Humidifying Your Guitar
What does it mean to "humidify" an acoustic guitar?
Humidifying an acoustic guitar means to increase the level of moisture in the wood that makes up an acoustic guitar. This helps keep the instrument in good condition.
If you have only a few acoustic guitars, it is much easier and cheaper to buy a personal humidifier rather than an eletronic humidifer. However, if you have a room full of guitars, it would be much more cost and labor effective to buy an eletronic humidifier.
Do ALL acoustic guitars need to be humidified?
Any guitar that is made out of wood ideally needs to be kept around 50%-60% humidity (this range varies). Every guitar is different; the finishes are different, the woods are different, and even the same woods are cut from different trees. So different guitars react to different humidities…however, they all should stay roughly around 50%-60% humidity.
NOTE: There are a few acoustic guitars out today that are made out of carbon fiber. They sound just as beautiful as wooden guitars. Learn about [Non-Humidifyable Carbon Guitars HERE]
When should I humidify my guitar?
If you know that winter is coming, you need to remember that COLD KILLS ACOUSTIC GUITARS. Cold air is very dry; it hardens wood and makes it crack (this includes air from air conditioners).
Also, very dry summers kill acoustic guitars. Hot air is also very dry (this includes hot air from radiators or heating vents).
Any weather that is very dry is a great indicator to use a humidifier.
NOTE: To stay on top of humidity levels, I strongly suggest buying a [Humidity Meter].
Where do I humidify my guitar?
Guitars should be stored/displayed away from heating vents, radiators, direct sunlight, and open windows that blow in hot or cold dry air.
Why must I humidify my guitar? Do I really have to?
The lack of humidity is the NUMBER ONE cause of all acoustic guitar repairs.
It can cause:
A Lifted Bridge
Sharp Fret Ends
A Sunken Top
A Cracked Body
A Cracked Fretboard
A Cracked Neck
Low String Action
(it causes notes to buzz)
These are just common examples of what happens to dry acoustic guitars…even more problems can come about.
Properly humidifying your acoustic guitar is all about avoiding these problems before they can happen.
So how do I humidify my guitar?
There are plenty of humidifiers on the market that are available to consumers. Look to the left menu to check out different brands!
Which humidifiers work the best?
That is a matter of personal preference. However, in my years of experience, I find the most effective and useful to be Dampits and Kysers.
Check these humidifiers out!
Can I make my own humidifier?
Well, here's the deal. There are ways to make very cheap humidifiers, and some people will swear that they work. That very well may be the case. However, even if they work, they may not work very well.
If a humidifier is made by professionals, than it is of a professional standard. I strongly suggest getting a real one.