I’ve got the Boveda 49% in ten cases and Govee chips in three. Rotate humid packs 2-3 times per year. The Govee chips do an excellent job of monitoring humidity and I also have a chip in my guitar room to monitor humidity and here in WI there are many days that are in the 45-50% range. The Govee chips also work great for rv fridges and coolers if you buy the temp/ humidity version
Bryan, I wanted to add one more point. These actually work both ways. Meaning if it's very dry, they keep the case around 45%-50% (Or whatever % printed on the package notes) but they also do the same if it's very humid. So, if you live somewhere like Minnesota, where it can be incredibly dry in the winter and then very wet in the summer, it's a nice tool.
Hey Bryan those Humidipack can be reused if you can put them back with those sponge in that zip lock to last for years..... Also Govee comes in a digital readout that works same with the app Govee Bluetooth Hygrometer Thermometer, Large LCD, Max/Min Records works excellent as this one i keep one outside and others in the case ,,,, benefit is with out app also you can see the reading ..... your thoughts are absolutely right on the Humidipack you have to use it with the bag and they way you store the guitar
I tried them a while back in a D-18 that I had. I bought them at GC, and the GC guy told me to just leave them in the guitar until they get hard, then replace them. During the dry months (in SE PA) the humidity gets into the 20% range sometimes. One morning I opened the case and the top of my D-18 was cracked. The humidipaks did not feel all the way hard either. I read somewhere that they can be recharged by absorbing humidity, so I suspect that at some point they absorbed moisture from my guitar to the point of it cracking, but not 100% sure. But I will say that I have never had a guitar crack until I used the humidipaks. I always just used those sponge things in the case before that. Now I just keep my room humidified. In the very short time I used the humidipaks, I never had one that leaked though.
I’ve had mine last much longer. 5-6 months. And so live in Minnesota. I do keep my room humidified. When my guitars are out during the summer I just seal them back up and they’re good when needed again.
@@Bryankimsey The Boveda ones come in a real heavy duty zip lock type resealable bag. I just use that. I’ve got some that are well over a year old and are still not hard. But again they’ve been resealed and are in a 45%-50% environment all the time since I have a large humidifier that I monitor constantly. If I’m gone for over a week and feel the humidifier may run out of water while I’m away I put my instruments in cases with these packs and have never had any issues. That’s about 3 years of me using them and I’m gone quite a bit for work.
You can buy the Boveda packs for much cheaper. From what I understand the Humipacks are just Boveda with DDario name printed on them. Been using for years never had a leak and will always use them as long as I own wooden instruments.
I don't think I can get Boveda cheaper than I can get D'addarrio at dealer cost. ;). The ones I'm dissecting are actually Boveda. I guess you don't have a problem, until you do, but you are obviously doing it right and my customer is not.
I use a TempStick, which is a similar product as Govee, it works great too. I live in Los Angeles and the humidity swings really raise hell with my old violins, as well as my only Martin, a year-old 000-15SM which is suffering from too much humidity (high action). Not sure what to do, probably I will lower the humidity for a few months and see what gives.
I used the Humidpak Maintains since it got dry last fall in Minnesota. You have to change them after they harden up. They lasted maybe a month. I've been using full-size sponges in aerated soap-bar containers. Next year, I'll use distilled water to avoid any mold buildup in the sponge. I'm gotta get a hole-punch and go with the ziplock baggie method after those run out, much cheaper. Bovee also makes humidipaks. They have one called "season" for the initial usage because the wood in the case soaks up moisture too. Then they go to maintain packs. What do you think about running a shower and placing your guitar in the steamy room?
A month is all?!? Wow. I guess we'll see if I stick with them long term. Shower is too short term. I'm looking for a solution for when I don't see a guitar for a week or two
There’s a video of Elderly Instruments Repair Manager Joe Konkoly doing an extendive tepair of a vintage Gibson J-185 that due to its owner passing away, the guitar was stored probably on edge in its case, and the whole treble side upper bout rim had to be replaced. Just an awful mess.
Found it ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-eJd_r2cLYBA.htmlsi=FsZudSS0gfzhyzd2 If you DON'T do anything, the guitar cracks. It's like you can't win.
@@Bryankimsey Charlie Parr says a guitar un-played will eventually destroy itself. He called out Leadbelly's 12-string hanging somewhere, not getting used.
Would it be more beneficial to humidify the room? I keep my Martin in the case, so I guess something like this may be necessary, however, my climate in KC MO stays stable with humidity between 40-60% through the year.
Sure. And I do... I have 5 humidifiers. But no humidifier will hold water for a week or two. In Northern NM at 8500' elevation, during the winter, I put 5 gallons in every other day and I get condensation on the windows. I humidify a closet but then you have mold issues if you don't watch out.
