Guitar care: The importance of humidity

In order for your guitar to feel good and maintain its optimal playability, the right humidity in the environment is required. In Sweden, the humidity can vary greatly during the year. During the winter months, when the temperature drops below 0°C, the indoor humidity also drops significantly. This can have negative effects on guitars, especially those built from solid instrument wood.

Dry air – a risk for the guitar

When the air is dry, it absorbs moisture from everything around it, including the wood of the guitar. This can lead to a number of problems:

• The frets protrude from the fingerboard.
• The top of the guitar sags and becomes grooved.
• The strings rattle against the fingerboard.
• The guitar neck twists.
• In the worst case, the wood can crack.

Store the guitar correctly

To avoid problems with dry air, you should store your guitar in a place with optimal humidity. The recommendation is 40-50% relative humidity at normal room temperature.

Tips for giving the guitar a climate it will thrive in

• Store the guitar in its bag or case during the winter months.
• Use a guitar humidifier in the case.
• Invest in a digital hygrometer to monitor humidity.
• Do not place the guitar near radiators or windows.
• Allow the guitar to acclimate to the room temperature before removing it from the case after being out in the cold.

By paying attention to humidity and storing your guitar properly, you can help extend the life of the guitar and preserve its optimal tone, resonance and playability. Feel free to contact us if you have questions or need further advice.