Why do PRS Guitars Need 40% Humidity?

[GGJJGG]

I have the Boveda packs in all of my guitar cases, electrics, acoustics and hollowbodies! Regardless of the guitar type, a proper humidity level is good for the wood ;~))

Just ordered a bunch. They are great for cigar humidors.

 

[László]

A minimum of 40% humidity is recommended for all guitars. It's not just a PRS thing.

Exactly.

 

[László]

I have a digital hygrometer a couple feet away from my hanging hollowbody guitar. It has dipped down to 30% at times relatively briefly because of the air conditioner working hard against the heat, but for the most part it's 40% or so. Currently at 47% with the recent tracked lows and highs being 42% and 48%.

I think that ought to be just fine.

Here in Michigan in winter, the RH in my house, even with a whole-house humidifier, can easily get down to the low 20s. That's drier than the Sahara Desert, which has a 25% RH (!).

In summer, it's the reverse, we can get very high humidity days. So the humidipaks help.

I keep one in each electric guitar case, and the recommended 3 in the case with my PS acoustic.

No issues.

 

[Moondog Wily]

Just ordered a bunch. They are great for cigar humidors.

That is what they were originally invented/developed for from what I understand! Then they branched out to offer them in other areas (including stringed instruments)!! I have been using them for about 5 years and they seem to be doing their job ;~))

 

[dogrocketp]

I keep 40 to 55% all year round. I’m now in the wilds of suburban Virginia. In the summer, I do nothing. In the winter, it’s room humidifier. My luthier advised me on the humidity and the humidifier. My guitars all needed tweaking a month I moved here. The intonation has never been better.

 

[Abe]

High here has been 48%, low 39%, currently 45%. Think I'm golden.

 

[archtop]

Not too long ago I had some work in Las Vegas and left a partscaster there while I went home for 2 months thinking a roasted maple neck would be fine in the desert. Upon return the roasted maple neck had developed fret sprout. Low humidity is harsh, even for the most stable woods.

 

[Moondog Wily]

Not too long ago I had some work in Las Vegas and left a partscaster there while I went home for 2 months thinking a roasted maple neck would be fine in the desert. Upon return the roasted maple neck had developed fret sprout. Low humidity is harsh, even for the most stable woods.

Well don't take it to Guitar Center! You would have to wait for a senior representative, and the line for that service is around the block ;~)) You'd think Peter Paul and Mary tickets had just gone on sale!!!

 

[AlastairLC]

Here’s a thought. Splits and protruding frets aren’t caused by low humidity but by the guitar manufacturer not drying their wood sufficiently.
Has any PRS guitar ever had that problem?

 

[bodia]

Here’s a thought. Splits and protruding frets aren’t caused by low humidity but by the guitar manufacturer not drying their wood sufficiently.
Has any PRS guitar ever had that problem?

Not on anything built in Maryland. Their process there is really buttoned up. SEs would be a different story, but still not all that common.

 

[Daryl Jones]

My (albeit limited compared to most here) expdrience is with the lack of humidity in winter. Our climate is cold and dry in the winter so the heat is always on (plus I have a wood burner that is LOOOOVELY in winter when it's 30 below or worse) and that dries out the air inside something fierce. I can maintain 40% in my guitar cave but I have the humidifier running all the time. Even solid body guitars can dry out in our winter conditions and that can cause structural and tuning problems, but it's horrible on acoustics and hollows or semi-hollows. Last thing anybody wants is cracks in their guitar bodies.