Best Guitar Humidifiers – Keeping Your Guitar in Great Condition
We added some excellent humidifiers including the TaoTronics Top Fill Humidifier and the advanced Oasis OH-1 soundhole humidifier, while D’Addario feature with their…
Last Updated: June-13-2018 Our chart and guide on humidifiers needed a complete overhaul, which included replacing a few existing recommendations. We added some excellent humidifiers including the TaoTronics Top Fill Humidifier and the advanced Oasis OH-1 soundhole humidifier, while D’Addario feature with their Humidipak Two-Way Humidification System.Here’s a question – has your solid-wood acoustic guitar ever sounded amazing one day, then awful the next? Unless you lost your ability overnight or are playing drunk, chances are the cause of the bad tone is down to humidity issues. Depending on where you live, humidity can be anything from a minor to major issue for guitarists with a solid-wood (or part solid-wood) guitar – ranging from poor tone to irreversible damage. The reason being that wood is very susceptible to moisture and temperature changes. While guitars are made in regulated environments where humidity is kept at a constant, the moment they leave the factory or workshop, it’s up to both guitar stores and individual owners to ensure the guitar is stored in the right environment. Of course, that’s where humidifiers come into the picture. These devices regulate the humidity in and around your guitar, ensuring optimum storage wherever you live. In fact, having a humidifier is almost as important as having a decent cable or a good tuner. We have searched the market for the best humidifiers out there and highlighted our favorites in the chart below. Then stick around for a guide on buying a humidifier and how to keep your guitar in the best condition.
The Top 8 Best Guitar Humidifiers:
The Lowdown on Humidity
Humidity can’t be that bad… right? Wrong! While light or occasional humidity issues are unlikely to bring anything more than minor damage, if you don’t control heavy or persistent humidity issues, irreversible major damage can occur. Many of us live in states and cities where conditions are particularly dry. Air conditioning is essential in the summer months, then when the temperature drops, we turn on heaters and radiators which dry the air out even more. Unfortunately, when humidity drops to under around 30 percent for long enough, you may begin to see damage to your guitar. This damage can include sharp fret edges, warped necks, loose bridges and neck joints, separating glue, and severely reduced playability, while you may hear drastically poorer tone and fret buzz. Let humidity drop to under 15 percent and you may start to see cracks develop along the body, bridge and fretboard as the guitar dries out. It is literally like watching the guitar die in front of you – and it’s tragic. This is irreversible damage or only something a pro can restore for a hefty fee. Considering that you can buy a decent humidifier for as low as $5, it makes sense to explore that option instead of unnecessarily exposing your prize axe to such potential damage.But Isn’t a Dry Environment Great for a Guitar’s Tone?
Some guitarists believe a dry environment will enhance a guitar’s tone, but it is not true. While it is true that natural aging causes cell crystallization and hardening of the wood – which does result in a louder and more dynamic sound – this has nothing to do with dryness, which will only cause damage and require structural repairs in the long run.How to Measure Humidity?
While you can try to guess the humidity of a room, an easier – and more accurate – method is to use a hygrometer or thermometer to measure the relative humidity and temperature surrounding your guitar. Basic devices costing very little are available, such as the Inkbird Digital Thermometer and Hygrometer, which will passively monitor your room or guitar case, measuring humidity with a good degree of accuracy. Then come more advanced options such as the D’Addario Humiditrak, which sits in your guitar case and sends notifications to your smartphone (via Bluetooth) if the guitar is in a hazardous humidity.Types of Humidifier
So, now we have covered the basics and seen some of the most popular humidifiers on the market, let’s take a closer look at the three main types of humidifier and determine which will suit you best. Soundhole Humidifier As the name suggests, these humidifiers sit in or around your guitar’s soundhole – either covering the soundhole completely or sitting in between your strings, with the device hanging down into the guitar. Due to the low price and easy operation, soundhole humidifiers tend to be the most popular. However, they will only work if your guitar is stored in a case. Guitar Case Humidifier Again, the name says it all – these humidifiers sit in your guitar case and keep the entire case regulated. They usually take the form of either a material or plastic tube which allows water vapor to pass through, or a pouch which does pretty much the same thing. As with soundhole models, these humidifiers will only work if the guitar spends the most of the time in its case. Room Humidifier If you prefer to keep your guitars displayed out of their cases – resting on a stand or hanging on the wall – a room humidifier will be your best option as they keep the entire room regulated. The bonus of this is that, in addition to keeping your guitar healthy, a room with more than 30 percent humidity may be better for your health too. Of course, due to the electrical components, these humidifiers tend to be more expensive than the other options.Are Humidifiers Only for Acoustic Guitars?
In short, no. Of course, acoustic guitars tend to be associated with humidity issues because they are more fragile and rely heavily on the condition of the wood for their tone and volume. While electric guitars rely more on pickups and amplifiers, both electric and bass guitars are made of wood and are still prone to cracking, so would benefit from optimum humidity levels (generally between 40 and 60 percent).Humidifier and Guitar Storage Tips
Now you know why a humidifier is important and what the different styles can offer, let’s look at a few tips on how to use them correctly, maximize their efficiency and generally keep your guitar in tiptop condition.- Never leave a humidifier in direct contact with the instrument – either suspend it from the strings or place it in the case where it isn’t touching the wood.
- Keep track of humidity in both the room and the guitar case. Cases tend to show different humidity readings as they are isolated systems – especially hardshell models. So, when you check the room, check the case too.
- Complementing a case or soundhole humidifier with a room humidifier is an excellent way to keep your guitar in the best conditions at all time.
- If possible, keep your guitar in its case whenever it is not in use.
- When out of its case, keep your guitar away from open windows, heaters, and air conditioners. It’s also wise to keep it out of direct sunlight for prolonged periods.
- Try to avoid moving a guitar from cold to hot environments (and vice versa) too rapidly, as it can cause damage and minor cracks on the finish.
- Keep your guitar stored in a habitable place, such as a bedroom or living room. Storing a guitar in unheated areas including garages, attics, sheds and car trunks can lead to damage as temperature and humidity changes.
- If you have left your guitar in less-than-ideal conditions (too dry or too wet) for a while, take it to a professional for a damage assessment and a fresh setup.