Official Luthiers Forum!

Bummer, Flippo! Thanks for the heads up on the product. I've never used this type but based on your experience, I'll be forever wary. I use a damp sponge in a perforated soap dish inside the case but outside of the guitar which has worked well for years.

I'm wondering if the guitar is allowed to slowly dry out in the affected area whether the joint will smooth out. If not, a little hide glue and strategic clamping could restore it. The nitro is another thing but I'll bet it can be repaired without notice. Hopefully, David Collins will chime in...he's our resident expert on these types of issues...I swear he's seen it all.

Now, take a deep breath, leave the guitar in its case with a humidifier and let the Super Bowl take your mind off the problem for the day

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

I was both a little excited as well as worried when I saw these humidifiers
come on the market. Excited because whenever you can make the refills
less frequent and amount of water remaining easier to judge, the more
likely it is that customers will keep their instruments humidified. Worried
because there was a very similar product a number of years ago that was
finally pulled from the market because of this same problem. I forget who
made it, but it was a thin black square with a breathable membrane on
the two wide faces that slipped in between the strings. The ones that
lasted were great, but many developed leaks on the seams and this same
thing happened.

As to the problem at hand, you'll have to just wait untill it dries out and
go from there. It may also be a good idea to swab the area with a 1:16
bleach water solution to prevenet bacteria or mold buildup (more
common than you may think). Exposure to a good UV light will work as
well.

If there was a ledge, the glue joint was obviously affected to some degree
but I would wait until it dries before judging what needs to be done. What
type of glue was used on that joint?

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

I advise all my customers and anyone else who asks not to use these devices, regardless of brand. Not only can they leak, but your guitar is being subjected to a humidity change every time you put the thing in or out. And you are going to play the thing less if it is not only kept in its case, but you have to fiddle with its humidifier every time you play it.

Keep the guitar in a humidity controlled room and you don't need to use a risky device, or keep it in its case, and the room will be a nicer place for you, too. If you have to travel with the guitar through a dry climate, humidify the case, not the guitar.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

It's good to hear it wasn't a natural failure of the seam, although that of
course makes it no easier in your case. I've considered stocking these, but
have still hesitated due to the problems with the last membrane type
humidifier. I think it was called the Humitar. I know that those could be a
little over aggressive, as I used to use one to rehumidify dried out guitars
and it would swell a crack closed as quickly as bagging the instrument in a
sealed bag with a wet sponge. I suppose I'll just have to pick up a few and
try them out.

_________________
Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.