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Posts: 848
Location: Canada | The dry season has started and I have put Oasis humdifiers into all my wooden instruments. I also have recently acquired an Adamas 1687 and I'm wondering about it's humidifaction requirements. None of the Ovation documents on the ovationtribute site have a maintenance section that suggests humidifaction. The top is sandwiched and the neck, fingerboard, and headstock are made of "Resin Impregnated Walnut" which may or may not be prone to seasonal humidity changes. Has anyone on this board expereinced any adverse effects of humidity changes on their Adamas? |
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April 2006
Posts: 848
Location: Munich, Germany | I have bought a used textured top which braces are good to see through the wavey top. Playability is not worse than on my other Adamas guitars neither needs it a neck reset. Cosmetical issue. Maybe caused by wrong humidification earlier. |
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Posts: 755
Location: Muenster/Germany | Does a humidifier not interfere with the necessary dryness of the electronics? I would not store a radio in a wet plastic case. |
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Posts: 848
Location: Canada | DetlefMichel - 2015-11-30 11:05 AM Does a humidifier not interfere with the necessary dryness of the electronics? I would not store a radio in a wet plastic case. The humidifers do not cause tropical conditions. For instance, in tyhe summer the relative humidity around here went up to 65%. Now that we have heating on, the room humidity has dropped to about 36%. Yesterday when I installed the oasis after about 6 hours humidity in the case was at 48% which I think is considered "healthy" for both humans and guitars. But indeed, when I used sponges in ziploc bags I noticed that strings got rusty if I didnt play for a while. Not sure of the effect on electronics.
Edited by d'ovation 2015-11-30 12:27 PM
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March 2005
Posts: 12758
Location: Boise, Idaho | There are several threads on humidifiers on this forum. It is a recurring winter topic. I humidify my Adamas guitars just like my Ovations. I use a room humidifier that I keep set to 40%. I filled it last Tuesday and left for several days. When I returned it was empty and the humidity was down in the 20% range. The outdoor temperatures dropped to the 20s for highs while we were gone and the furnace really dried things out. During the winter, I often have to fill the humidifier almost every day. I am considering a whole house humidifier, but I prefer one for just the guitar room. |
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Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | I use Herco "GuardFather" in-the case Humidifiers, and I have them in my Adamas.
There is wood in my Adamas... the Braces, the Epaulets.
So on my 1681 I keep one up by the headstock.
And on my cutaways I keep a humidifier in the cutaway area.
The only guitar that I don't humidify is my Composite Acoustics Cargo. 
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Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | I'm just trying to keep the humidity down so I don't have to wipe mold off my guitars. |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | I think that you have the exact opposite problem to what I was talking about.
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Posts: 755
Location: Muenster/Germany | I live with all my guitars hanging on the wall so I use a room humidifier in winter and a dryer in summer. And I clean all of my guitars thoroughly from the inside from time to time. Dust and dirt are not good for the woods, too. |
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June 2002
Posts: 6197
Location: Phoenix AZ | Humidify the room, not the guitar. I live in the desert and the humidity varies between 10-20% so humidity control is a year round chore. Weather you humidify to 40%, 50% or whatever is not as important as the consistency of the humidity. You need to humidify the room, not the individual guitars. I keep all of mine (adamas included) at 40% consistent room humidity. Maximum excursions are no more than +/- 2% by using an independent controller that the humidifier power is hard wired to. The whole setup cost me under $200. Doing anything is better than nothing, but I would highly recommend taking it seriously. YES, I have had braces come loose on an Adamas top. Can;t say for sure if it was due to dryness but why take a chance. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6994
Location: Jet City | I've had braces pop off the Adamas 2080... It was on loan in Phoenix when it happened.
Listen to StandingO. Humidifying a room is much easier to control and is more consistent from instrument to instrument. I spent less than $100 on 2 humidifiers. I have one on all the time, has an automatic hygrometer built in so it only comes on when needed. The other is for the winter, just busted it out a week ago. It runs on low constantly to help the other one keep up during the dry winter months. Standing O's solution is a better plan though.
Dave, can you send me info on the hygrometer/controller thing you hardwired your humidifier to? |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I am about to build a small but nice storage unit for my acoustics. Automatic humidification was one of the things I wanted to do cause Colorado is like Arizona which low low humidity, especially in the winter. I have a nice 5 gallon humidifier and have really gotten tired of filling it once or twice a day for the last 5 years or so.
Dave, I would also like the info and what system you used to supply the water. |
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December 2003
Posts: 848
Location: Canada | Unfortunately room humidification is not an option, as I live in a decrepit 100 year old house that has all interior walls removed on the main floor so it's one big space and the guitar cases just sit in the living room corner. I would have liked to add a drum humidifier to the furnace but the space there is just too tight to get anything done. I was actually thinking of leaving the Adamas out on a stand, as I'm getting tired of juggling cases, but maybe see if I can fit something into the headstock space in the case. |
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December 2014
Posts: 1713
Location: Frozen Tundra of Minnesota | I just ordered one that will cover up to 2500 ft - it will do my entire downstairs, and you can set the humidity level where you want it, and it will automatically maintain that.
I didn't want such a large one, but there are really nice Guitars in the Cave, and I want to make sure they are taken care of properly. We are down in the low teens and twenties temperature wise, and it is still 38% humidity down there with no machine, but that will change in January and February. I will be all set to go!  It feels the best to me at 45% to 50%, but I know that you don't have to keep it that high.
I have the Humidifier on the Furnace, but that is extremely tricky to try to use for the downstairs too - if you have it high enough to do the downstairs, you get too much condensation in between the windows upstairs. Not good... It is safer to just maintain the upstairs off the furnace humidifier, and have a separate one downstairs.
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Posts: 6994
Location: Jet City | Well done Nancy.
How many gallons does the unit hold? What brand/model did you go with? |
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December 2014
Posts: 1713
Location: Frozen Tundra of Minnesota | Damon67 - 2015-12-02 12:51 PM
Well done Nancy.
How many gallons does the unit hold? What brand/model did you go with?
I always look at ebay, Walmart and Amazon, then do an over all search once I have done my research, and this is the one I decided on - it is the same price as the smaller one, but holds more, does more sq ft, and it blends in with my downstairs, color/wood wise:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/29078564
AIRCARE by Essick H12 400HB Console Humidifier:
Essick Air humidifier oak burl, 5.4-gallon water capacity
2,500 sq ft coverage (average construction), over 3,000 sq ft (tight construction)
12-gallon daily output
Analog controls with digital display
Adjustable humidistat and automatic shut-off
Water refill and check filter indicators
Easy-fill water bottle
Built in USA of domestic and imported parts
Replace filter every 90 days – wick#1045
To control odors and bacteria/algae growth, add Aircare Bacteriostatic Treatment
($122.00 at Walmart, and I bought a couple of extra filter wicks to have on hand)
Edited by Nancy 2015-12-02 1:04 PM
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Posts: 1713
Location: Frozen Tundra of Minnesota | This one was my 2nd Choice - on ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/141830774334?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&s...
Product Details
Features
Whole room humidification - Up to 1,000 Sq. Ft.
Evaporative Humidification - 2 Filters Included
Automatic Humidity Control
Extra large 4 gallon capacity for long, uninterrupted operation
Airlock water tanks are easy-to-fill, spill-proof and leak-free
Easy to use and simple to clean
Product Type: Humidifier
Filter Required: Yes
Control Type: Electronic
Country of Manufacture: United States
Dimensions
Overall Height - Top to Bottom: 13.5"
Overall Width - Side to Side: 10.5"
Overall Depth - Front to Back: 19.5"
Overall Product Weight: 9 lbs
($120 Free Shipping Also)
Edited by Nancy 2015-12-02 1:12 PM
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Posts: 12758
Location: Boise, Idaho | In our old house the man cave was appropriately in the basement. The room with the guitars was finished, next to my unfinished shop with the furnace. I was able to keep my guitar room humidity at 40% with the 2 gallon humidifier I have.
The guitar room in our new house is the only room upstairs. We have no basement. We have a furnace that has a separate system for the guitar room, which is nice, but the humidifier needs refilling every day during winter. I need to check to see if I can get a humidifier on the furnace, just for the upstairs. Otherwise, if I get one for the whole house, I'm afraid I'll have Nancy's problem with condensation on the main floor in order to keep the humidity at 40% for the guitar room upstairs. |
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Posts: 887
Location: Always beautiful canyon country of Utah | Just put a swamp cooler float on the water container and connect it to your plumbing and you don't have to worry about manual refills! Or use a fill valve from an icemaker and connect it to a timer! |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I keep my basement man cave between 50-55% with a humidifier in the winter and a dehumidifier in the summer. There is usually very little time in the spring and fall when I don't have one or the other working. Everything stays in tune amazingly well. |
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June 2002
Posts: 6197
Location: Phoenix AZ | I wish I could find the photo but the best setup I ever saw was literally a toilet. They sealed the bottom, so no drain. Replaced the toilet seat with a fan hooked up to a humidistat power controller and the float value of the tank keeps the bowl always full of water. It was really, really neat as long as you didn't mind a toilet sitting in the corner of your music room. |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Standingovation - 2015-12-03 8:09 AM . . . the best setup I ever saw was literally a toilet . . as long as you didn't mind a toilet sitting in the corner of your music room. And in the event of an emergency . . . |
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March 2005
Posts: 12758
Location: Boise, Idaho | I've got a toilet in the little bathroom next to my guitars, but, old guy that I am, I like having a working toilet close to me at all times. My wife has me trained to close the toilet seat after each use, but maybe I could build a fan into the lid and leave the bathroom door open.
Prior to that idea, I thought I could just hook up a humidifier to the valve for the toilet or the sink, but that wouldn't be nearly as interesting. |
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December 2014
Posts: 1713
Location: Frozen Tundra of Minnesota | Just got my Humidifier in, put together, and turned on in 5 minutes (taking it downstairs with 2 fractures ribs was fun!)
I set it at 45 for the time being, and will keep an eye on it for a bit! I am really happy with it so far, it is not nearly as large as I thought it would be, and it blends right in with the woodwork! I the cave is all set now, except for the small fridge! |
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March 2005
Posts: 12758
Location: Boise, Idaho | I looked at a couple of similar Sears models, but they didn't have the built in hygrometer. Must have been outdated. I also realized that when they say 12 gallon output per day, that might mean you have to fill the tank 3 or 4 times per day. I couldn't find one that I could hook up to a water source so I wouldn't have to fill it daily, except for the ones that attach to your furnace. Meanwhile, it's been warm and rainy here, so the emergency is passed and I'll forget what I was going to do until it gets cold and dry again. |
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Adamas humidification
