Humidifying your Guitar – It’s a must.

Humidity and your guitar – It is a really important discussion, and it’s not complicated. When the furnace goes on, you need to humidify your guitar as humidity is vital to its health and longevity.

Wood responds to changes in both temperature and humidity. When your furnace is running, humidity levels in your home can drop below 20%. That dry air draws moisture out of your guitar causing the wood to shrink. Cracking body panels, frets protruding along the neck, bridge lifting, warping, string buzz as well as compromised playability and sound are the result. This type of damage is not unfamiliar to us and please keep in mind that not humidifying your guitar can void the manufacturer’s warranty.

Your guitar needs to be kept between 45% and 50% humidity and the most effective way to do that is by using a guitar humidifier. The humidifiers that are installed on your furnace do not raise the humidity levels high enough to protect your guitar. Our Repair Department regularly sees guitars with problems resulting from low humidity. Don’t let yours be one of them.

We carry several humidifier models. Two that are recommended by Taylor and Martin Guitars are the Oasis Plus and the D’Addario Humidipak. We also strongly encourage you to purchase a digital hygrometer that lets you monitor humidity levels to ensure you’re between 45% and 50%. Both of these together can be purchased for under $55. Alternatively, Oasis also manufactures a soundhole humidification system called the OH30 which houses their high-quality humidifier as well as a hydrometer so you can humidify and monitor at the same time! If you’re experiencing cracking, checking or any of the other humidity issues listed above, give us a call and we will assist you. Our onsite Repair Department can help with a guitar that has been exposed to low humidity conditions.

A humidifier, a hygrometer and your guitar kept together in the case will protect it from long, dry winters – a minimal investment to extend the life of your guitar and keep it playing and sounding great for many years to come.

Please give us a call or send us an email if you have any questions. >>CLICK HERE<<< to purchase any one of our humidification tools online!