Why do I need to worry about my guitar’s humidity level?
Changing weather conditions greatly affect the amount of humidity present. A typical acoustic guitar holds between eight and 10 grams of water. If the guitar's wood dries out, it shrinks. If it gets over-hydrated, it swells. Because your strings place a lot of tension on your guitar, shrinking and swelling can cause anything from fret buzz and fret-overhang to warping or twisting of the neck and top. And if you're really unlucky, your guitar will crack or split. That's why it's important to maintain a constant humidity level with a device like the Oasis HH Combo OH-30.
Here are some tips for protecting your acoustic guitar:
- Store you guitar in its case when not in use and place a temperature/humidity gauge inside the case.
- Keep the humidity level between 45%-60% inside the case. A guitar humidifier will usually do the trick, but it may also be helpful to use a room humidifier or dehumidifier.
- 70 to 74 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal for guitars. Storing them away from direct sunlight or sources of heating and air conditioning will help to maintain a constant temperature.
- Humidity control is like an extra insurance policy for the health and well-being of your guitar.
