We have discussed the different kinds of wood and their impact on the guitar in previous issues of the magazine . It ’ s quite interesting to know how different kinds of wood can affect the guitar in different ways . However , as wood is an organic material , it is susceptible to damage and degradation brought about by environmental reasons . One of the biggest issues with guitar maintenance is the damage caused by indoor humidity .
Absolutely all guitars and string instruments made of wood are sensitive to indoor humidity .
Guitar manufacturers claim that when storing a guitar , the humidity should not be lower than 45 %, but at the same time should not exceed 55 %. In factories and workshops , as a rule , they try to adhere to just such indicators .
HOW DOES EXCESS HUMIDITY HARM THE GUITAR ?
If the guitar is stored in a room where the humidity is significantly outside the specified limits , then the guitar may show the following “ diseases ”:
• The wood can crack anywhere
• The strings “ fall ” on the fretboard
• The geometry of the body and neck is broken
• Fret plates can come out of grooves
• The paintwork gets damaged
• Backlashes are formed in the joints
Unfortunately , some of these changes are irreversible , so you better be careful .
HOW TO HUMIDIFY A GUITAR ?
The easiest way to save the instrument is to use special humidifiers for the guitar . For example , PLANET WAVES by D ’ ADDARIO PW-SIH-01 : Humidifiers usually consist of a plastic body and a sponge inside . In some cases , other materials and methods of humidification may be used - it all depends on the specific type of humidifier and manufacturer .
PLANET WAVES by D ’ ADDARIO PW-SIH-01 , for example , is a manual humidity control system . In other words , you need to wet the sponge yourself , and put the humidifier in the body of the guitar , in a case or case .
Planet Waves PW - HPRP -12 Humidipak is an automatic system that does not require your direct participation in humidity control .
HOW TO DETERMINE THE LEVEL OF HUMIDITY IN A ROOM ?
You can determine the level of humidity in a room using a hygrometer , which is hung on a wall / placed on a table , etc .
However , there are special humidity control systems for acoustic instruments . For example , the HOSCO MOISS2- GC2 , measures guitar moisture directly on the guitar itself , avoiding future wood problems . Some facts about dampening guitars :
• When the air humidity is below 30 %, it is necessary to change the water in the humidifier once a week ;
• If the air humidity is between 30 % and 40 %, then the water should be changed every three months .
• The humidifier is placed in a guitar or in a case / case . For electric guitars and basses , which should be stored in cases in a good way , humidifiers are placed directly in the case .
• At high air humidity ( above 55 %), it is necessary to dehumidify the room with heaters , ventilation ( provided that the weather is not humid outside ), or air conditioning .
• Do not store the tool near water ( and even an aquarium ), batteries , and in the sun . Do not wipe the guitar with a damp cloth .
All of this might seem like a lot of work . But if you want to preserve your beloved guitar and protect it from excessive damage , you will need to maintain it . Just cleaning the fretboard with lemon oil isn ’ t going to work . Indoor humidity can severely affect the life and quality of your guitar and you must be mindful of it . Let the sweat dripping from your fingers after hours of practice be the only moisture your guitar has to deal with . Keep your guitar humidified .
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