you can use the humidipaks.
Once upon a time, I saw little slings that would let you hang them in the soundhole.

 

[archtop]

 

[Abe]

I found with the humidity packs that they get sucked dry too quickly cased up with guitars in a very dry winter room environment. It got better for me after getting a good room humidifier to run in the winter and the humidity packs for when they're cased up.

That is to say that going at it from both directions, for both out in the room and inside the cases, was needed. Otherwise I'd be buying too many humidity packs too fast while being afraid to have my guitars out and in reach more (which is nice because I'd like to at least be reminded to increase the chances I'll spend time with guitars and even possibly play them more.)

If clean about it and wanting to save some dollars you can rehydrate those humidity packs but I suggest only doing it without direct water contact to the packs like some people do. Like having the packs in large tupperwares where they absorb water moisture from a separate open inner container, and plump back up (without touching the water because that will weaken the 'skin' of the humidity packs).

 

[TonyT]

With those humidipacks, how do need to keep your case oriented?
I just purchased a storage rack that keeps my guitars in their cases sitting at an angle - THIS ONE - and wanted know if the packs could be used in this situation. Also, do you take everything out of the storage compartment?

Yes, if the case is sitting at an angle that should still work. I actually keep my case on the top of an old dresser sitting flat. I have one humidipack sitting on the bottom of the case by the neck and the second humidipack up by the headstock. I just keep some picks, cloth and original documentation in the storage compartment.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

You’re supposed to wear pantyhose on your legs not your arms.

 

[DISTORT6]

You’re supposed to wear pantyhose on your legs not your arms.

 

[show_a_little_faith]

I just ordered one of those StewMac fret files, I've got a couple of SE Silver Sky's that need some work. Fortunately, I've also got an old Squier that I got for $80 to practice with first

 

[mixmkr]

You’re supposed to wear pantyhose on your legs not your arms.

Who said anything about arms? Lol!!!
No ...not on my head either!
I'd tell you I swing low...but that might create some unwanted images.
\m/

 

[Davey]

Yep, when I was up in Washington State, no problems with low humidity. Kept guitars on the walls and nary a problem.
Moved to Arizona and single digit humidity in the winter.
Everything needed a slight truss rod tweak after relocating here but still a couple of my SE's also need some light fret work on the ends. All the core models are fine.
I did actually bump up the action a bit to avoid constant truss rod adjustments from dry winter to humid Monsoon season in late summer.
I should take a lesson from Sergio and just remove all the TRC's.
I do case all my rigs now with Boveda packs.

 

[Mike Duncan]

Sometimes I feel bad that I have never once exposed the guitars to a humidifier.

You’re supposed to wear pantyhose on your legs not your arms.

Gosh darn, right!