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What to look for in a Guitar Humidifier
Dry winter weather or enviornments can cause serious damage to
acoustic guitars, in the form of cracks in the wood. This damage
may require expensive repairs or reduce the sound quality of
your fine instrument.
One way to supply additional humidity to your guitar is through
a device known as a guitar humidifier. These devices are
designed to release humidity inside the guitar through the
sound-hole. Sound-hole humidifiers all utilize some type of
water reservoir with an absorbent medium such as a sponge, water
absorbent floral foam or absorbent polymer. The medium is then
surrounded by some type of cover which holds the water absorbent
medium in place and restricts the flow of water evaporation from
the medium. To get inside your guitar, they slip between your
guitar strings and are held in place there. Depending upon the
brand of humidifier you purchase, it may or may not touch the
wood inside your guitar. Dampit is designed to lie inside your
guitar, while Planet Waves and Oasis are completely suspended
from the strings.
Water holding capacity and the restrictiveness of the outer
cover are the greatest factors in determining how often you will
need to refill the device. Needless to say, you can't stick a
quart container of water inside your guitar, but there are
several humidifiers that will hold an ounce (30 cc's) or more
such as Oasis or Planet Waves. If your guitar needs several cc's
per day of water vapor, a humidifier that holds only 5-10 cc's
will
need to be refilled every few days.
Planet Waves and Dampit utilize holes in the outside membrane to
release water vapor. Oasis uses a fabric which allows the water
vapor, but not the water, to pass through the material to keep
your guitar humidified. One downside to evaporation holes is the
risk of water leakage. Very careful handling can minimize, but
not eliminate this risk. Oasis is a water-tight, sealed unit
which eliminates the risk of water leakage.
When to refill your humidifier is one of the great mysteries
which have been solved by Oasis. Since Oasis is a flexible
sealed container, is shrinks as the water inside of it
evaporates through the fabric. When Oasis begins to look like a
prune, you need to refill it.
All of the sound-hole humidifiers work. Each has its own
advantages and disadvantages. As with any new product you
purchase, please read the directions carefully before use.
product you purchase, please read the directions carefully
before use.
About the author:
David Hepple is the inventor of the Oasis Guitar Humidifier.
Since the age of 13, he has played either a nylon stringed
classical or flat top steel stringed guitar. For the past 14
years, he has been an active volunteer with the Baltimore
Classical Guitar Society, serving as President from 1999 to 2003
and now as treasurer. Prior to being President, he booked the
organization's concert series.
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