Acoustic Guitars and Relative Humidity - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Baraka_Guru · 06-08-2008, 06:57 AM

As a new owner of an acoustic guitar, I'm trying to figure out basic care. I have an electric, so I understand things related to strings, cleaning, etc., but with the acoustic guitar, I am now concerned about storing it when it comes to relative humidity.

I was told by the salesperson who sold my guitar that I should get a guitar humidifier during the dry winter months to avoid low humidity and cracking. This makes enough sense, and these things aren't too expensive.

However, when poking around online, some music sites also discuss high humidity. Apparently, it's good to have your guitar storage area below 60% humidity. With current weather here in Ontario hitting the 80s (Ontario is notoriously humid in the summers), should I be concerned? The room where I currently store the guitar is really small and on the North side, but it gets hotter than the rest of the apartment due to low air circulation.

We'll be putting in a window-unit air conditioner in the next room, but the door in the smaller room needs to be closed a lot because of the cats. Should I consider storing the guitar in another room? There isn't much space, but I'd be willing to make some if it's important to the well-being of the guitar.

Is this high humidity thing a real concern, or is it just for those who like to always have optimal situations? I get a bit nervous when I read about sweating wood and loosening glue joints.

Martian · 06-08-2008, 07:04 AM

It has a lot to do with the guitar's construction. A poorly made instrument will be more likely to warp or crack in adverse conditions.

Still, if you have an air conditioned room I'd suggest keeping it in there. I use my air conditioner when the weather gets like this more for my guitars than for myself.

Baraka_Guru · 06-08-2008, 07:43 AM

Yeah, I think that's what I'll do. I'll need to put it up somewhere so the cats don't think it's a scratching post. I'll figure something out.

I just wanted to run this by people to see what they do. I didn't want to have to go and store it elsewhere unless it was a real concern. You know, maybe it was one of those "don't believe what you read on the Internets; people are idiots. I store my guitar in the Tropical Forest part of the Montreal Biodome and I've never had any problems."

So I'm not just paranoid?

Martian · 06-08-2008, 08:01 AM

Well, I think the dangers are a bit exaggerated, but no you're not paranoid. High humidity (or low humidity, for that matter) can certainly affect a guitar. I once had a guitar whose top basically collapsed due to a combination of the extremes of Canadian weather and poor construction of the guitar.

As far as keeping the cats away from it, my cat's never even touched my guitar. Even when I leave one out on the couch (as I'm known to do if I expect to be picking it up again soon) she steps around it. Still, if it's a concern you can always just keep it in the case when not in use.

Since most of us don't have the level of climate control available in a typical shop, just keeping it out of the worst of it is okay. It's not a situation where the instrument will fall apart if exposed to any humidity above a threshold, but there can certainly be long-term effects. It's one of the many joys of living in a country that goes from -30 to +30 in the course of a year.

Fly · 06-09-2008, 05:27 PM

i hang all my guitars and basses on my wall.......no cases needed.

they get played every day so i keep them out.........and yes my room gets warm .......but before i play,i'll fire up the amps and give it 10/15 mins......then choose whatever stringed thing to play,have a quick go up and down the neck......see if she's still in tune......*tune it every time you play*........my cheaper guitars NEED to be tuned every time....but my high end ones usually stay in tune for me.

my studio isn't overly hot in summer nor cold in winter.......pretty constant room.

my point........IMHO is there's no need to hide the guitar away and protect it.......it was meant to be played.....

enjoy your guitar bud

06-08-2008, 06:57 AM	#1 (permalink)
Baraka_Guru warrior bodhisattva Super Moderator Location: East-central Canada	Acoustic Guitars and Relative Humidity As a new owner of an acoustic guitar, I'm trying to figure out basic care. I have an electric, so I understand things related to strings, cleaning, etc., but with the acoustic guitar, I am now concerned about storing it when it comes to relative humidity. I was told by the salesperson who sold my guitar that I should get a guitar humidifier during the dry winter months to avoid low humidity and cracking. This makes enough sense, and these things aren't too expensive. However, when poking around online, some music sites also discuss high humidity. Apparently, it's good to have your guitar storage area below 60% humidity. With current weather here in Ontario hitting the 80s (Ontario is notoriously humid in the summers), should I be concerned? The room where I currently store the guitar is really small and on the North side, but it gets hotter than the rest of the apartment due to low air circulation. We'll be putting in a window-unit air conditioner in the next room, but the door in the smaller room needs to be closed a lot because of the cats. Should I consider storing the guitar in another room? There isn't much space, but I'd be willing to make some if it's important to the well-being of the guitar. Is this high humidity thing a real concern, or is it just for those who like to always have optimal situations? I get a bit nervous when I read about sweating wood and loosening glue joints. __________________ Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing? —Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön Humankind cannot bear very much reality. —From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

06-08-2008, 07:04 AM	#2 (permalink)
Martian Young Crumudgeon Location: Canada	It has a lot to do with the guitar's construction. A poorly made instrument will be more likely to warp or crack in adverse conditions. Still, if you have an air conditioned room I'd suggest keeping it in there. I use my air conditioner when the weather gets like this more for my guitars than for myself. __________________ I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said - Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame

06-08-2008, 07:43 AM	#3 (permalink)
Baraka_Guru warrior bodhisattva Super Moderator Location: East-central Canada	Yeah, I think that's what I'll do. I'll need to put it up somewhere so the cats don't think it's a scratching post. I'll figure something out. I just wanted to run this by people to see what they do. I didn't want to have to go and store it elsewhere unless it was a real concern. You know, maybe it was one of those "don't believe what you read on the Internets; people are idiots. I store my guitar in the Tropical Forest part of the Montreal Biodome and I've never had any problems." So I'm not just paranoid? __________________ Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing? —Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön Humankind cannot bear very much reality. —From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

06-08-2008, 08:01 AM	#4 (permalink)
Martian Young Crumudgeon Location: Canada	Well, I think the dangers are a bit exaggerated, but no you're not paranoid. High humidity (or low humidity, for that matter) can certainly affect a guitar. I once had a guitar whose top basically collapsed due to a combination of the extremes of Canadian weather and poor construction of the guitar. As far as keeping the cats away from it, my cat's never even touched my guitar. Even when I leave one out on the couch (as I'm known to do if I expect to be picking it up again soon) she steps around it. Still, if it's a concern you can always just keep it in the case when not in use. Since most of us don't have the level of climate control available in a typical shop, just keeping it out of the worst of it is okay. It's not a situation where the instrument will fall apart if exposed to any humidity above a threshold, but there can certainly be long-term effects. It's one of the many joys of living in a country that goes from -30 to +30 in the course of a year. __________________ I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said - Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame

06-09-2008, 05:27 PM	#5 (permalink)
Fly see the links to my music? Location: Beautiful British Columbia	i hang all my guitars and basses on my wall.......no cases needed. they get played every day so i keep them out.........and yes my room gets warm .......but before i play,i'll fire up the amps and give it 10/15 mins......then choose whatever stringed thing to play,have a quick go up and down the neck......see if she's still in tune......tune it every time you play........my cheaper guitars NEED to be tuned every time....but my high end ones usually stay in tune for me. my studio isn't overly hot in summer nor cold in winter.......pretty constant room. my point........IMHO is there's no need to hide the guitar away and protect it.......it was meant to be played..... enjoy your guitar bud __________________ BASTARD SterlingStudios