Martin Guitar Humidifier for
Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, Mandolin
Humidify Your Wooden Instrument!
Our wooden musical instruments are constantly
in a battle for moisture. Guitars, mandolins, string basses, ukuleles etc.
are all built in temperature and humidity controlled environments.
Once we remove them from the luthier's shop or the factory
all of the different species and cuts of wood begin to
shrink and expand at different rates,
based on the humidity in the surrounding environment.
If your instrument lives in an area where the relative humidity is dry
or if you depend on air conditioning or heating to control the
temperature in your home/office/studio,
(just about everywhere I know of),
then your instrument will very likely suffer from the
low or constantly changing humidity levels.
The solution is simple and inexpensive.
Install a simple, passive humidifier in each of your instruments,
while they are not being played. The humidifier will
slowly release moisture into the wood of the guitar, uke, mando etc.
This slow moisture release will help keep the instrument's wood
from drying, cracking, shrinking and expanding.
The design of these humidifiers is simple.
There are basically only two parts and it lasts forever.
The perforated tube you see in the diagram is soft surgical rubber.
It can't harm your instrument finish or strings.
Inside the perforated tube is a long sponge. To use
simply soak the thing in water for a few seconds,
dry the excess water from the outside by shaking or patting on a towel,
(you want it damp, not dripping wet),
then insert it into the soundhole or F hole of your instrument.
If you are installing it for the first time after never having a humidifier,
the wood in your instrument will soak up a lot of moisture for the first few days.
You will likely need to recharge the humidifier every 24 hours or so.
After a few days, each recharge will last longer and will, of course,
depend on your ambient humidity and temperature.
You will very likely notice an improvement in the tone of your instrument
during these first few days, as the wood returns toward it's
ideal humidity level (about 45%).
I use these humidifiers in all of my guitars, ukes and mandolins and I
insist that all of my students use them for the sake of their
fine wooden instruments. The alternative to this inexpensive device
is a very expensive trip to the luthier or instrument tech,
for some serious repairs that may cost more than the price of the instrument.
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