Humidifier - dumb question

Okay, this is probably as basic as basic can be:

I have two ukes - a Pono PSO and Pono PT8. Love them both. Have humidifiers - do I put them in the case with the uke, or do I put them inside the little compartment in the case? Will the humidifier do its job if its in the little compartment? When MGM sent me the PSO the humidifier was in the little compartment, but I also take that as a safer place to put it during shipping...

I think I'm over thinking this...

Thanks!

I keep mine out in the case. Doesn't leak or anything.

Is a humidifier really necessary? I live in Pennsylvania and it's not overly dry, but not high humidity like Florida, either.

ftwildernessguy said:

Is a humidifier really necessary? I live in Pennsylvania and it's not overly dry, but not high humidity like Florida, either.

Click to expand...

it all depends on your uke's wood!

ftwildernessguy said:

Is a humidifier really necessary? I live in Pennsylvania and it's not overly dry, but not high humidity like Florida, either.

Click to expand...

Martin (who also makes ukes) recommends keeping their instruments humidified between 45% and 55%. This is easy in the summer, but in the winter when you turn on your heat, the humidity level in in your HOUSE drops WAY down. I'd recommend going to your hardware store and buying a humidimeter (under $10 if you get a basic one). You'll be surprised how dry your place is.

I look at it this way. I've put a lot of hard-earned cash into my guitar/ukes. I've also put a lot of time into setting them up properly. Keeping a humidifier (with built in humidistat to save on power usage) running thought the winter will insure they last and are easily playable. A small price to pay.

A quick cautionary tale. I left my travel guitar at work (so I could play during lunch). I came back from Thanksgiving holiday to an unplayable guitar... the high strings hitting the frets. Think "Sponge Bob when he gets dried out ;-)

UkEdman90 said:

it all depends on your uke's wood!

Click to expand...

Is there some way to tell what wood does and doesn't need to be humidified? I have Koa with rosewood fretboard

setstage said:

Is there some way to tell what wood does and doesn't need to be humidified? I have Koa with rosewood fretboard

Click to expand...

http://ukuleleunderground.com/2008/02/11/uke-minutes-4-humidifiers/

According to info on this site, it's not a question of type of wood. If your uke's made of wood, it needs humidifying.

I think in Hawaii I'm good without humidifying. But I have humidifiers from when I go on trips. So as to not wast them, I keep it inside the little compartment in my case. I have hard cases for my nicer ukes, so it has a compartment inside. If you're running a gig bag, then IDK where you'd put it.

ScottRule said:

I'd recommend going to your hardware store and buying a humidimeter (under $10 if you get a basic one). You'll be surprised how dry your place is.

A quick cautionary tale. I left my travel guitar at work (so I could play during lunch). I came back from Thanksgiving holiday to an unplayable guitar... the high strings hitting the frets. Think "Sponge Bob when he gets dried out ;-)

Click to expand...

Yes get a Humidimeter. I used to fret over the humidity and the ukes until I saw where I live it never gets under 55% even with the heater running in the winter. (I live in a swamp). What a Dumbass I was, I used to run the humidifier in the winter. Where I live you can tell what season it is by the color of the mold on the back porch. Brown winter, yellow spring, deep green summer, light green fall, hey who says we don't have the change of season down south!!