Martins and Humidity

[JrGtr42]

So I haven't been posting much lately (damn real life...) but I have a question for all you acoustic types.
So last weekend I finally got around to loading the humidifyers into my Martins for the winter (HD28 and D18) (I know I should have done it a month and a half ago, but whatever)
I played them both a while before putting them away, noticing as I did so that the hygrometers in the cases were reading extremely dry (no issues with the guitars, though)
I pulled them out this morning to play, and I prefer the sound when they are dry. Anyone else notice a sound difference, and if so, which do you prefer? dry or damp.
I may have to do some experiments to find out if/where there is a sweet spot for humidity that still sounds good.

[bluespckr]

I do need to check in here more often. This answer come about a month late, but I'll give you my take on it.

I have a D-35 -- bought it with my wife's help as a present for Christmas 2006. That said, I had one other Martin, and older Guild and a couple of Ovations over the years, so I've had to deal with this humidifying busiless for some time. I live in southern New Hampshire, which means I'm a part of the country that can see huge seasonal changes, not to mention the dryness that comes with heating in the winter.

First, I can hear a difference in tone, as the wood dries or gets re-humidified. I don't know how it is with the D-28, so I'll take your word for it, but my ears tell me instantly when the D-35 needs some moisturizing. I don't like the dry, harsh, brittle sound I get when it needs humidifying. Keeping the guitar in its case, with a humidifier packet in the sound hole, makes a huge difference, at least on the D-35. I prefer the sound of the wood with moisture than dry.

Whether you like the dry sound or not, you need to keep it humified, or rish body cracks and such. My local certified Martin tech has a shop full of very expensive acoustics that were grossly neglected to the point tops and sides split, bridges pulled up, etc.

I asked him about room humidifiers vs those spnge-type things you can put with the guitar in the case. He explained that a room humifier is better than nothing, but it really doesn't go far enoughto put the right amount of moisture where it really needs to be (which is INSIDE the body). He swears by those dangly things you can hang from the strings into the sound hole. I use a different system that puts a mesh pouch type of thing in the hole from the strings. It's important to keep the guitar cased, except when playing it, and keeping some kind of humifier thing in the case with the guitar.

But, yes, the tone does change with the moisture content in the wood. I like mine wet, you like it drier. Just don't let it get too dry.

Paul

[JrGtr42]

Thanks for the reply, Blues...and belive me, I do keep my eyes on it - I sold guitars for a while and saw first hand what would happen if the humidity (lack thereof) was taken to the extreme.

I'm right here in New England as well - in fact, was it you who uses Bill Whitsett for your tech-ing?
I have 2 sponge-things in each of my Martins - a long one that came from the factory (in a Gibson, IIRC) with a gutiar that I was unpacking at the store, and a planet waves fin-type thing in the HD28, and
a pair of smaller fin-things in the D18, with a mini- hygrometer in each case as well.
The range for safety for acoustics is about 45 - 55 percent humidity, if I remember right. I prefer the sound at the lower end of that range, or maybe a touch below, but I don't let them get below 40% ever.

[bluespckr]

Thanks for the reply, Blues...and belive me, I do keep my eyes on it - I sold guitars for a while and saw first hand what would happen if the humidity (lack thereof) was taken to the extreme.

I'm right here in New England as well - in fact, was it you who uses Bill Whitsett for your tech-ing?
I have 2 sponge-things in each of my Martins - a long one that came from the factory (in a Gibson, IIRC) with a gutiar that I was unpacking at the store, and a planet waves fin-type thing in the HD28, and
a pair of smaller fin-things in the D18, with a mini- hygrometer in each case as well.
The range for safety for acoustics is about 45 - 55 percent humidity, if I remember right. I prefer the sound at the lower end of that range, or maybe a touch below, but I don't let them get below 40% ever.

Wow. Good memory. Yep -- I was the guy who went to Bill. I haven't had a reason to go back, but his set ups are spot on. That D-35 plays like buttah!

[Huckleberry]

FWIW, I've been using the Planet Waves "dangling in the soundhole" humidifier. Seems to be working okay.

[bluespckr]

FWIW, I've been using the Planet Waves "dangling in the soundhole" humidifier. Seems to be working okay.


Those things are fine. My tech recommends the larger of the two sizes, but that's all you really need to keep your guitar happy inside. :jm

[silfoxnz]

A friend of mine suggested years ago (well, decades, actually) that the best thing you can do for an acoustic guitar is hang it on the wall in a well-used carpeted room. The carpet tends to stablilise the humidity, the activity in the room makes noise and keeps the instrument moving, and if it's on the wall it's far more likely to get taken down and played.
My rosewood guitars (1962 D-28 and 1924 0-28) sulk if I don't play them for a matter of weeks and take 30 to 45 minutes to come alive again, whereas my mahogany guitars (Fylde Ariel and Ibanez Artwood 18) take longer to start sulking but also longer to bring back again. The carpeted active room treatment seems to keep them a lot happier.

[sliding-tom]

Interesting observation about the difference between mahogany and rosewood - but for the well-used carpeted room: I used to do just that to my Martin and it developed a crack in the top during the winter (heating season). Eversince then I keep my acoustics in their respective cases when not being played.

BTW: Welcome!

[hank]

I keep my acoustics in cases fall through early spring .... with a humidifier inside. I've never had a problem.