It’s that time of year.\u00a0 Both on your classical guitar and off.\u00a0 Guitar humidifier ready?<\/p>\n
The leaves are changing color, fall fashion is in full swing, and people can’t get enough of those pumpkin-spiced beverages.<\/p>\n
While all that is happening outside, there are also changes inside our home.\u00a0\u00a0The temperature may be cooler.\u00a0 We start putting on the heater, and the air feels a bit dryer.\u00a0\u00a0This all affects the humidity in our homes.<\/p>\n
In this article, we’ll explore how much of a problem – or not – this can be for our guitars.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n Humidity refers to the amount of water vapor in the air.<\/p>\n Wood, the primary material in guitars, is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs and releases moisture. This can cause the wood to expand or contract, leading to issues like cracking, warping, or swelling.<\/p>\n Maintaining balanced humidity is key to preserving your guitar\u2019s longevity and sound.<\/p>\n It’s not good for the different woods inside our guitars to get too dry.\u00a0 So we may need to humidify our instrument in the dry cold of winter or the hot dryness of summer.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n For most guitars, the first sign of dryness is often when a squeak or a noise appears that wasn’t there before. Maybe a string or two mysteriously pops when the guitar isn’t being used.<\/p>\n Another sign can be when the ends of the frets seem sharp on either side of the fretboard.\u00a0 This is because the neck may have shrunk slightly.\u00a0\u00a0We might also find a slight gap between the bridge and the guitar top.<\/p>\n In an extreme case, the wood can crack, or the glue can fail.\u00a0\u00a0So if we’re concerned, the secret is not to let our beloved guitars get into that situation.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n The first thing to do is gauge our level of worry.\u00a0 If we have a “beater” guitar or an instrument that we are not concerned about, then we don’t need to worry too much about humidity.<\/p>\n However, if we are playing an instrument that we really value, then we may want to consider the humidity level, particularly where we store the instrument.<\/p>\n Here comes the science:<\/p>\n The best room temperature at which to store our instruments is around 70 to 76 degrees Fahrenheit (21 to 24 C).<\/p>\n Relative humidity is the percentage of water vapor in the air.\u00a0 Many luthiers recommend keeping our instruments stored at around 45% to 55% relative humidity.<\/p>\n If we’re traveling, we need to keep an eye on humidity changes.\u00a0 We can use a humidity system in our case (see below).\u00a0 It’s also a good idea to check if our guitar case has a rubber seal to keep moisture in and heat out.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n If this all sounds like far too complicated, don’t worry.\u00a0 There are easy ways to control the humidity around our guitars.<\/p>\n Many experts recommend using a device soaked with water that sits in between the strings of the guitar.\u00a0 This allows it to provide direct moisture to the wood inside your guitar as it evaporates naturally.<\/p>\n Several manufacturers supply different designs of these, including:<\/p>\n And many modern digital humidifiers can be set to monitor themselves inside the home. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n We have three main types of humidifiers to choose from.\u00a0 And while each has pros and cons, any will work fine to keep your guitar well-watered.<\/p>\n In-Case Humidifiers:<\/strong> These are placed directly in the guitar case, offering a controlled environment. They’re ideal for individual guitars but require regular monitoring.<\/p>\n Soundhole Humidifiers:<\/strong> Inserted into the guitar\u2019s soundhole, these are great for direct humidification but must be used cautiously to avoid over-humidification (i.e. dripping water into your guitar).<\/p>\n Room Humidifiers:<\/strong> These control the humidity of the entire room, beneficial if you have multiple instruments. However, they can be more expensive and require space. Even better, we can make our own guitar humidifiers cheaply and easily out of a baggy and a paper towel!<\/p>\n Just put a damp (not dripping) paper towel in a loosely rolled sandwich bag.\u00a0 Then put this in your guitar case.\u00a0 Easy as pie.<\/p>\nWhat is Humidity?<\/h2>\n
How to Spot When Your Guitar is Thirsty<\/h2>\n
How to Deal with Humidity for Guitar Maintenance<\/h2>\n
Room Temperature Levels<\/h3>\n
Relative Humidity Levels<\/h3>\n
Traveling<\/h3>\n
Too Much Science?<\/h2>\n
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Types of Humidifiers for Guitar<\/h2>\n
\n<\/a><\/p>\nDIY Guitar Humidifiers<\/h2>\n