We were just talking about this on Wednesday at the SOAR program at the VA Hospital where I volunteer. My humidifier is super lame. I'm getting a new humidifier that is better suited to the uke. Thanks Jodi!
I like the Music Nomad MN302 Humilele for the sound hole...easy flip top and the little super sponge holds 10x its weight in water. Room humidity control is always best though.
Good advice Jodi ! I use plastic travel soap boxes I drill about 6 holes in the top. Place a cut to fit damp sponge in the box and they work great ! I don’t have to refill with water as often......
I actually use a Herco guitar humidifier in the case for my laminate soprano uke just to keep the fretboard from doing what your Bruce Wei uke was doing. It has fixed the issue before when that fretboard got too dry. Currently shopping for a baritone, and humidity is on my mind while trying to decide between laminate and solid instruments. Still torn between a Kala laminate and an Ohana spruce top. My solid wood tenors all have Humilele humidifiers in them during the winter, and that has worked beautifully so far. Think a baritone might need a bigger humidifier in the sound hole like you have though.
I had a mandolin, left it out on the stand. One day I bumped into it, it fell over and the neck broke! I’m gearing up to purchase a low g tenor uke. I do wonder about the difference btw the packets, sponges, and the tube of crystals you stick in the case..yeah a hydrometer is a good idea..wait..your daughter? You look like 15, ha..I’m way older, but still think I’m 30. Thank you!
I subscribed because you mentioned you made this video in Ms B's live and it's exactly what I needed! I'll get a hygrometer now to find out if I need to do anything, but I've had a guitar for years that doesn't seem to have warped or cracked so I'm hopeful it's all fine. Thanks for all the information, I really had no idea where to start!
Great info! I just bought my first ukulele. The store also recommended a Grover Ukulele Humidifier. You didn't mention the brand of the one you put in the turtle sound hole, but it looks similar to the Grover. Not sure you'll see this question since this video was posted a while ago, but how do you know when the sponge inside needs to be soaked again since the tube doesn't open in order to feel it? Or how often do you resoak yours if you can't determine when it's dry? I do need one of those humidifier/dehumidifier packs I saw mentioned in another video. It works both ways, which is great.
If you have hard tap water, it is better to use distilled / demineralized water (used for ironing clothes, "making" water for an aquarium etc). I used regular tap water first.... then, after a day or so, I noticed my room was getting *very* dusty. Also, the gas flames on my stove started to look very weird! I was about the call the gas company and complain, but fortunately I googled first; turns out that was a side effect from too many particles in the air. Because these humidifiers use vibration to make the water evaporate, rather than heat (which would put out *hot* steam, unlike these cool mist humidifiers), the minerals in the water evaporate right along with it. In winter, I spend a couple of euros per week on water - but it's well worth it to protect my beloved ukuleles! It is also much better for your skin, lungs, eyes etc. In summer, humidity here can easily go up to 90% for a few days. For most ukuleles though, high humidity is not really a problem. They are often built in countries where the humidity is very high most of the year; Vietnam, Hawaii, the UK....
Thanks Jodi! I would love to display my wood ukuleles, but I'm hesitant. Think I'll purchase a humidifier and go for it. They're too gorgeous to be hidden in cases year round.
Jody, I LOVE your channel. You really have great content here and I’ve learned so much from you. Also being an Ohio boy I too have been obsessed about the humidity issue here in the winter. I knew about the Oasis uke humidifiers but not about the hydrometer or the room humidifier. I have 5 hanging in my living room, 3 of which are solid instruments each with an Oasis humidifier. But I have really no idea what the humidity is in the room. One question from your video. What about the other side? You mentioned the wood could warp if the air was too humid (over 60-65%). What is your strategy then? Thanks for all your work on this channel!
Mark Pierce Thank you so much! I honestly don’t know much about TOO much humidity, but I know they also sell room dehumidifiers and these www.amazon.com/Ever-Bamboo-Guitar-Dehumidifier-Charcoal/dp/B01BHP1JY2/ref=mp_s_a_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1549582523&sr=8-17&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=humidipak+d%27addario
Thanks for all the info. I keep my solid wood in a hard case with a sponge-type humidifier. Since I play it every day, it's not a problem keeping an eye on it. If I tried to turn an entire room into a humidor, I think my wife would kill me.
I love concert ukuleles the most because they seem to be the perfect size for me. I love both laminate and solid wood Bu my favorite right now is my Blackbird which is made of a material called Ekoa)
Hello GirlMeetsUke, Great Video. Have got a question to the Oasis OH-1 humidifer. Have a humidifer like this one. Actually It looks like that it need some new water in it. I heard that there are 'hygro pearls' or something like this in it. Is this true and did I have to refill this pearls to for/at some time and where did I get them Or is it enough to refil the water. This humidifer seems to be a little bit tricky for me? Hope for an answer. Have a nice weekend, kind regards from Germany!
Hello. You do not need to replace the hygro pearls. Those do not evaporate. Just add water. Use the syringe if you have it. You just need to be sure not to let it overflow or the pearls will escape. 😊 Vielen dank.
According to the Oasis website the pearls should be rinsed out at the end of the winter season. It should be stored with the cap loose. At the beginning of the next winter add more new pearls - also available online very inexpensively.
How would I check my humidity without a hygrometer, and if you could just tell me how long I would turn on my humidifier everyday (if I don’t know what the humidity was) that’ll be great 😊😊
Where do you live? If you are somewhere where it’s winter and are using your heat for most of the day, I’d leave the humidifier on continuously. I’m in the Midwest and only need to do this in the winter. The rest of the year is okay. But if you are somewhere really dry, you’d need to do it most of the year...
Don't file those fret on your B W. What I have done in the past that works really well is to stand that ukulele straight up in front of the mist coming right outta the humidifier. Try to get the whole fret board in he stream of the mist. After about 10 hours or so you'll see the difference and will be as good as new.
Jodi here is a link to a really good article on relative humidity from Ukukele Magazine. They do give the 40% to 60% relative humidity range as ideal. www.ukulelemag.com/stories/what-every-ukulele-player-should-know-about-humidity
We were just talking about this on Wednesday at the SOAR program at the VA Hospital where I volunteer. My humidifier is super lame. I'm getting a new humidifier that is better suited to the uke. Thanks Jodi!
Great info, thank! I live in Phoenix, Az so dry air is a huge issue.
I like the Music Nomad MN302 Humilele for the sound hole...easy flip top and the little super sponge holds 10x its weight in water. Room humidity control is always best though.
Thank you so much! Just ordered one 😉
Good advice Jodi ! I use plastic travel soap boxes I drill about 6 holes in the top. Place a cut to fit damp sponge in the box and they work great ! I don’t have to refill with water as often......
Nice! I wouldn’t have thought of that. Thanks 😊
Thanks for this video
I actually use a Herco guitar humidifier in the case for my laminate soprano uke just to keep the fretboard from doing what your Bruce Wei uke was doing. It has fixed the issue before when that fretboard got too dry. Currently shopping for a baritone, and humidity is on my mind while trying to decide between laminate and solid instruments. Still torn between a Kala laminate and an Ohana spruce top. My solid wood tenors all have Humilele humidifiers in them during the winter, and that has worked beautifully so far. Think a baritone might need a bigger humidifier in the sound hole like you have though.
I had a mandolin, left it out on the stand. One day I bumped into it, it fell over and the neck broke! I’m gearing up to purchase a low g tenor uke. I do wonder about the difference btw the packets, sponges, and the tube of crystals you stick in the case..yeah a hydrometer is a good idea..wait..your daughter? You look like 15, ha..I’m way older, but still think I’m 30. Thank you!
I subscribed because you mentioned you made this video in Ms B's live and it's exactly what I needed! I'll get a hygrometer now to find out if I need to do anything, but I've had a guitar for years that doesn't seem to have warped or cracked so I'm hopeful it's all fine. Thanks for all the information, I really had no idea where to start!
You’re welcome. I’m so glad it helped!
Great info! I just bought my first ukulele. The store also recommended a Grover Ukulele Humidifier. You didn't mention the brand of the one you put in the turtle sound hole, but it looks similar to the Grover. Not sure you'll see this question since this video was posted a while ago, but how do you know when the sponge inside needs to be soaked again since the tube doesn't open in order to feel it? Or how often do you resoak yours if you can't determine when it's dry? I do need one of those humidifier/dehumidifier packs I saw mentioned in another video. It works both ways, which is great.
Thank you so much! I was wondering about these
If you have hard tap water, it is better to use distilled / demineralized water (used for ironing clothes, "making" water for an aquarium etc).
I used regular tap water first.... then, after a day or so, I noticed my room was getting *very* dusty. Also, the gas flames on my stove started to look very weird!
I was about the call the gas company and complain, but fortunately I googled first; turns out that was a side effect from too many particles in the air.
Because these humidifiers use vibration to make the water evaporate, rather than heat (which would put out *hot* steam, unlike these cool mist humidifiers), the minerals in the water evaporate right along with it.
In winter, I spend a couple of euros per week on water - but it's well worth it to protect my beloved ukuleles!
It is also much better for your skin, lungs, eyes etc.
In summer, humidity here can easily go up to 90% for a few days.
For most ukuleles though, high humidity is not really a problem. They are often built in countries where the humidity is very high most of the year; Vietnam, Hawaii, the UK....
Such great information! Thank you!
Thanks Jodi! I would love to display my wood ukuleles, but I'm hesitant. Think I'll purchase a humidifier and go for it. They're too gorgeous to be hidden in cases year round.
Yes, I think your ukuleles are too pretty not to display!
Great information. Thank you!
Jody, I LOVE your channel. You really have great content here and I’ve learned so much from you. Also being an Ohio boy I too have been obsessed about the humidity issue here in the winter. I knew about the Oasis uke humidifiers but not about the hydrometer or the room humidifier. I have 5 hanging in my living room, 3 of which are solid instruments each with an Oasis humidifier. But I have really no idea what the humidity is in the room. One question from your video. What about the other side? You mentioned the wood could warp if the air was too humid (over 60-65%). What is your strategy then? Thanks for all your work on this channel!
Mark Pierce Thank you so much! I honestly don’t know much about TOO much humidity, but I know they also sell room dehumidifiers and these www.amazon.com/Ever-Bamboo-Guitar-Dehumidifier-Charcoal/dp/B01BHP1JY2/ref=mp_s_a_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1549582523&sr=8-17&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=humidipak+d%27addario
Hi Jodi. Thought you’d like to know my hygrometer and room humidifier came in today. Thanks again for the info. See how much influence you have?
Mark Pierce yay! I feel so powerful 😂 Saving one ukulele at a time.
Thanks for all the info. I keep my solid wood in a hard case with a sponge-type humidifier. Since I play it every day, it's not a problem keeping an eye on it. If I tried to turn an entire room into a humidor, I think my wife would kill me.
Haha actually, there are health benefits to keeping a humidifier in your house. www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322228.php 😉
Thank you , great information
Great video- love all your uke's- just curious do you have a favorite uke, size, and do you prefer solid over laminate
I love concert ukuleles the most because they seem to be the perfect size for me. I love both laminate and solid wood Bu my favorite right now is my Blackbird which is made of a material called Ekoa)
Hello GirlMeetsUke, Great Video. Have got a question to the Oasis OH-1 humidifer. Have a humidifer like this one. Actually It looks like that it need some new water in it. I heard that there are 'hygro pearls' or something like this in it. Is this true and did I have to refill this pearls to for/at some time and where did I get them Or is it enough to refil the water. This humidifer seems to be a little bit tricky for me? Hope for an answer. Have a nice weekend, kind regards from Germany!
Hello. You do not need to replace the hygro pearls. Those do not evaporate. Just add water. Use the syringe if you have it. You just need to be sure not to let it overflow or the pearls will escape. 😊 Vielen dank.
@@girlmeetsuke2980 hello again, many thanks for your answer, your information is very helpful!! Have a nice day!! Kind regards again!
According to the Oasis website the pearls should be rinsed out at the end of the winter season. It should be stored with the cap loose. At the beginning of the next winter add more new pearls - also available online very inexpensively.
How would I check my humidity without a hygrometer, and if you could just tell me how long I would turn on my humidifier everyday (if I don’t know what the humidity was) that’ll be great 😊😊
Where do you live? If you are somewhere where it’s winter and are using your heat for most of the day, I’d leave the humidifier on continuously. I’m in the Midwest and only need to do this in the winter. The rest of the year is okay. But if you are somewhere really dry, you’d need to do it most of the year...
GirlMeetsUke alright! Thanks!! It’s right now winter so I guess I’m good for summer, spring and fall??
Don't file those fret on your B W.
What I have done in the past that works really well is to stand that ukulele straight up in front of the mist coming right outta the humidifier. Try to get the whole fret board in he stream of the mist. After about 10 hours or so you'll see the difference and will be as good as new.
Thank you. I’ll give it a try!
GirlMeetsUke
I heat with just wood and have that problem every so often with a few ukuleles.
It works like a charm.
Is it necessary to humidify the laminate ukuleles?
No. Although I suppose the fretboard could still dry out if you kept it in a super dry environment…
Jodi here is a link to a really good article on relative humidity from Ukukele Magazine. They do give the 40% to 60% relative humidity range as ideal.
www.ukulelemag.com/stories/what-every-ukulele-player-should-know-about-humidity
Thank you. Good to know I’m not crazy!
I have a question if I live in California would I need it
idk, I checked the news for where I live and It said the humidity was at 60 so I dont need it, check the news to see what your humidiy is at
Ok
Have questions, do you need to worry more about the solid wood ukulele, or are the laminate woods as vulnerable to climate changes?
Rheba Bond no, they are not. This is one of the big advantages of laminate ukuleles. They are much less vulnerable to changes in humidity 😊
i was hoping to get away with sticking it in the bathroom with me when i take a hot shower lol
im terrible at keeping my instruments humidified...
What do you do when humidity is over 55?