Hygrometer Quest

[WaveRay]

Anybody recommend a good hygrometer?

I have, so far, bought 3 different ones from Radio Shack and a Martin dealer. You know, the small, rectangular ones that read out temp and humidity level. Anyway, I can have all three side by side and have variances of 8 % or more. This does not sit well with me. I am willing to spend a little more (although these were, IMO, overpriced) to get a good unit. These also gove no adjustment options to calibrate.

Any suggestions?

 

Thanks,

 

Ray

[Kap'n]

If you want accurate, check here.

http://www.inotek.com/Catalog/temp.html

Be prepared to pay.

[Queequeg]

I purchased a Holmes HHG175 Digital Hygrometer for $29.95 from amazon.com. its a room hygrometer, and it always seem to match my planet waves case hygrometer when I leave them side-by-side for an hour.
I wanted Holmes because they build a lot of humidifiers, so I figured they might know something about them.
If it's wrong, then I have two of them that are both reading the same wrong levels.

[nylon rock]

After you do the hygrometer thing for a few years you realize that the optimum of 45 to 50 is too tight to maintain. If I am within 30 to 70 I haven't a worry in the world. 20s and 80s have me very concerned, though. But they're fun to look at.

[Cripes]

Certain hygrometers and tuners need to be identified alongside the high-end guitars as standards. Why not?

I have a room de-humidifier from a reputable company and an analog (gauge-type) string-and-spring humidifier. The latter is adjustable. The de-humidifier has a digital hygrometer. I just bagged the two together for half a day and then with a screw driver punched through the bag and brought the analog into agreement with the digital one. Now they are at opposite ends of the room in still air on inside walls and remain very close. My third hygrometer is the guitar itself. If it implodes, then the other two must have been slightly out of calibration.

[Queequeg]

Originally posted by Cripes Certain hygrometers and tuners need to be identified alongside the high-end guitars as standards. Why not? My third hygrometer is the guitar itself. If it implodes, then the other two must have been slightly out of calibration.

yes, and of course, this is the ultimate authority, and the last word. We know it to be deadly accurate.

[Freeman Keller]

I bought a little Planet Waves using from Elderly a couple of months ago - so easy to drop things in the cart. I have no idea how accurate the numbers are (they are digital so they must be accurate, eh?) but it gives me a pretty good relative indication of changes. Last October it was reading in the low 40's but when it dropped to 35 for the room (and 39 in my guitar case) I got a little concerned and started paying a little more attention to moistening the sponges.

It could be off by two or four percent - I really don't care - but dramatic changes like that concern me.

[Queequeg]

Originally posted by Freeman Keller It could be off by two or four percent - I really don't care - but dramatic changes like that concern me.

 

 

Precisely!

it makes us pay attention, and we can spot big changes.

It is more accurate than me just guessing. I dried out a Larrivee parlor neck a couple of years ago. I had fret scratches on my hand from the rough edges.

 

Fortunately, no permanent damage (to hand or guitar)

[WaveRay]

Originally posted by Kap'n If you want accurate, check here. http://www.inotek.com/Catalog/temp.html Be prepared to pay.

 

 

 

Thanks, Kap'n.

[polynices]

Originally posted by WaveRay Anybody recommend a good hygrometer? I have, so far, bought 3 different ones from Radio Shack and a Martin dealer. You know, the small, rectangular ones that read out temp and humidity level. Anyway, I can have all three side by side and have variances of 8 % or more. This does not sit well with me. I am willing to spend a little more (although these were, IMO, overpriced) to get a good unit. These also gove no adjustment options to calibrate. Any suggestions? Thanks, Ray

 

 

maybe take the average and use that to determine a correction factor for each one of em. plus or minus 4% should be close enough for guitars.

[Hudman]

I have an analog hygrometer built in my Epiphone Masterbilt case and another analog hygrometer sitting out in the room I keep my guitars. They are within 1% to 2 % of each other.

The Michigan weather has been stranger than normal ( ). The humidity has been apprx 65% for the last month. That is with the heat set at 70.

[0rbitz9]

Here's some interesting info I found about checking
hygrometer accuracy:
http://www.dukecitycigars.com/hygrometer.htm

According to their damp salt procedure, my Radio Shack
unit is reading 3 percent lower than it should.

[guitarist21]

I like the one that came in the case with my Epi... You don't have a Masterbilt, do you, Waveray?

I also have a Holmes one that is not digital, but appears to be pretty accurate. It came with my humidifier.

Ellen