Howdy ukers -- does anybody regularly use a hygrometer in their instrument cases? I have been doing a little thinking and shopping around online and I was wondering if anyone has advice on how to effectively measure humidity inside a ukulele case.
I managed to survive last winter with all ukukleles intact using Oasis soundhole humidifiers and no hygrometer for measurement. I have acquired a few nicer instruments since then and I'd like to actually measure the effectiveness of this solution if I can.
I have a two main questions:
Which hygrometer should I buy?
I have read some recommendations for the Caliber IV digital hygrometer, but I've also read that it is cheaply made, unreliable, and only calibrates within a narrow range. Other digital hygrometers only seem to get even poorer reviews.
I am leaning toward an old school analog model, as those are very simple in design with few opportunities for failure. However, those tend to be a little bulkier thickness-wise, which leads to my next question:
How does one effectively use a hygrometer inside a ukulele case?
Putting it up into the headstock area or in the accessory compartment, where an inch-thick hygrometer will easily fit, seems like it might make useful readings difficult to obtain. The area I am most concerned with measuring humidity is around the soundboard, where my humidifier is hanging inside the resonating chamber. There are physical barriers in the case between the headstock area and the soundboard that might impede the flow of air between the hygrometer and the humidifier, which is why I am concerned about measurement accuracy with a hygrometer mounted up near the headstock.
So am I totally off base with my thinking on this? Is there a simple solution I am missing? Any experiences you can share will be appreciated. Thanks!
I managed to survive last winter with all ukukleles intact using Oasis soundhole humidifiers and no hygrometer for measurement. I have acquired a few nicer instruments since then and I'd like to actually measure the effectiveness of this solution if I can.
I have a two main questions:
Which hygrometer should I buy?
I have read some recommendations for the Caliber IV digital hygrometer, but I've also read that it is cheaply made, unreliable, and only calibrates within a narrow range. Other digital hygrometers only seem to get even poorer reviews.
I am leaning toward an old school analog model, as those are very simple in design with few opportunities for failure. However, those tend to be a little bulkier thickness-wise, which leads to my next question:
How does one effectively use a hygrometer inside a ukulele case?
Putting it up into the headstock area or in the accessory compartment, where an inch-thick hygrometer will easily fit, seems like it might make useful readings difficult to obtain. The area I am most concerned with measuring humidity is around the soundboard, where my humidifier is hanging inside the resonating chamber. There are physical barriers in the case between the headstock area and the soundboard that might impede the flow of air between the hygrometer and the humidifier, which is why I am concerned about measurement accuracy with a hygrometer mounted up near the headstock.
So am I totally off base with my thinking on this? Is there a simple solution I am missing? Any experiences you can share will be appreciated. Thanks!
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