Acoustic Guitar Humidifier | A guide by Zager

An acoustic guitar humidifier is a tool used to keep the correct humidity level in the area around an acoustic guitar. To preserve the integrity and quality of the instrument, the proper humidity must be maintained. The wood of an acoustic guitar may shrink, bend, or crack in the presence of excessively dry air, which will result in structural harm and a loss of tone. This is especially true for solid-wood guitars, which are more sensitive to humidity changes than laminated or synthetic instruments.

A humidifier for guitars works by dispersing moisture into the air around the instrument, which aids in preserving a constant humidity level. Acoustic guitar humidifiers are an essential tool for guitarists who live in dry climates or areas with large fluctuations in humidity. 

They can also be useful for musicians who travel frequently with their instruments or who store their guitars for long periods. Properly caring for an acoustic guitar with a humidifier can help ensure that it remains in optimal condition, producing beautiful sound for years to come.

Why Does a Guitar Need a Humidifier?

Guitars are not designed to withstand a significant humidity change; it is built in manufacturing factories that maintain high humidity levels. When there is a slight increase in humidity the guitar may warp or swell its wood causing damage permanently.

Additionally, a guitar humidifier is necessary to maintain the proper humidity level in the instrument’s environment. Guitars are made of wood, which is a natural material that responds to changes in humidity levels. 

When the humidity level inside it changes, the wood can expand or contract, which can lead to warping, cracking, or other types of damage. To prevent this, it’s essential to ensure that the guitar is exposed to enough moisture and kept at a steady level consistent humidity level.

A guitar humidifier is designed to add moisture to the guitar’s environment, ensuring that the moisture inside the wood remains at the appropriate moisture level. This is particularly important in areas with low humidity, such as during the winter months when indoor heating systems can dry out the air. Without a humidifier, the guitar’s wood can become too dry, leading to cracks and other damage.

On the other hand, if the guitar is exposed to too much moisture, it can lead to swelling or warping of the wood. This is why it’s important to use a humidifier that maintains a consistent humidity level, using more than enough water, rather than more water rather than adding too much moisture to the guitar’s environment.

What Should I Look For When Buying a Guitar Humidifier?

A guitar humidifier is a device that helps maintain humidity levels inside the guitar’s body, preventing damage caused by too much or too little moisture. The ideal relative humidity level for a guitar is between 40% and 60%, and fluctuations in humidity level can cause warping, cracking, or other damage to the guitar’s body.

By using a guitar humidifier, you can help ensure that the moisture level in the environment is consistent and within the optimal range. Different types of guitar humidifiers, such as soundhole humidifiers or case humidifiers, are available on the market. When selecting a humidifier, consider its capacity, material, and maintenance requirements.

 Look for a humidifier that can accurately measure and maintain the humidity level in the guitar’s environment to protect the guitar from damage caused by moisture changes.

Typically, the soundhole or acoustic guitar humidifier covers your instrument’s soundhole or resides between the guitar strings. In a guitar case, a sound hole humidifier is mounted under the guitar’s case or under the head. While it’s essential to buy the best acoustic instrument humidifiers, their use also has a significant impact.

Are Humidifiers For Acoustic Guitars Only?

The humidifiers aren’t just designed to be used in guitars! 

Acoustic guitars are generally more subsestible to weakness and sensitive to moisture changes, making them highly recommended. However, electric guitars do not require a humidification system yet. 

Some acoustic instruments have been crafted with kiln-tried lumber during the past years, while the old guitar is made from air-tipped wood. Kiln-dried wood uses heat to dry wood, causing it to age faster.

A guitar humidifier is a valuable tool for maintaining the proper humidity levels in a guitar case, especially for acoustic guitars made of wood. Wood is a porous material that can easily absorb or release moisture depending on environmental conditions. 

When the humidity levels are too low, the wood can dry out and crack, which can cause permanent damage to the guitar. On the other hand, when the humidity levels are too high, the wood can swell and warp, affecting the tone and playability of the guitar.

To prevent these issues, guitar humidifiers are designed to regulate the humidity levels in a guitar case by adding or using distilled water to safely remove moisture as needed. They come in different shapes and sizes, and some are designed for acoustic guitars. These humidifiers can be placed inside the guitar case, and they work by releasing moisture into the air to maintain a consistent level of humidity.

Overall, using a guitar humidifier can help protect your acoustic guitar from the effects of fluctuating humidity levels and ensure that it stays in good condition for years to come.

This is where Zager comes along; Zager’s humidifier can be described as one of the best and most efficient humidifiers in the market. It is used to maintain the proper humidity level for your guitar. It is designed to prevent your guitar from drying out, which can cause damage to the instrument, such as cracking, warping, and shrinkage.

The humidifier is made of a special material that absorbs water and releases it slowly over time, helping to maintain a constant level of humidity inside the guitar case. The humidifier is easy to use – you simply soak it in water for a few minutes, and then place it inside your guitar case. 

We’ll talk more about it in detail after we’ve discussed different types of humidifiers.

What Are The Different Types of Guitar Humidifiers?

Once you understand why guitars are so humid, you must learn about guitar humidifiers. What makes guitar humidifying a good option? Basically, everything varies with your use of guitars. 

Your guitars finish is more prone to cracks and dehydration if they are stored in a place where humidity is below 40 percent.There are several types of guitar humidifiers available on the market, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Here are some of the most common types:

Soundhole Humidifiers

These humidifiers are designed to fit inside the soundhole of an acoustic guitar. They typically feature a sponge or foam insert that holds water vapor and releases moisture into the air as it evaporates.

Case Humidifiers

These humidifiers are specially designed fabric made to be placed inside the guitar case, rather than directly on the guitar. They can be electric or non-electric and are usually filled with distilled water or a specially designed humidifier solution.

Room Humidifiers

These humidifiers are not explicitly designed for guitars, but they can regulate the humidity levels in a room where the instrument or guitar is stored. They come in a variety of sizes and can be electric or non-electric.

Soundboard Humidifiers

These humidifiers are designed to attach to the underside of the guitar’s soundboard, releasing moisture into the air to maintain the proper humidity levels. They are typically installed by a professional luthier and are not as common as other types of humidifiers.

Each type of acoustic guitar humidifier has its own pros and cons, and the choice ultimately depends on the individual’s needs and preferences.

 Some factors to consider include the size of the guitar, the climate in which it is stored, and how often the guitar is played. It’s essential to choose a humidifier appropriate for the guitar and to monitor the humidity levels regularly to ensure that the guitar stays in good condition.

How Do I Use A Guitar Humidifier?

Using a guitar humidifier is the most important thing to prevent damage to your guitar caused by changes in humidity.

 Here are the general steps for using a guitar humidifier:

Choose a Quality Guitar Humidifier

There are different types of guitar humidifiers available, such as soundhole humidifiers, case humidifiers, accessories, and in-case humidifiers. Choose the type and quality of humidifier that works best for your guitar and the environment in which you will be storing it.

Soak The Humidifier

Most guitar humidifiers require soaking before use. Follow the instructions that come with your humidifier to determine how long to soak it. Generally, with an instrument case humidifier, you will soak the humidifier in tap water for a period of time before inserting it into the hard case of your guitar.

Insert the sound hole of the humidifier: Once your humidifier is soaked, carefully insert it into the soundhole or case of your guitar. Be sure to position it so that it is not touching the guitar’s finish or any other sensitive parts of the dry guitar.

Check The Humidity Level

Use a digital hygrometer, to check the humidity level of the sponge humidifier inside your guitar. The ideal humidity level for most guitars is between 40-60%. If the humidity level is too low, soak the humidifier again and reinsert it into your guitar. If the humidity level is too high, remove the humidifier for a while to let the moisture dissipate.

Monitor Regularly

Check the room humidifier and the humidity level regularly to ensure that the controlled environment around your guitar is properly humidified. Refill or replace the humidifier as necessary to maintain the room humidifier at the appropriate level of moisture.

Remember, maintaining proper humidity levels is essential for the health and longevity of your guitar. With regular use of a guitar humidifier, you can protect your investment and enjoy your instrument for years to come.

Dry Environment Impact on Guitar Sound

The impact of a dry environment on the sound of a guitar is a topic that has been hotly debated among musicians and audiophiles for decades. While some believe that a dry environment can enhance the sound of a guitar, others argue that it can have a negative impact on the instrument’s tone and playability.

One of the primary ways in which a dry environment can affect a guitar’s sound is by causing changes in the wood. Guitars are typically made from wood, which is a porous material that can absorb and release moisture depending on the humidity of its surroundings. When the air is dry, the wood in a guitar can become dehydrated and shrink, which can lead to changes in the guitar’s shape and structure.

These changes can have a profound impact on the sound of the guitar. For example, a dry environment can cause the guitar’s top (the part of the guitar that vibrates the most when the strings are played) to sink or warp, which can reduce the amount of energy that is transmitted to the soundboard. This, in turn, can lead to a duller, less resonant sound.

On the other hand, some musicians argue that a dry environment can enhance the sound of a guitar by making it more responsive and lively. This is because when the wood in a guitar is dehydrated, it becomes stiffer and more resonant, which can allow the guitar to produce a clearer, more defined tone. Additionally, a dry environment can reduce the amount of damping in the guitar’s strings and body, which can result in longer sustain and more complex harmonics.

Ultimately, whether a dry environment creates a great guitar sound is a matter of personal preference. Some musicians prefer the warmer, fuller tone that is often associated with a more humid environment, while others prefer the brighter, more defined sound that can be achieved in a drier setting.

 Ultimately, the best way to determine what works best for you and your guitar is to experiment with different environments and see which one produces the sound that you like the most.

What Denis Zager Recommends

Dennis Zager from Zager Guitar, due to his extensive experience in both the music industry as well as craftsmanship of guitars has his two cents to share as well.

Guitar Cases

All of our cases have digital humidity sensors in them that show relative humidity inside the case where you’re storing your guitar in your home. This is vitally important to the woods of an acoustic guitar because if conditions are too dry they can warp which will cause poor playability and eventually cracking. 

Guitars stored in cases have fewer problems long term because the guitar is protected not only from physical damage but also from subtle daily temperature and humidity changes in storage. We don’t include humidifiers with our guitars as most of our clients don’t need them unless you’re in an environment that is extremely dry. In those circumstances, we recommend this one https://zagerguitar.com/guitars/humidification-system/

Mr. Zager has a video on recommended humidity levels here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auAREznPYaM&t=9s

Zager Humidifier

After trying virtually every guitar humidification system on the market and not being impressed, Denny Zager finally created his own. Guaranteed to work in all climates. 100% money-back guarantee. Lifetime warranty.

If you would like to know more about humidity and the proper climate to store your guitar we have a video about that here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auAREznPYaM&t=1s

About Zager Guitars

Zager Guitars is a family-owned third-generation acoustic guitar builder that has been building guitars in Lincoln, Nebraska, since 1902. Zager is rated in the top 5% of all guitar brands and has been featured in Time Magazine, Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Rolling Stone, The New Yorker, ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, FOX, and a multitude of national and international news media. Many players have tried our guitars over the last 50 years because of muscle and joint pain, MS, arthritis, nerve damage, fibromyalgia, carpel tunnel, shoulder and back pain, broken fingers, and even missing fingers. 

Our string heights are lower, allowing you to come down on the strings from a more perpendicular angle, so you no longer have to reach over other strings muting them out. 

One important thing that’s very different about our guitars is the spacing between the strings side to side is slightly wider, which creates more room for your fingers, so when you’re forming chords, you’re not accidentally leaning on strings that you don’t want, creating buzzes and rattles.

FAQS

Do Guitar Humidifiers Actually Work?

Generally speaking, yes. If you live in a place that has little humidity during the entire year, then a humidifier is your friend. We recommended keeping the humidity level of your guitar at, at least 60%. 

Do I Really Need a Guitar Humidifier?

All solid-bodied electrics and acoustic guitars with laminated backs and sides require assistance when playing. They have wood necks and fingerboards, and if they shrink they can be seen as indicating dryness.

How Often Should You Humidify Your Guitar?

In most cases, the humidifier must be cleaned once every seven days or in areas where it is very dry.

What Happens If I Don’t Humidify My Guitar?

If the wood of a guitarist gets wet, the guitar may sink and cause problems. It can cause a broken guitar body and joint tearing which causes serious damage. This can be prevented by the use of a humidifier in your guitar holder.