Thanks for the walk through on humidity and guitars. Some might find the topic a little dry, but a crack on the top of your high end acoustic will bring tears to your eyes. There, I said it.

Tony, I am a TAC member and enjoy all of your content. The information you share is difficult to get anywhere, and it makes my journey easier.

I live on a boat in Florida. And so far after 10 years my guitars seem to be surviving well. 85+ degrees and 90% humidity. most of the year. I am so glad I found your broadcasts. Thanks for all the info and tips. Keep up the great work

Hey Tony, I've been looking forward to this episode. Thank you for this. I've seen some of this happen to some of my friends guitars. It's great info! And I've already passed on this advice.

Excellent video! I'm in the process of having a whole room humidifier installed in my studio to protect my collection. It is plumbed into the home water supply, so never have to fill it. And it is electronically controlled to maintain whatever I set it to. Gonna end up running me around $1000 all together. Worth every penny!

I really enjoyed this episode well I like all your videos! Thanks Nancy in Maryland

Proud new TAC member (loving the content and the TAC fam!!!) and this one hits home ! My Martin d18 getting a center seam separation repaired as we speak due to this force of nature ! Need to be even more vigilant about humidity and probably up my case game so appreciate the content !

Tony, greetings from West Michigan! Re: humidification, I learned that painful (and expensive) lesson a while back with a cracked and lifting bridge, and a sunken top. I am now a true believer. I used to keep them out on stands around the house, however, now they go back in the case with their humidipaks. Good work on the videos. Keep it up.

Loved the episode. I built an acoustic from a kit in a woodworking class. The kit sourced young wood that almost immediately cracked from lack of humidity. That sent me down the rabbit hole of acoustic guitar repairs addressing cracking. Fixed now bilutbwont ever be perfect. Big lesson learned. Pay a lot of attention to humidity issues now.

Great Topic 👍 👌 !!! I go round and round on the this topic because we can have 80 % humidity Summer and Winter!!! So I kept my Acoustic guitar in it's Hardcastle with Velour and check and have a very slight concave and will be leaving out of the case for short periods of time and will check outside humidity and adjust my windows accordingly !!! 😀 !!! 👍🙌 !!!

Easy to understand humidity and guitars …will be ordering humidifier tomorrow..thanks Tony!!

I've had an ongoing issue with humidity (or the lack thereof) for my Taylor. Used to use a water-based Dampit, and another water-based humidifier...I switched to the Boveda's a while ago, and swear by them. When I'm not playing the guitar, it's in the case with the Boveda packs. I play everyday, and when they're losing their effectiveness, it's easy to tell from both the packets (they begin to crystallize) and the sound of my guitar (begins to sound a bit dull, or starts to get some fret buzz). I'll replace the packets, and within 12-24 hours, the guitar sounds brilliant again. Glad it's your choice as well - best option I've found to date.

This episode helped. I have the remnants of a guitar that would have turned 50 this year. It has laminated back and sides but the bridge split and the neck joint came loose. It was fixed once with epoxy, but that's another discussion for another time. Long story short, I sawed the neck off and routed off the soundboard leaving what I call a "boat." It's been a back burner DIY repair project where I've been meaning to replacing the entire top with solid sitka and converting the neck joint to a bolt on butt joint.

Tony, I feel you touched upon all the important points of humidification. All I would add is to check your individual climate and adjust your approach to that and to pay attention to where you may travel with your guitar(s) whats good in Oregon state is not proper for say Arizona or New Mexico or more humid states such as the southeastern states. All I’ve ever used since I was a teenager is a sponge in a zip lock bag with holes poked in the bag. The sponge in bag goes in the case. It has worked well for me and it’s cost effective. I have never experienced humidity concerns with my personal guitars. I just keep the sponge damp and that’s it. Good points, Thanks Tony.

great episode

Hello from Scotland, UK. Opposite problem here with average humidity 85%+ outdoors and 65%+ indoors at the moment if not controlled. I have to keep guitars in their case when not in use. Use combination of room dehumidifiers and Bovida gel packs. Over humidification leads to excessively high action and a dull/muddy sound with zero sustain.

Thank you for this valuable and interesting information....I sometimes keep my vintage Guild 12 string guitar in our basement (with the case lid slightly ajar) where we have a dryer vent that exits into the room. (Our structural situation makes it virtually impossible to vent it outside)....I think that the humidity that is emitted by drying clothes is pretty effective. I also have a "planetwaves" humidifier as well, kept in the case for other times when I'm playing it more often and keeping it upstairs.

Great video on humidification, I use the D'Addario humidipak's in all my acoustic guitars and mandolins and they work great. The best part is once they have dried out they will recharge and can be reused, I just leave them in my humidified room which is at 49% and they recharge.

I have the two bag ones for both guitars. especially in our winters.

Ray from Florida Hi Tony the items I would add is some form of measuring device (hydrometer) to know if you are within the 45-55% humidity range. There are gages that fit in your guitar case or others that you can keep in the room. I use both as I am in South East Florida and it is ALWAYS humid.

Humidipaks (Bovida paks) are very good. But..... you need to start with your guitar and case at optimal humidity level first. If your guitar and case are below recommended levels, the humidpaks will dry out in a heartbeat trying to humidify them. So, a dry case and guitar should be brought up to proper levels by a dampit, sponge, or other high source of humidity (not the bathroom, worst thing you can do is keep a guitar in your bathroom). Also, the Humidipaks/Bovida's are not as good as removing humidity as they are as adding. Great topic Tony!

Learned my lesson about humidity. Thirty years ago I had my twelve string here in N arizona in humidity that at times was 5%. It cracked and warped and became unplayable. A few months ago I learened some luthery and cut the back off and repaired the braces and bridgeplate, and replaced the bridge ,and repaired cracks. Now playable again and I now keep all my guitars humidified, and run a humidifier in my house. And I keep most of them in cases with humidifiers. Our humidity goes from 5% to 40% but usually is 25 to 35%.

Yeah Tony, I use the oasis inserts for my three acoustics, fill them up once/week, have a April aire humidifier on the furnace, bought a ten dollar hygrometer/thermometer on the piano near my guitars on stands to keep track of humidity and temperature. What about electric guitars, how best to humidify? Also, how about a show on right hand fingernail shaping?

Saw Koerner Ray and Glover play at many a Minneapolis bar back in my youth.

Would love to try a book club...thanks for the idea, Tony!

hi Tony - thanks for the humidity vid - especially liked the suggestions for ways to humidify and some to consider. I am going to look into these. The Bourgeois does not appeal to me - waiting for my D-18 that is my dream guitar! Thanks again

I have two resos, one brass and one laminate. Perhaps like others I use an Oasis case humidifier for my Reso Rocket WB and so far so good. However, I hadn’t thought about my brass reso and the neck issue you mentioned. So thanks so much for raising my awareness. Cheers fro Ottawa, Canada.

Yes I would really like it it’s unique

Absolutely I would love to try this guitar, and it is gorgeous. A Sitka Cedar sound board would provide so much interest, and the Koa Rosewood back would provide punch and chime. Can't afford it, wouldn't spend that for a guitar, but love the look and would love to hear it so looking to see if they demoed it.

I live in north GA. Summer is humidity central. Winter isn’t much different. Outdoor humidity this morning is 85% with rain. Indoor with the heat on is 25%. I don’t worry about humidity too much.

Thank you Tony, super information. I've had a basic little sponge humidifier in my nice little Merida classical guitar but I didn't always keep the sponge moist. It was in the closet (northeast climate) inside the house with pretty good temp control and in a case. But I'd travel for 2 months every summer and it wouldn't get humidified (though I live in a summer-humid climate, western MA) Alas there is some drying in the top, a slight gap both sides of center at the widest part of the guitar. there's also some ridging in the wood. No cracks, separations, frets all perfect, nothing has moved otherwise. And a slight negative dishing between the sound hole and the bottom string anchor. action is good. Anyway, QUESTION: can this moderate drying be reversed? I've been religious about keeping damp the sponge in my soundhole humidifier: no drips etc. But only since I've started TAC. The guitar has lived in its case in the closet for months on end without attention, I wasn't edumicated about humidity alas. So--Can the condition reverse? Or is it all about preventing it from getting worse from here on in? Thanks for another great Acoustic Tuesday! your happy student Jim

Oh the dry winters up here in Canada… constant humidifying the guitar.

Very helpful education on guitar humdity. I have a Music Nomad sound hole case & sponge. Last winter (it's dry here

I would go for the multi wood guitar because I like to be different and unique as well as having something different.

I enjoy your info on the guitar , the music types, all things in between ! THANK YOU ! U R NO B.S.

Love my Boveda. My cigar smoking husband introduced me to Boveda. Bluetooth on my phone to keep track of my guitar humidity or lack of.

Living in MN I have a huge problem with lack of humidity in the winter. I have found the Boveda packs the easiest to use because it doesn't over humidify and loosen glue or under humidify and dry the wood out. Boveda packs can be brought back to usefulness by placing them in an airtight container with some distilled water. Make sure the packs are suspended above and out of the water. Leave them in several days. They will soften again and work fine. If using water and a sponge, ALWAYS use distilled water. Tap water contains minerals and when the water evaporates the minerals left. These things work fine for me.

I live near Memphis, and it’s mostly the opposite I have to worry about. As I type this in January, the outside temperature is 48 degrees and the humidity is 92%. 92! So, even with the heat on, the humidity inside the house right now is 47%. Perfect. But all it takes is a rise in temps up to 50s-70s (when neither the heat nor AC run as much) and the indoor humidity will rise to over 60%. I keep my guitars in cases in my “office”. When the indoor humidity is in the good range I leave the door open. When it gets too high, I close the door and turn on the dehumidifier which is set at 45% (it will let the humidity get 5% on either side of that before it kicks on). When the humidity is near 60% (or higher) in the rest of the house, I have to empty it’s 0.5 gallon tank once a day. Which goes to show how much your guitar could otherwise be absorbing. This machine is pulling a gallon of water from the air in one room every two days. In some ways I think the monitoring system you have in place is at least as important as the steps you take. Mine is multilayered. I have hygrometer setting on the table beside me in the living room to get a feel for the whole house. I have another one in the “guitar room” to monitor it specifically. Which brought an interesting problem to my mind. I’m trying to keep this mostly sealed environment. But I need to know the humidity in there. Yet every time I check it, I have to unseal it. Shades of the observation effect and even Schrödinger’s cat. Enter Amazon. I found a combo hygrometer/thermometer that syncs up with my phone via Bluetooth and an app. This gives me the ability to check it anytime, anywhere in the house - without having to “break the seal” when the humidity is too high. The app also creates temp and humidity graphs (daily, weekly, and yearly). It’s super helpful. Now, of course, I DO go in the office and I DO grab guitars out of their cases and bring them out of there. However, when they humidity is way out of range in the rest of the house, I typically don’t go in there much and don’t drag out the most expensive acoustics. Inside the room, they are all in cases and two of them have hygrometers inside their cases so I can make sure that it doesn’t vary too much from the room humidity. It typically doesn’t, other than being even more stable. As far as needing to add humidity, I do have some of the “saddlebags” and also some of the sound hole sponges. But, so far, I haven’t had to use them to add humidity. This winter we did have a brief spell where it got record level cold (for here). It got down to 0F and stayed way below freezing around the clock for about 36-48 hours. The heat was on around the clock and the indoor humidity dropped down into the low 30s for about the same period. What did I do? Nothing. Left them in their cases (except one cheaper one) and waited it out. When the indoor humidity climbed back up to 40% I checked the two hygrometers inside the cases. One was at 46% and the other at 49%. TL:DR - Make sure to have good monitoring system for the humidity where you store your guitars. Respond accordingly. Some will need to humidify, some will be more worried about dehumidifying, and some might get lucky and not need to do much of either.

I live in SW Florida. Currently I have no trouble with humidity high or low but during summer I run a dehumidifier in a closed room 24/7.

Here in FL ..don't leave the state often so not even sure I know what "dry" feels like. I do own a dehumidifier/hydrometer

Should also talk more about dehumidifying guitar. I live in singapore and guitar can be too wet it goes up to 80% of humidity 😪

Years ago I bought a 200.00 acoustic guitar at a local outdoor flea market that had been sitting face out in the sun all day.. The strings were so hot you couldn’t touch them without getting burned. I paid 30.00 for it..I took it home, let it cool down for a couple days before I put new strings on it…it sounded so beautiful you couldn’t imagine without hearing it for yourself. I even took it to the local music store where they had about 5 of the same exact model hanging. I asked them to compare the sound of it to those. They did and asked me what I had done to it to make it sound so good…I explained about the purchase and the next day all their models like it were hanging in the front window…

I got my dream guitar a few weeks ago (Martin ceo-7) and have been obsessing over keeping it humidified lol. I live in Canada and an apartment specifically that is really dry with the heating. I got the Boveda packs and leave it in my case when I don’t play but it was still not humid enough so I had to get a humidifier for the room. Bumped up the humidity in the case from 38-45.

I live in Southeast Texas just a few miles from the Gulf Coast. Lots of humidity in the air. My guitars hang on the wall in my small den. I have two hygrometers in different places in the room. Even though my home a/c units have dehumidifiers built in, the humidity in that room generally stays between 40 and 55 percent. Sometime during winter, when the heater comes on from time to time, the humidity will get down to 35 percent. But that doesn’t happen very often. I am posting this to illustrate that you have to be aware of your local conditions. If I used humidifiers on my guitars it would probably be too much moisture.

Tony thanks for the info on humidifying guitars, very important. On another subject I have watched two of your videos on acoustic guitar pickups. Because I want to try the pickup in several guitars I’m looking at the portability in sound hole pickups. I saw your review on the Blackstack Fishman. I was leaning toward the Fishman Rare Earth sound hole with the mic. Seems like some advantages to have the Mike along with the magnetic pick up. However the Black stack offers some adjustability for the magnets. What can you tell us about this setup?

I live in Southwestern New Mexico. (extremely low humidity) I own 10 acoustic guitars. (2 Martins, 2 Taylors, 2 Vintage Venturas, 2 Takamines, 1 Larrivee and 1 Gretsch). I keep my guitars in their cases. In each case I have a Mini Digital Thermometer/Hygrometer that shows me what the temperature and humidity is inside the case. (You can purchase a 4 pack from Amazon for about $14) I have been using Walmart travel soap dishes for several years, sponges and cut them to fit and keep 2 in each guitar case, one under the headstock and the other as close to the body as possible. Some fit under the neck joint, some on their sides or on end. I wring the water out of the sponges and have never had a problem with water leakage in the cases. During the winter I have to rehydrate the sponges about every 3-4 weeks. During the summer every 2 weeks. This system keeps the humidity

Personally I use old med/lg size pill bottles with drill out holes and rolled up sponges usually 2 to 3 fit inside bottle. Placed in case, lasts for a long time versus these single little tubes and sound hole packs.

3 woods please: adi top; madi back & sides; Mahogany neck. Perfect

Tony, just legitimized my concerns. Some have looked at me like I was crazy. I use Boveda packs and season my Aerocase with Boveda packs used for cigar humidors 72% up to 72 hours then back to guitar 49% with pouches in sound hole & pouch under headstock. Very dry Crap Chicago apertment.

I live on the Gulf Coast of Texas (south of Houston) - we seldom have a problem with low humidity (even in winter). In fact, one reason we run our AC is to de-humidify the home! So, I would like more info on humidifiers that help keep the humidity in the correct range. I'm thinking a case humidifier might be best (I keep my guitars in their case except when playing). Appreciate feedback from other geeks!

Yes I want it

I'm up for the book club.

Oh no! My poor resonator doesn't have a humidifier and I can't get to it for a month. Thanks for the tip Tony-Ill fix that as soon as I get home.

Please review the Soulmate Acoustic multi pedal. Thx!!

I know this acoustic guitar based but are there general guidelines for solid body/hollow body electric guitars?

King Geek ! ! I put a misting type of humidifier in the living room as well as my bedroom. It gets wintry up here in the Sierra's (snow and cold weather). How do you know if you're over humidifing or not enough ? ?

I have 6 acoustics. Three have solid tops a 2004 Seagull grand cedar top Laminate cherry back and sides. 2020 Ac340 Ibanez 000 a type of mahogany top and laminate back and sides similar to mahogany. A 2021 Recording King parlor 12 fret spruce top laminate mahogany back and sides their Revebond finger board and bridge. All are in hard shell cases and I use a damp sponge in zip locks with holes one under the head stock one in the sound hole hung by paper clip. Have three hygrometers and the guitars are in a small closet. I just check the meters every few days and redamp as needed. If both are dry do them if one usually the sound hole just it. I also have one recording King series 7 parlor all laminate and a Luna parlor all laminate both in gator gig bags same deal sound hole and under neck. Live in southern calif so we have some dry days and lately for a few years humid. I just check the readings and check the sponges to know. If real humid I remove the sponges and of course the cases do suck up moisture. They are not real expensive guitars yet I do care about them. can't afford the chemical models to deal with RH. Even laminate does dry out and so far no issues. I also right down day and date to keep track or what and when.

Do you use Bozeman City water in your Venta humidifier?

A question-based episode would be cool. 👍 As for the multi-tonewood guitar, I'd like to hear what it's like in person, but I'd be concerned that it's tone would be a compromise; okay to good in most areas but outstanding in none.

I used Oasis for ever and never had an issue. I then started hearing from some reputable Luthiers and Players that artificial or sound hole humidifying is Bad and that your bridges will pop off.. I ended up with a Venta 2 years ago and use a Hygrometer to keep the room in the range. So far...So good!

In a follow up you might want to offer info on a hygrometer to see if our guitar rooms are OK

As far as the guitar with 6 different woods, I wouldn’t knock it till I’ve tried it. Maybe there’s something about the different woods on the treble and bass side that give it a distinct or unique sound? I’m not sure if I’d buy one or how much I’d be willing to pay but I’d be interested to hear how it sounds

I learned my lesson on humidity with a Taylor 214 which actually cracked on the “layered” laminated back (on the outer layer of the laminate). Lowered it’s resale value even after having repaired by a well known luthier Mark Erlewine.

How about a episode about guitar cases would be great and or what apps for guitar you like

I think the kyser lifeguard may be discontinued. I love them but cant find them anywhere anymore.

Thank you, it was helpful. If humidifying your case Does it have to be a hard case to work or is there still benefit in guitar bag?

idea for future TAC - famous non-musician/singer who play/ed guitar - e.g. Johnny Depp

if i always put my ukulele or guitar inside the gigbag immediately after using them, will i still have to put humidifier in the soundhole?

I live in Hawaii a whole nother animal it becomes all consuming 90 percent humidity some months have had one guitar damaged lots of expense and research got to love and baby your instruments

Book club is a great idea

I think I’d like to hear it, but I think the tonewoods would actually conflict with each other.

I prefer D'Addario acoustic guitar humidifier. It's a sponge and it works just fine for me. I check all of my acoustics weekly or sooner and water them all.

What are your recommendations for those who shouldn’t humidify the entire the room due to condensation forming on the windows which can become a major problem for those living in the northern extreme cold states.

Thank you

I use D'addario humidipaks. Use them because they are always available at my local guitar shops. Are there any difference between them and the Boveda ones? Never heard of that brand before.

Why do acoustic guitars need to be amped up?

If you have a humidifier in your room and your guitar is in your case. Is that going to work. Enjoy your contact thank you

I have a Goya G-10 67’ it has been used as a wall decoration. It’s dry af, but I live in humid environment (subtropical maritime) I have a dehumidifier, everyone here does. I have a severe mold allergy. Help. TIA!

You always have great content every week Tony, but if you're hunting for ideas.. maybe an episode on the best portable PA rigs? A songwriting skills episode (Jeff Tweedy's book 'how to write one song' is great), what makes a good couch guitar episode, stop! don't buy a dreadnought try out a smaller guitar first episode, best way to capture a musical idea episode, a bit out there but top 10 songs in which chords carry the song episode, then top 10 songs where melody carries the song episode, sorry I've had too much caffeine I'll stop now ... that's not an episode btw

I love all this, but I don't live in Paris, Texas, I live in the cold wet dank damp dark UK. Do I have to worry bout humidity?

Hey Tony, I have been using the Boveda system for years, I recharge them my self in a tupperware container with a dish of water in it. You can rotate them in and out for years. My question is if you have a guitar with new strings in a humidified case for a year without playing it do the strings degrade at all or will they play like new?

Brevard, long E!

Koaloha has been using mixed woods on high quality ukulele (Naupaka model) for many years. People love them. I appreciate the enginuity. That particular company has always been known for testing the boundries of building, but I wouldn't buy one.

I use a warm mist not only is it good for your guitar it’s also good for you low humidity is bad for skin your nose your voice your guitar your furniture it’s just bad for a LOT of stuff so it’s well worth it to invest in humidifying a room and you don’t need an expensive one to do the job a 30$ Walmart warm mist will do the trick but you need to run a fan in the rooms if you want to avoid the residue

Do humidifiers work in a gig bag? My humidity is 41% so maybe a little low

My hydrometer is registering 38%...I live in New England.....so I use this device that fits in between the strings with a sponge inside......do I need to do more??

Do you have to humidify a carbon fiber guitar like a Raintree or McPherson?

I ordered new DAddario Humidpaks last month. It's been higher humidity than usual here so I take care. Usually humidity is ideal here around 50% so I get the maintanence pack.

D’addario humidifier packs 😊 along with my Taylor Sense electronics keeps my guitars happy!

Not interested in a book club, but maybe a part of trying to describe in words the voice of a guitar. Reason: I can hear differences in guitars but do not know how best to describe them to other. If you want to get real techie, figure out what the cost difference would be.

I think the Borguois guitar with "6 different woods" is rather silly. They should've at least made the top out of a single type of wood, and the back could've been a 3 pc back with the outer "wings" being 1 type of wood, while the center piece could be a different wood. Additionally, the sides could be yet a different kind of wood, but at least have the entire sides made of 1 wood type. That would still result in 5 different tone woods for the guitar body, but at least it wouldn't look so corny.

How are you spelling bogota is that correct would like to know I am not the greatest speller

I think my problem is too much humidity

the chemical humidifiers can be re humidified when they dry out. I do it all the time.

I just hang a damp sock in the sound hole and cover the hole with saran wrap.

Just move below the Mason-Dixon Line.

Hey, Tony. How about plugging Rosa String Works KZfaq channel. Jerry Rosa has a wealth of repair and build videos on acoustic guitars and mandolins. He shares his techniques in great detail. And while I don't plan to become a luthier, it has greatly expanded my knowledge of guitar construction and setup. Check it out. I think any acoustic player could get something useful out of it.

I bought a Martin D-18 (from Sweetwater) in May 2012 because I watched you play one on one of your KZfaq videos. I've been using D'Addario Humidipak. Here I see you recommend Boveda packets. What size should I use for my guitars? Thank you for years of advice. Here is your D-18 video from 10 years ago ... kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ptRhZpefrc3Ge4U.html

Bree…vahRd

Simple fix. Carbon guitar.