Guitar Cracks due to Low Humidity in MAINE - NEVAH

Hey, Hal here, the banjo guy from NEVAH, Maine's Progressive Newgrass, Country, Prograssabilly band.
I live just outside Bangor. January 3rd was a lovely day, low temps just above zero degrees in the morning hours. I'm in my office sitting at my desk working on a 3D animation when all of a sudden I hear a very loud crack and then I hear the strings on my Martin D-42 vibrate. I froze, I instantly knew what it was and as I turned I could clearly see the "crack" on the face of the guitar from the bridge to the guitar edge. AHHHHHHHH!

Martin D-42 with long crack on face

I was totally upset and a bit freaked out so I called up Martin Guitar in Nazareth PA immediately. I reached customer service and I started to tell him about the sound when I heard him scream, "AHHHHHHHHH!" - He knew immediately what I was going to say. He gave me the name of their "certified" Martin repair guy in Maine. I called him up as soon as I got off the phone with Martin and within two seconds he knew exactly what had happened. LOW HUMIDITY! AHHHHHHHHHH!

I always keep my guitar out of the case so I can just pick it up and play at a moments notice. However,
I immediately grabbed my Kyser "Lifeguard" guitar humidifier, wet it, and placed it into the guitar sound hole then sealed it in my Calton Guitar Case - it's not likely to do much at this stage but at least I feel like I'm  helping the guitar … that is until I can get it repaired.

Kyser Lifeguard Guitar Humidifier

Kyser Lifeguard in Martin D-42 Soundhole

Calton Case, Kyser Guitar Humidifier in a Martin D-42 guitar

Anyway to make a long story short if you don't have enough humidity where you store your instruments then player be ware. It's a relatively easy fix for a qualified repair person, but who wants that. Not me, especially when NEVAH has an upcoming gig January 26th at the Next Generation Theatre (tiny show plug).

The closed Calton Case holding a Martin D-42 being humidified by a Kyser Lifeguard.

Hope you all can avoid this situation - AHHHHHH

Hal
Nevah Banjo & Guitar-ish guy