The transfer of water vapor between the wood of your guitar or mandolin
and the atmosphere is actually a relatively slow process, and this works in
your favor. When an instrument is kept in its case, the process is slowed even
further. By keeping your instrument in suitable conditions most of the time,
you can take it on short trips to places with less desirable RH conditions
without causing problems. If you are taking a longer trip (more than several
days) or are on a sustained tour, you will definitely want to use some sort of
in-case humidity control and measurement.
Note: When selecting an in-case humidifier, avoid designs that completely
block the sound hole - they can cause over-humidification of the instrument
body, while doing little to maintain proper humidity for the neck. We
recommend and offer the Oasis Guitar Humidifier. It has a unique design that
maintains proper humidity without risk of leaks or dripping inside your guitar.
It also provides visual feedback when it is time to refill.
We offer the Oasis Guitar Humidifier in a kit that includes a filling syringe
and an Oasis Digital Thermometer/Hygrometer. To order, just ask for the
Humidifier/Hygrometer Combo Kit.
Before you take any steps to control humidity, you should ensure you can
accurately measure the humidity conditions inside your room or guitar case.
Humidity measurement is crucial - if you can’t measure RH accurately, you
won’t know if you’re helping matters, or making them worse.
You will probably notice the symptoms of an RH problem before it poses
a serious threat. Some telltale signs of improper humidification are listed
on the next page. If your Breedlove shows symptoms of being over- or
under-humidified, take the instrument to a qualified guitar repair person
immediately, or call our service department.
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