Planet Waves humidifier - string stretch OK?

[bbblacksheep]

When I recently got my new D-03SPE, I had decided previously that I'd get a good humidifier for it so I picked up one of the Planet Waves humidifiers (and the HTS as well).  I love the HTS but with the humidifier, I wonder if the stretch of the middle strings (caused by the thickness of this thing) is OK?     Will this cause any long-term damage (e.g. saddle)?  Anyone been using these for a couple years or more?

Just lookin' out for my baby!     Thanks!  Here's some    to get everyone through the afternoon!

Steve

[Blue in VT]

I've had mine for two winters now on my OM and I haven't noticed any ill effects....other than the humidifier is now clogged with whitish deposits...despite cleaning them from time to time....and yes I do use distilled H₂O

sorry to digress....I wouldn't worry about it too much....



Blue

[bhika]

I've had mine for two winters now on my OM and I haven't noticed any ill effects....other than the humidifier is now clogged with whitish deposits...despite cleaning them from time to time....and yes I do use distilled H₂O

sorry to digress....I wouldn't worry about it too much....



Blue

I have the same problem with mine clogging up. I've tried soaking them in vinegar and it doesn't really seam to help much. If anyone has any ideas or suggestion?

To answer your question Steve, I've been using them for a couple of years with no ill effect. You do want to use distilled water to stall the clogging up as long as possible. You can get it at Walmart for about a buck a gallon.

[bbblacksheep]

Thanks for the replies, guys!  Good to hear that it should be OK.  I'm surprised about the water thing though - I did get some distilled water just for this and assumed it would prevent the clog up.  That kinda sucks if it doesn't     Oh well, good thing they're only about $12 I guess...

[Blue in VT]

yeah it sucks....I think I'll try one of those Oasis jobbies next winter...

Blue

[C-10-4-me]

I've been using the Planet Waves type for a couple of years and have the same problem with them clogging up. I finally gave up and went and bought some good sponges at the grocery store. I soak them with regular tap water,squeeze out the excess, then place them in a baggie that I've punched a lot of holes in.That is my new humidifier and it works great.I either hang it from the strings with a tiny binder clip or just leave it hang off the strings.Either way it doesn't move or fall inside the guitar.Wish I'd tried it long ago.
Ron

[drathbun]

I used two Planetwaves humidifiers until they both clogged up after two seasons using distilled water. Considering the price of a Planetwaves and the amount of work you have to put into keeping the guitars in their cases, checking the humidity and inserting water with the syringe every other day, it is a lot of hassle for a lot of cost.

I purchased a Honeywell warm mist humidifier three years ago and now humidify my entire office/studio and have all my guitars out all season long. The room stays between 40 and 50% RH all year round. All I have to do is replace the water (3 gallon, easy to handle reservoir, lift out, fill, put back) and set the humidity to 40%. It only cost me $50 at CanTire. Maintenance is simple; just clean the bottom tray and the heat element by rinsing it with vinegar or CLR once a month. There are no messy filters to clean like with a cold air humidifier.

[bhika]

I used two Planetwaves humidifiers until they both clogged up after two seasons using distilled water. Considering the price of a Planetwaves and the amount of work you have to put into keeping the guitars in their cases, checking the humidity and inserting water with the syringe every other day, it is a lot of hassle for a lot of cost.

I purchased a Honeywell warm mist humidifier three years ago and now humidify my entire office/studio and have all my guitars out all season long. The room stays between 40 and 50% RH all year round. All I have to do is replace the water (3 gallon, easy to handle reservoir, lift out, fill, put back) and set the humidity to 40%. It only cost me $50 at CanTire. Maintenance is simple; just clean the bottom tray and the heat element by rinsing it with vinegar or CLR once a month. There are no messy filters to clean like with a cold air humidifier.

[Tycho]

I like the Oasis humidifiers, which I use in conjunction with a room humidifier. 

The only problem with the Oasis is that it's hard to fill...so I use the syringe left over from my old Planet Waves.

[canoe65]

I have been using two Planet Waves guitar humidifiers, since 2002, in both past and present solid body acoustic guitars, when stored in their cases.

I have, from the beginning, used only distilled water (purchased in a four litre jug from my local pharmacy) and have encountered only minor calcium / mineral (?) residue, which is easily removed.

I find the Planet Waves humidifiers are very easy to fill with the water syringe provided.  The process only takes a minute or so.

I have never encountered any 'string stretch' and the tunings of my guitar, including the two middle strings used to hold the humidifier, have never been effected as a result of using the device.

My guitars remain properly humidified, even throughout a Canadian winter, when home interiors tend to be drier than during our warmer, more humid seasons.  AND I have never had a single drop of water fall in or on any of my guitars as a result of using the Planet Waves humidifiers.  

I intend to continue to use these 'in case' guitar humidifiers, until someting better appears on the market ... and this includes the newly introduced Planet Waves dual control Humidipak product.

I am not convinced that the newly introduced Planet Waves Humidipak product works and I have no intention of buying three replacement Humidipak inserts every two to six months (as required) at $7.00 US each (even more in Canadian $) to keep the device protecting my guitar.  Multiply this times each guitar that you own and you get the picture.    

[PortHueneme]

I have been using the little clay Herco's.
There is nothing to clog, easy to use and keep my cases between 40 & 50.
Just soak them once a month, and store them in the case pocket.
About $5.00 each, easily affordable for every instrument case.

[refuge]

I have been using the little clay Herco's.
There is nothing to clog, easy to use and keep my cases between 40 & 50.
Just soak them once a month, and store them in the case pocket.
About $5.00 each, easily affordable for every instrument case.

Where do you get those Hercos?  ----- Wendy

[whiskeyjack]

Here's a couple places: http://cgi.ebay.com/GUITAR-HUMIDIFIER-by-HERCO-THE-COMPLETE-CARE-SYSTEM_W0QQitemZ120112626550QQihZ002QQcategoryZ33028QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://www.edromanguitars.com/newsite/techarticles/carecleaning.htm
http://cgi.ebay.com/HERCO-GUITAR-HUMIDIFIER-WORKS-ON-VIOLIN-CELLO-NEW_W0QQitemZ230121025352QQihZ013QQcategoryZ7266QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
______________________

String stretch is the least of your concerns with planet waves humidifiers.  I used six of those things on six guitars and religiously added distilled water.  One day, I opened the guitar case to the odor of mildew.  Did ya ever try to get mildew out of a guitar or a guitar case?   The odor was INSIDE the guitar and clung to the lining of the case as well.  Fortunately, I checked on the guitars every four or so days.  Had a waited a week or so, the smell would've be there for good.

I don't use Planet Waves humidifiers anymore. 

I finally gave up and went and bought some good sponges at the grocery store. I soak them with regular tap water,squeeze out the excess, then place them in a baggie that I've punched a lot of holes in.That is my new humidifier and it works great.I either hang it from the strings with a tiny binder clip or just leave it hang off the strings.Either way it doesn't move or fall inside the guitar.Wish I'd tried it long ago.

Dead on!!  I don't hang the baggie from the strings though, I just lay it in the case up by the headstock making sure not to dampen the case fabric.

[rrgguitarman]

I have been using the little clay Herco's.
There is nothing to clog, easy to use and keep my cases between 40 & 50.
Just soak them once a month, and store them in the case pocket.
About $5.00 each, easily affordable for every instrument case.

This thread is timely.
I was looking around the web this am looking for a "better" humdidifier becasue of the "8" P/W humdifiers I own 2 of them do not fill up properly anymore and it got me thinking about the smell as well, I ran into the Herco 360 and was wondering if they actually really work inside the glove box of the case? PortHueneme, have you checked with a hygrometer inside the case? I really would like to change to something more simpler, although I am using the "sponge in the baggie" trick on a couple of guitars which is really the cheaperst but I'm always afraid that I'm going to get some leaking in the case!
I found the Herco 360 at sweetwater for cheap and FREE shipping.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/HE360

[drathbun]

I have been using the little clay Herco's.
There is nothing to clog, easy to use and keep my cases between 40 & 50.
Just soak them once a month, and store them in the case pocket.
About $5.00 each, easily affordable for every instrument case.

How do you know you are getting 40 to 50% RH in the guitar? I like the little Herco's too as an expedient method of keeping humidity up when I transport a guitar (I put mine under the headstock with a polish cloth to keep it from moving). But, while the case pocket might have some good 50%RH I'm not sure the humidity will get to the body of the guitar.

[rrgguitarman]

But, while the case pocket might have some good 50%RH I'm not sure the humidity will get to the body of the guitar.

That's what concerns me? The pocket at 50% and the rest at what?

[refuge]

think I'm going to try a couple of the Hercos.  The price is right and it looks like they can reside in the main body of the case.  I like  the simple part too except that I've found through experience that most things really aren't !  Thank you Whiskeyjack and rrgguitarman for the links   -- Wendy

[PortHueneme]

I have a Radio Shack hygrometer hanging on the wall. It is portable and battery powered. About once a month or so I drop in a case and let it sit for awhile. There is a Max/Mon function as well as Temp. It seems to always read 40%-50%. My room stays between 35 & 45, of course I live here in sunny Ca where it does not change much. In the fall we get Santa Ana winds and the humidity will drop below 20, the case have always stayed 40-50. I believe the Herco's work. The other thing I have noticed with the Herco's is my guitars stay in tune in the case. To me that shows the humidity & temp are staying fairly constant. I do every once in a while open a case on the patio and let it air-out. Bounce dryer sheets do a nice job of clearing odors from the case.  I bought a dozen of the little buggers so I always have an extra one or two if needed.

I even did some experimenting with an empty case and temp. You would be surprised how warm the inside of the case got when the case was closed and in the sun.

[canoe65]

String stretch is the least of your concerns with planet waves humidifiers.  I used six of those things on six guitars and religiously added distilled water.  One day, I opened the guitar case to the odor of mildew.  Did ya ever try to get mildew out of a guitar or a guitar case?   The odor was INSIDE the guitar and clung to the lining of the case as well.  Fortunately, I checked on the guitars every four or so days.  Had a waited a week or so, the smell would've be there for good.
I don't use Planet Waves humidifiers anymore. 

Whiskyjack,

I've been using my Planet Waves, in closed guitar cases, continuously since 2002 and I have not had any mildew problems inside either the cases or the guitars.  For this, I count myself very lucky.  I'd flip out if I found this was happening to my Larrivée.

Bbblacksheep,

At least on the plus side ... one thing that I have noted is that, nobody is having string stretch problems with the PW Humidifiers ...     

[rrgguitarman]

I live here in sunny Ca where it does not change much

Where do you live? I live in Sun City Ca (So. Ca) and my Hygrometer is reading 29%R/H
It has been rather nasty the last few months, as low as 15%R/H