Interview Music Humidor: “Each Piece Of Furniture We Make Is One-Of-A-Kind”

Among the many hundreds of guitars at the Guitar Summit in Mannheim, Germany, the beautiful humidors from Music Humidor definitely stood out. This German company is the only one of its kind in Europe. High time for an interview with founder and owner Matthias Ullwig.

Music Humidor focuses exclusively on building custom-made humidors to make sure you can store your precious guitars in the best possible way. Nice bonus: they look great in any interior, as the pictures below show.

Wanna know more? Check out the interview!

As a passionate guitarist yourself, can you tell us about the incident with your Gibson J-45 that inspired you to create Music Humidor?

After moving into a modern house with advanced heating and ventilation systems, I faced the problem of humidity levels dropping below 20 percent in winter.

The constant exchange of air caused damage to furniture, and my Gibson J-45 guitar was destroyed as the neck angle shifted, resulting in fret buzz at the 12th fret.

Even Gibson was unable to repair it. Around that time, I had ordered a custom guitar from New Zealand, and I was worried it might suffer the same fate.

In my search for a humidity-controlled cabinet to protect my instruments, I couldn’t find any suitable products, so I decided to build one myself.

I constructed a cabinet with a humidification unit and a sensor to maintain 50 percent humidity, which worked perfectly for eight years.

After a career change three years ago, I decided to offer this solution professionally, believing that others might face the same issue. This led to the creation of the ‘Music-Humidor.com’.

What challenges did you face when starting the company?

The biggest challenge I faced at the beginning of the business was finding suitable carpenters who could ensure the level of quality I wanted for creating custom-made humidors.

I had very specific ideas about how the technology should be implemented, and luckily, I had great support from my uncle in manufacturing the casing and assembling the technical components.

However, in today’s world, it’s incredibly difficult to find craftsmen who are passionate about unique projects that continually challenge them, as each piece of furniture we make is essentially a one-of-a-kind creation.

Many people prefer to make money in easier ways, so finding the right people was the biggest hurdle at the start.

What do you want Music Humidor to do for guitarists, and how do you help those who don’t know why keeping guitars at the right humidity is important?

Music Humidor can play an educational role for guitarists. From my experience with friends, at various trade shows, and in conversations with artists and guitar collectors, I’ve realized that many are unaware of the problems caused by humidity and the potential damage it can do to their instruments.

There have been instances where even very famous guitarists have looked at me in surprise, not knowing what I’m talking about when I explain the purpose of my products.

So, I would say that it helps every guitarist to be mindful of their instrument and respond to the first signs of any issues.

Can you explain the technology behind your Youmidorhumidification unit and how it differs from traditional guitar storage solutions?

Currently, the technology in our humidors is unique because we combine both a humidification and a dehumidification unit in one device.

This means that, aside from markets like Germany, where dryness is the primary issue, we can also serve regions with high humidity, such as Florida or my contact in New Zealand, where excess moisture is a problem.

Our Advanced Humidity Control Unit allows us to support customers in these areas as well.

The typical solutions available on the market today mostly focus on managing humidity within the guitar case, whether it’s a sponge in the soundhole or more professional options.

However, these solutions usually only last for a few days at best and provide little to no insight into the current humidity levels. In contrast, our humidor technology ensures a perfect, stable humidity level for weeks or even months, allowing guitarists to leave their instruments for extended periods without concern.

The 5-liter water tank is designed to humidify for a long time or to collect excess moisture efficiently in high-humidity environments.

How does the Youmidor technology adapt to different environments, such as varying climates or seasons?

Each Humidity Control Unit is equipped with a sensor that ensures the humidification system starts and stops within a programmable interval. Ideally, the humidity level is maintained between 50 and 55 percent.

In a different environment, the system can be switched to dehumidification, operating in the same way. It is also possible, for example, to set the system to humidify during winter in Europe and switch to dehumidification during the height of summer, when humidity occasionally rises above 60 percent.

This can easily be done with a toggle switch, ensuring that the appropriate function is activated for the respective season.

How do you make sure your humidors both protect guitars well and look good at the same time?

We have extensively tested the technology to ensure that the contents of each cabinet or display case for instruments function perfectly. The design, however, is a subjective choice. Each customer decides how they want their humidor to look.

No one has to buy an off-the-shelf product from us; instead, they create their own custom design, choosing the size, type of wood, color, type of lighting, whether they want glass panels, and more. This is why all our customers are very happy with their product by the time it is delivered.

What new ideas or improvements do you plan to add to your products in the coming year or so?

We have just finalized the delivery status of the newest generation of our Advanced Humidity Control Unit, allowing us to offer both humidification and dehumidification. Currently, we are focused on optimizing our delivery and production processes.

This means that next year, we will implement several internal improvements to streamline our operations, which will enable us to scale internationally. Additionally, we are always open to suggestions from our customers. Since each product is a unique piece, special requests can be integrated at any time.

How do you collaborate with luthiers to make sure your humidors are right for different types of guitars?

Collaborating with guitar manufacturers is one of the key elements for our marketing and the promotion of our product. As a young company, working with such renowned manufacturers is both a blessing and a gift.

On one hand, as a humidor manufacturer, we are not competitors to the guitar makers, but rather a perfect complement to their high-quality instruments.

For example, we collaborate with Jens Ritter Instruments, Nik Huber Guitars, and Laurie Williams in New Zealand, whose instruments truly deserve the perfect environment and to be beautifully showcased.

Can you share any interesting stories or feedback you’ve received from customers about how your humidors have protected their guitars?

We received a very interesting and amusing message from a customer who told me that on the evening after setting up the humidor, he didn’t turn on the TV to watch anything.

Instead, he spent the entire evening sitting in front of his illuminated humidor, admiring his instruments. The lighting, combined with the instruments that mean so much to him, created a special atmosphere in the room.

He was absolutely thrilled that he was doing something good for his instruments while also enhancing the feel of his space and improving his living quality. It was a lovely compliment forus.

How do you think Music Humidor helps keep old guitars safe and supports making great guitars in the future?

We are particularly appealing for old and antique instruments because their value becomes increasingly significant, and there is a growing interest in preserving them for future generations.

Many people even acquire instruments as investments, and with our humidor solution, we are the only ones who actively help maintain these instruments in their current condition. While we cannot repair them, we can ensure that they are preserved.

Additionally, for new instruments, we ensure from the outset that they remain in perfect, like-new quality.

An added benefit is that when instruments are stored in the humidor, they retain their tuning. This means that when you take an instrument out, it remains tuned, and you no longer need to spend time tuning before playing.

You can simply play and then hang it back up. This is an incredible feature.

Can you walk us through the customization process for customers who want a unique humidor design to match their home decor?

It is important to us that the design is of such quality that the customer can fully envision what they are purchasing.

At the same time, I also need to visualize it to ensure that the color contrasts are correct, the proportions are right, and the lighting is suitable for the instruments.

Even for my carpenters, who are responsible for building the cabinet, it is crucial to see how the technology will be installed and which spaces will be used with what materials.

To address all of these aspects, we develop a 3D model before starting the construction. Each customer explains their wishes to me over the phone, in a video call, or via email.

Based on this information, I create an initial 3D model. We then adjust this model as needed, based on the customer’s feedback, until they are completely satisfied. Only then do we proceed to the cost calculation, timeline estimation, and finally, the construction process.

What’s the most unusual or challenging custom humidor request you’ve received from a customer?

Two examples immediately come to mind. First, a customer requested a metal frame made from solid brass. In my field, this is a feature we have to outsource, as my metalworkers are not equipped to process brass, which requires a special soldering technique.

Finding a manufacturer capable of offering this service and ensuring the durability of the product was a significant challenge.

The second major challenge we faced was integrating artwork as a backdrop for an instrument. Art is, of course, highly individual and subjective in terms of taste.

It becomes particularly exciting when multiple service providers are involved in a single project, and we need to bring everything together into a perfect final product. These are the challenges we are happy to take on.

How does Music Humidor educate guitar owners about the importance of proper humidity control?

We are working hard to increase our visibility, and by explaining our product, we naturally educate and inform guitar owners. At the recent Guitar Summit in Mannheim, for instance, I had several conversations with guitarists who hadn’t given much thought to this issue.

Understandably, many believe that electric guitars, especially those with solid wood bodies or partly made of metal, are less at risk, which is true to an extent.

However, most become intrigued and quiet down when I explain that during the winter months, the fret ends often become sharp.

It’s interesting to see how guitarists take their instruments to a repair shop or a manufacturer to have the fret ends filed down because they’ve become sharp.

The reality is that the neck wood has contracted due to dryness, causing the frets to protrude. This is one of the first signs that a guitar is not being kept or stored at the right humidity level.

Additionally, we are raising awareness through Instagram, advertising, trade shows, and conversations with artists. I also frequently encourage influencers to spread the word that we exist and emphasize the importance of keeping instruments in good condition.

This interview, which may reach a wide audience, could also contribute to that effort.

Are there any collaborations with guitar manufacturers or high-end guitar shops in the works?

Yes, as mentioned earlier, we collaborate with Jens Ritter and Nik Huber, for example. We are also receiving increasing inquiries from high-end guitar shops that want to equip their own showrooms with our humidors – not only to protect the instruments but also because the lighting showcases them in a truly sensational way.

Can you share any tips for guitar owners who may not be ready for a full humidor but want to better protect their instruments?

As someone who has personally experienced the loss of a guitar, my aim is to raise awareness. Of course, a humidor is an investment that not everyone can afford or necessarily needs.

I believe the first essential step is to monitor humidity levels with a hygrometer, simply paying attention to this aspect. You can also use a room humidifier or dehumidifier to keep your instruments in good condition.

Unfortunately, there aren’t many other options available, but not everyone lives in a modern house with heating and ventilation systems like mine. If someone lives in an older building or a farmhouse, the insulation isn’t as tight, and the humidity fluctuations aren’t as extreme.

So, the first step is to get a hygrometer, and the second step, depending on the need, is to get a room humidifier or dehumidifier to protect your instruments. If that’s not enough, feel free to contact us.

We offer free 3D modeling and a cost estimate, and you can still decide afterward whether to move forward with it or not.