Two questions: strings and humidifying

[AtomHeartMother]

I just won a Seagull M6 on ebay and have a few questions:

 

What brand strings are good? Are coated strings worth it (the D'Addario EXP or the Elixers)?

 

I've heard that I need to humidify the guitar when humidity gets low (below 45% or something). Two questions:

 

1. How do I know when the humidity is too low (and needs a humidifier for the guitar?

 

2. How do I humidify the guitar? Are there any gadgets for this?

[Hudman]

Great decision! I would pick a Seagull M6 over a Taylor 110 any day of the week. I like the Elixir Nanowebs best out of the coated strings I tried so far. The D'Addario EXP's are decent too. I have a set on my Larrivee right now. I don't like the Elixir Polywebs.

 

I like D'Addario EJ16's for non coated strings. I picked up a set of Martin SP's to test out on my Larrivee. I plan to put them on it when my new bone saddle arrives.

 

I use the Planet Waves Body Guard Humidifiers in my Alvarez:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Guitar/Accessories?sku=420552

 

I bought a Planet Waves Humidity Control kit for my Larrivee:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Guitar/Accessories?sku=420981

[kwakatak]

To monitor humdity it's best to have a hygrometer in the room with the guitar, or better yet inside the guitar case.

 

I've relatively new to maintaining a constant vigil on my guitars' humdity, but my latest acquisition came shipped with the Planet Waves Humidity Control Kit which includes a hygrometer and a soundhole humidifier.

 

http://www.elderly.com/accessories/items/HCSGH.htm

 

It doesn't really cover humidifying the headstock and fretboard though, so I put a ziplock bag and put a damp sponge (just slightly damp, not dripping wet) inside. So far, so good. The hygrometer is right next to the baggie and the RH reads 52% which is well within tolerance levels.

 

FWIW, I also keep a hygrometer in the room to monitor ambient levels too. If the RH is around 40% (+ or - 3%) then I take the guitar out of the case and leave it on a stand or wall mount. Right now it's at 33% RH in the room so I'm keeping the guitar in the case for now.

[SusanV]

I have a planet waves soundhole humidifier and it works fine except it forms mold after a while and I have to rinse it with a bleach solution.

 

My favorite solution though, which I use in all my other guitar cases is a small plastic soap "travel case". Get it for a buck at Walmart. I stick some holes in it and put a wrung-out kitchen sponge in it and place it in the neck section of the case.... and then for the guitar body I put a sponge in a ziploc bag I've poked some holes in... zip it up and stick it between two of the strings so the body of the bag (with the sponge), enters the guitar body. The zip part of the bag sticks up above the strings, and it keeps the whole thing from falling in. works like a charm.

 

be sure the sponges are damp only, not dripping.

 

I also have a hygrometer in each case and one in the room. Winter is most critical for me, living in the northeast where it gets very dry when the heater kicks on. Do a Google search for "digital hygrometer" and you can find them at cigar shops for around $15-$20.