All about the Vertigo System…
Why did we invent the Vertigo system?
The Vertigo advanced instrument humidification system was created for musicians who like to play and display their guitars. The Vertigo pack contains the only humidifier with the capacity, efficiency, and performance to supplement the humidity of your guitar while it is sitting on a stand. It’s also the only humidifier that doesn’t get in the way when you play.
How does the Vertigo humidifier work?
The Vertigo humidifier uses a super absorbent polymer core to hold water in a solidified form. The polymer can hold upwards of 100 times its weight in water, making it one
of the most efficient absorbents on the planet. That said, the polymer is more delicate than a sponge, which is why you shouldn’t squeeze, wring or otherwise abuse it.
How long does hydrating take?
All tap water contains a variety of solutes, which
can vary in concentration from one municipality
to another. The higher the concentration the slower charge time. Consequently, charging can take any where from 30-90 minutes.†
Should I use distilled water?
Only if you want to waste money. The Vertigo humidifier can use distilled water, but it is not really necessary. Clean, cold tap water is fine.
How long will it last inside my guitar?
That depends… There are many factors that affect how long the Vertigo humidifier will last – how dry the guitar is, how dry the room is, whether the guitar is in a case or not, and so on. Under normal conditions, we anticipate 7-10 days. Please be aware that the humidifier is highly efficient. As such, unlike other humidifiers, you will not need to humidify all the time – only when your guitar needs it.
Can I use the Vertigo system with other instruments?
Yes, you can, but you need to understand when to humidify and when to stop. The Vertigo system is marketed for guitars, consequently the instructions pertain solely to guitars.
Can the polymer disappear?
No… It will shrink back to its original size, so it might appear to.
Will the polymer damage my guitar?
No… The polymer will not damage your guitar. It is non-toxic, and holds water in a solidified form, only releasing it as vapor.
Can I recharge the Vertigo humidifier before it’s fully discharged?
No… Overcharging will damage the polymer.
Can I squeeze the Vertigo humidifier?
No… Squeezing, wringing or applying excessive pressure can damage the polymer core and may invalidate your warranty.
Should I read the instructions?
Um… of course… If you don’t, then you only have yourself to blame if things go wrong.
Why does the Vertigo humidifier carry a 3 year warranty?
We want you to have peace of mind that you are buying a quality product. If we weren’t confident in the efficacy of the Vertigo humidifier, we wouldn’t offer a warranty at all.
Why should I register for my warranty?
If you bought the Vertigo humidifier system from elsewhere, registering will activate your warranty. Becoming a registered user will also entitle you to future purchasing discounts, as well as keeping you up to date with the latest developments at Prolix Music.®
Product Dimensions
Item model number
Colour
Diameter
Item Weight
Capacity
Max. Capacity
SKU
Material Type
Date first available
Warranty & Support
Return details
6.25 x 1.5 x 2 inches
Vertigo Advanced Instrument Humidification System
Carbon Fiber look
1″ dehydrated / 2″ when hydrated
1oz dehydrated / 4oz hydrated
90ml
100ml
PMHU1141AGVAIHS1-10
Polyethylene terephthalate
October 28, 2020
Product Warranty: 3 years manufacturers warranty. For warranty information about this product, please click here
30 day satisfaction guarantee. For more information, please click here
Your questions about Humidity answered…
Why should I humidify?
The wood your guitar is made from is a living, breathing material. It slowly absorbs moisture from the air when it is humid, and slowly releases it when it is dry. This causes it to expand and contract, which affects the action (playability), structural integrity and resonance of your guitar, which is why you need to humidify.
How does humidity affect my guitar?
When it is humid, the body slowly swells as it absorbs moisture from the air. Conversely, when it is dry, the body slowly shrinks as it loses moisture to the air. The amount of moisture in the wood is known as moisture content (MC).
What do humidifiers do?
Humidifiers work through the diffusion of water vapor with the air. Lower vapor pressure in the air causes water to evaporate from the humidifier and be absorbed by the air, balancing the vapor pressure throughout. This is known as the process of equilibration. Similarly, wood gains or loses moisture by equilibrating with the air around it, but at a much slower rate. This is good because it means that you don’t need to supplement the humidity all the time – you should only humidify when your guitar needs it.
What is the ideal humidity?
Most manufacturers use tone wood that has been equilibrated to a 50% Relative Humidity (RH) environment. Hence the ideal humidity
is 50% RH. However, it is the Moisture Content (MC) of the wood we are more concerned about, not necessarily the humidity of the air. Luckily, wood is slow to equilibrate, making it immune to daily fluctuations of high and low humidity.
As such, it is a myth that you must maintain an absolute 50% RH continuously. Instead your aim should be to maintain a long term average of 45-55% – nominally 50%.
Does temperature affect humidity?
Completely and all the time. Humidity is relative to the capacity of the air to absorb moisture – in vapor form. Altitude also affects the capacity for air to absorb moisture, as well as locations that have low water levels in the land mass, such as deserts. Conversely cold air has less capacity to absorb water vapor which is why as you heat your home in winter, the air volume increases, but the Relative Humidity drops to dangerous levels for wooden instruments.
What if I don’t humidify?
If you don’t humidify, you may be playing a game of Russian roulette with your guitar. Changes in MC will affect the action (playability) of your guitar, the resonance of the soundboard, and can even result in structural failures such as failed glue joints,
as well as cracks in the body.
If I live in a humid climate
do I still need to humidify?
It really depends. Heating and air conditioning can significantly affect indoor humidity, so you cannot always rely on outdoor humidity as your guide. Ideally you should measure the humidity in the room your guitars live in before making a decision.
Should I humidify all the time?
Only humidify when your guitar needs it. If you humidify all the time you risk adding too much moisture to the wood, which can be as bad as being too dry. Think of it in the same way as heating your home. The furnace only runs when it needs
to, not all the time.
How should I humidify?
It depends.
If you keep your guitar out, play often,
and it was set up professionally, then we’d recommend using the action (playability) of your guitar as your guide of when to humidify and when to stop. Be warned that if you keep your guitar entombed in a case, you must use a fully functional hygrometer and monitor it daily to prevent over humidification.
Only humidify when your guitar needs it. Not all the time. Too much moisture can be equally damaging.
Only humidify when you need to
Drop in the humidifier when the action gets too low, and remove it when that sweet action returns.
If you keep your guitar in a case, monitor the humidity inside the sound hole. When it drops below 45% RH you will know it is time to humidify, and when it exceeds 55% RH you will know it’s time to stop.
Finally, don’t be fooled by the outdoor humidity. Relative Humidity is temperature dependent. As such, heated indoor air is often much drier than the air outside.
Feel the Action
In severe cases you can see a dry or swollen guitar just by looking at the profile. But long before you see it, you will feel it when you play.
Too much Moisture Content will cause the bridge to lift, resulting in high action making it much harder to play, while too little, will cause the bridge to sink, lowering the action and causing fret buzz.
The sound of the guitar is also another little tell-tale sign, albeit less obvious. A guitar with the right moisture content will have a fuller sound than one that is overly dry.
