planet waves humidifier question...larrivee om-3

[brettryantalley]

hey guys...i just bought a used larrivee om-3 at guitar center a few days ago (799...and i'm pretty sure it's not the standard mahogany...the wood is darker and has a maroonish tint to it compared to the mahogany om-3's on the larrivee site). i bought it with the 30 day return policy well in mind...so i'm still not 100% sure about it quiet yet...did i pay too much for it? it came with the larrivee hardcase too.

 

anyway...my other question is i bought a planet waves humidifier for it. 1) is it bad for the guitar/strings to have it stretching them while it's in the case? 2) i have a hydrometer in my case along with the guitar and humidifier and i cant get the humidity to go over 32 degrees...and i've been filling the humidifier every day. what's the deal?

 

also, what is a general temperature rule when it comes to guitars. i've heard the phrase "if you're comfortable, then so is your guitar." but i'm cold at 68 degrees...is that bad for my guitar though? thanks guys.

[drnihili]

I don't know whether it's "bad" to stretch the strings with the humidifier, but I found it a pain to do so. I've switched to putting the humidifier in the soundhole beside the strings. I suppose that's "bad" for the top wood though. You could always just set it up by the headstock, but I don't like the way it tends to fall out and bang on the back of the guitar when I take her out to play.

[SpaceCowboy409]

I've used Planet Wave humidifiers for years.

 

It's not bad to stretch the strings a bit so it hangs in the soundhole.

 

I've found that in my house, with forced hot air heat, I need to use two PW humidifiers (one up by the headstock) to keep my guitar properly humidified.

 

68 degrees is fine for guitars.

[brettryantalley]

yeah...i've put it between the sound hold and strings once, but didnt feel comfortable with that. good to hear it doesnt hurt the guitar or strings...i'm a little dissapointed that it isnt enough to humidify the whole guitar though...that's a bummer.

 

anybody have any advice on the larrivee...good price? not a good price? any ideas about it not being rosewood or mahogany?

[SpaceCowboy409]

I too was disapointed that it took two of those things to do the job, but at least the action on my Martin hasn't changed since the heat went on.

 

I don't know anything about your Larrivee, but there's bound to be some folks checking in here that will.

 

[Queequeg]

not rosewood unless it has the r suffix. maybe sapele, a near-mahogany match from Africa. Often looks striped. Sounds like mahogany and has essentially the same properties.

Hard to keep the relative humidity up to between 45% & 55% these days if you are running a forced air furnace. If you are getting static shocks as you walk around your house, then your house is probably too dry.

Best to buy a room humidifier.

edit:

if your house is 68

[guit30]

Having same problem, planet waves humidifier in soundhole and a ziplock baggie with sponge in my case and I cannot get the humidity over 33%

Jim

[brettryantalley]

that's unreal. i feel a bit ripped off.

[Roy]

What is the advantage of the PW humidifier over a baggy/sponge ?

[Queequeg]

 

What is the advantage of the PW humidifier over a baggy/sponge ?

 

none, that I can think of.

[guit30]

With both, I'm not getting anywhere. I think the Planet waves device is good, but not maybe measurable, because it releases so little over a long period of time, also, it goes into the inside of the body, if your hygrometer is at the back of the guitar, most cases have a neck holder that divides the case into 2 sections, I would try adding a baggy to your planet waves

Jim