{"id":295,"date":"2019-04-21T17:15:33","date_gmt":"2019-04-21T21:15:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.artisanluthiers.com\/blog\/?p=295"},"modified":"2024-11-04T18:23:24","modified_gmt":"2024-11-04T23:23:24","slug":"how-to-prevent-guitar-humidity-temperature-problems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.artisanluthiers.com\/blog\/how-to-prevent-guitar-humidity-temperature-problems\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Prevent Guitar Humidity and Temperature Problems"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Guitar Care – Preventing Humidity and Temperature Problems<\/h2>\n

Learn how humidity and extreme temperatures affect guitars including steps you can take to avoid problems.<\/h3> \n\n

Regarding damage to guitars caused by heat and humidity factors there is one huge thing to remember<\/strong>. The number one thing to remember is “be diligent in avoiding troublesome conditions”! When heat or humidity damage your guitar it’s going to result is either expensive guitar repair services<\/a> or a guitar that’s impossible to repair. Nobody wants either situation, right? Here’s what you need to know to take proper care of your guitar.<\/p>\n\n

Types of Wood Used for Guitars<\/h2>\n

The types of wood used to build guitars include softwoods, hardwoods, laminated veneer, and even plywood. Within categories of softwood and hardwood, there are a variety of wood species used to build guitars. These types of woods are often mixed to build a guitar’s body, neck, and fingerboard. Sound Unlimted, a UK based guitar company, identified and described nearly a dozen types of woods used to build guitars.1<\/sup> Every type of wood has its own unique characteristics. These unique characteristics manifest different effects form how each particular type of wood deals with humidity, dryness, and temperatures. <\/p>\n\n

If you’ve ever seen warped boards or heard an old house creak at night then you’ve observed environmental effects on wood. Although not particularly discernable your guitar will react in a similar manner from atmospheric changes.<\/p>\n\n

It is important to know that environmental effects on guitar wood also impact finishes, hardware fitment, and obviously playability. If you truly care about your guitar you will take time to learn how weather affects your instrument.<\/p>\n\n

Hollow Body Guitars vs. Solid Body Guitars<\/h2>\n

Hollow Body Guitars – Temperature & Humidity<\/h3>\n

Hollow body guitars are basically thin sheets of wood with similarly light wood framing. Although the framing joints and veneer panels are firmly glued together when the wood swells the expansion leads to distortion. In other words, the endpoints and edges are locked-in-place. These elements cannot expand outward in size so the size expansion forces a concave or convex bowing. While this may settle down when humidity levels return to normal damage may remain.<\/p>\n

Solid Body Guitars – Temperature & Humidity<\/h3>\n

Solid body electric guitar’s wood is generally not particularly affected by atmospheric conditions. The solid slab bodies are not likely to warp, although necks and fretboards are a bit more sensitive. For the most part, having larger, solid pieces of wood affords much greater resistance to temperature and heat changes. <\/p>\n

Thinking past your guitars wood, you need to keep in mind that heat and moisture are two enemies of electronics.<\/p>\n\n

How Does Temperature Affect a Guitar<\/h2> \n

We all know there is no way we can control the weather. Fortunately, guitars can usually be kept in climate controlled homes and buildings. As temperatures move from hot to cold wood reacts by expanding and contracting respectively. When the wood of a guitar experiences expansion and contraction there is a chance for warping and distortion. Both the body and the neck are susceptible to suffering irreparable damage.<\/p>\n\n

Gradual temperature changes do not usually “shock” the wood as the guitar can adapt easily enough. When guitar experiences sudden and major temperature changes it can be a big problem. Taking a guitar out of a hot car and immediately taking it into an air-conditioned space is not a good idea. Taking a guitar from a cold outdoor environment into a warm room is not a good idea. These types of situations expose a guitar to sudden changes of 40 to 80 degrees or more – not good at all!<\/p>\n\n

What is a safe temperature range for a guitar?<\/h3>\n

The extreme temperature ranges to which any guitar should be exposed is roughly 32-95 degrees Fahrenheit. Some sources may offer a wider range but it’s worth considering how these sources define “safe”. As for the ideal temperature range, Wikibooks2<\/sup> says, “the temperature of the area should be about 65-75 \u00b0F (18-24 \u00b0C).”. Wikibooks goes on to advise that “The more expensive the guitar, the better your storage should be.”.<\/p>\n\n

How to manage and control temperature effects on your guitar <\/h3>\n

To mitigate potential problems caused by temperature-related factors you should keep in mind:<\/p>\n