From mid January to late April, the water level in Musik Tent reservoir is indicating it should go another few months before running empty.  However, we expect less water will be consumed in coming months as the ambient room humidity in Pennsylvania increases. We are not running the heat more than a few hours a day, compared to nearly continuously in winter months. This is shown in the graph below.  

At this point in the study, it is clear there is really no comparison with sponge type humidifiers compared to Musik Tent. Even 2 freshly charged sponge humidifiers peaked over about 2 days before declining during a period in winter when the room ambient humidity was around 25% to 30% RH.  

Not much to report today. The Taylor 414CE guitar humidity has increased and now nearly matches the Taylor 356CE. You may recall that the 414CE was allowed to drop to 32% RH in the case study. So, we've seen a gradual increase over the last few days as expected. The reservoir water level is still high, and expected to easily last to summer.

One noteworthy observation is that when the temperature is increased in the morning from 68 deg  to around 72 deg, the ambient and Musik Tent humidities drop by about 3% (as reported yesterday) - and they seem to stay at the decreased level the remainder of the day.

No change from yesterday. I do note that after I check and record the humidity, and increase the thermometer setting from 68 deg F to 72 deg F, the ambient and Musik Tent humidity drops by about 3% RH for awhile. Makes sense that warmer air has more capacity for moisture, making the "relative" humidity lower. I'll note how long it takes for the RH to rebound.

UPDATE: A customer asked if it's okay to place electric guitars inside Musik Tent. Yes, the climate inside a Musik Tent is not really that humid - compared to outside. Currently, in Center Valley, PA the outdoor relative humidity is 84%, while my indoor home humidity is around 24% RH with the heat running. Inside the Musik Tent, my guitars are at between 45 and 50% RH, which is ideal for wood and electronics. Otherwise, you'll likely develop cracking of wood along the grain boundaries. Also, if you notice the fret wires are extending out on the neck, this is likely from the neck shrinkage (a.k.a. Fret Sprout) due to dryness. So, it's advised to keep ALL guitar necks oiled properly and/or under humidity control. See photos and read zzounds article at https://blog.zzounds.com/2017/06/29/the-story-behind-fret-sprout/.

As mentioned yesterday, the Case humidity study ended. I moved the Musik Tent into my office closet and placed two instruments inside, and plan to report out the soundhole and ambient occasionally. I don't see a need to report the variation inside the Musik Tent since it's been consistently 3 to 4% during the testing to date. The closet option is nice for those who prefer to keep their instrument away from prying eyes, kids, pets and sunlight.

The 356CE 12-string held around 50% during the moving of the Musik Tent and is currently at 49% RH. The 414CE that had been allowed to drop as low as 32% RH in the soundhole during the case testing was reading in the 40% RH range following the move. It's now reading 47% RH. so a fairly quick recovery in one day.   

The Case humidity study ended. Not sure what if any study of the case will be done next. I came up with Musik Tent because I never liked storing instruments in cases, usually pushed under a bed "out of sight, out of mind." I like them visible and quickly accessible for those moments of inspiration or boredom. I also would invariably forget about them and find the sponges dried out, making me concerned about going from very high humidity to bone dry in a few weeks. I need my cases for gigging out, but most guitarists I talk with probably don't really need a case.

I moved the Musik Tent into my office closet and placed two instruments inside, and plan to report out the soundhole and ambient occasionally. I don't see a need to report the variation inside the Musik Tent since it's been consistently 3 to 4% during the testing to date. The closet option is nice for those who prefer to keep their instrument away from prying eyes, kids, pets and sunlight.

From experience, I expect the reservoir to last another 4 or 5 months before needing to be refilled.  

24 hours after opening the case, the humidity in the soundhole has dropped from 39% to 32% RH. Not wanting to further stress my guitar, I moved it into a humidity cabinet. So, what have we learned? Summarized below are my observations of humidity when 2 wetted dampit style humidifiers are inserted into the soundhole of an already humidified guitar, inside a top quality case:

• Humidity in soundhole took 6 days to reach 50% RH.
• The maximum humidity variation inside the case was 20% RH, from soundhole at 48% RH to headstock at 28%. Note, this was on a day with one of the lowest recorded ambient humidity of 19% RH. 
• The maximum humidity variation between the soundhole and ambient humidity was 29% RH, also on same day ambient humidity was at 19% RH.
• Soundhole humidity never exceeded 50% RH, and tended to decrease about 1% RH every few days (2 days at 50% RH, 3 days at 48% RH, 2 days at 47% RH) until bottoming out around 41% RH. 
• 2 wetted dampit style humidifiers lasted about 3 weeks or so before drying out. Afterwards, with the case remaining closed, the decline in humidity inside the soundhole was about 1% RH every 4 days or so.
  
• Swings in ambient humidity from a low of 17% RH to as high as 35% seem to have minimal effect on the test results

Here are my observation of the Musik Tent for comparison:

• Humidity in soundhole took about 2 days to reach 46% RH. Later, I increased the filament setting to get closer to 50% RH.
• The maximum humidity variation inside the Musik Tent was 4% RH. 
• The maximum humidity variation between the soundhole and ambient humidity was 30% RH, on the day with the lowest recorded ambient humidity at 17% RH.
• Soundhole humidity never exceeded 51% RH, and tended to swing 1 to 2% RH with ambient humidity. 
• 3 cups of distilled water lasted during the 26 days of testing, and the remaining amount is estimated to last at least another 5 months or so, depending on ambient conditions.

24 hours after removing the 2 Dampit style humidifiers from the case, the humidity is unchanged with the soundhole remaining at 41%.  I've opened the case to see the response.

The humidity in the Musik Tent has crept up to 51% RH in the soundhole with the increase in ambient humidity currently at 35% RH. 

UPDATE: About 2 hours after opening case, the soundhole humidity has dropped to 39% RH.

Humidity in case with 2 Dampit style humidifiers is holding at 41% RH in soundhole.  We've not experienced "normal" conditions in Pennsylvania since the beginning testing in mid Jan. Yesterday, the outside temperature reached around 60 Deg and it felt like spring. The current ambient humidity is at 31% RH.

My original plan was to monitor the decline of the humidity for a normal winter in PA. Oh well. At least we're observing what happens with large swings in humidity over short periods.

I haven't opened the case since inserting the 2nd Dampit style humidifier on Jan 13th, but I'm suspecting the sponges are dried out and moisture is being released from the instrument. As a reminder, instruments used for these studies are already humidified  to a minimum of 40% RH. I'll likely open the case soon.

The Musik Tent continues to maintain a few percent variation in humidity over entire instrument, and has consumed little distilled water at this time.

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Day 24. Humidity in case with 2 Dampit style humidifiers is down to 41% RH in soundhole.  Currently, ambient humidity is 31% RH today. It's unseasonably warm outside and supposed to get to a high of 60 deg today. Planning to wait for soundhole humidity to get to 40% RH before opening the case. 

Day 20. Humidity in case with 2 Dampit style humidifiers is at 42% RH in soundhole.  Currently, ambient humidity is at 17% RH.  Still haven't opened case since Jan 13th. Very little water has been consumed from the Musik Tent reservoir since mid January.

Day 19. Brrrr!  We're back in a cold spell, so another chance to see the effects of reduced humidity on the testing. It's supposed to warm up a bit beginning tomorrow. Humidity in case with 2 Dampit style humidifiers is at 43% RH in soundhole.  Currently, ambient humidity is at 19% RH.