Is 60% humidity OK for a guitar?

The ideal humidity range for your guitar is 45-55% relative humidity (RH). Extended exposure to high humidity can lead to guitar damage.

How humid should a guitar be?

The ideal humidity range for an acoustic guitar is 45-55 percent, but 40-60 percent is generally acceptable. Use a digital unit rather than an analog type with a needle; in our experience, a digital unit is far more accurate.

How long does it take for humidity to damage guitar?

Depending on the deviation from ideal RH, permanent damage could take months or years to occur. If instead the guitar is hung from a wall near a heating vent, then 2 - 4 months of a cold winter could cause permanent damage. Woods used for acoustic guitar backs and sides are usually cured at about 50% relative humidity.

What humidity is too low for acoustic guitars?

A Dry Guitar – Signs of Too Little Humidity. Of course, the opposite of a “wet guitar” is a “dry guitar.” It's been exposed to humidity below 40% for a few days or more and has begun to dry out. Extremely dry air, in general, has the effect of causing wood to shrink/contract.

What is low humidity for a guitar?

The bottom line regarding dryness is that if your guitar is not kept within a comfortable range of 45-55 percent relative humidity, it will be in danger of cracking. We strongly recommend the use of a guitar humidifier, along with a digital hygrometer to accurately measure the humidity level where you store the guitar.

Ideal Humidity

Are dehumidifiers bad for guitars?

A dehumidifier running intermittently can maintain a humidity level of 50% to 60%, which is an acceptable level for storing almost any guitar.

Is 40% humidity too low for guitar?

What is the best humidity level for my guitar? Most experts say 40-50 percent. At this level, a guitar will sound and play its best. A great way to control humidity is to use a humidifier.

Does a guitar case protect from humidity?

There are two main kinds of guitar cases: gig bags and hard cases. Gig bags are light to carry and provide a good amount of protection. They do not, however, protect against temperature changes very well. Hard cases, on the other hand, provide excellent protection against temperature, humidity, and physical damage.

How do you dehumidify a guitar?

A room dehumidifier does the trick. Keep your guitar away from warm, moist areas. Don't keep your guitar in a car boot for long periods of time. Don't guess the humidity of your room or guitar case, use a hygrometer.

How often should you humidify your guitar?

If your humidity is consistently in the 35 to 45 per- cent range, re-wet the Dampit every 10 to 14 days. Working musicians who routinely perform in dry regions and winter climates should keep their soundhole humidifier moist all the time, and use a second humidifier as previously mentioned.

What temperature is bad for guitars?

Steer clear of extreme temperatures of less than 32 Fahrenheit (0 Celsius) or more than 95 Fahrenheit (35 Celsius). Use your heating or air conditioning systems to maintain an acceptable temperature in your guitar room, but keep your guitars a good distance away from the units themselves!

What is the ideal humidity level for musical instruments?

40 to 60 percent RH is the sweet spot for keeping everything in excellent condition, which can be achieved by using a dedicated humidification system and evaporative cooling to regulate temperature and air moisture content. Be sure to keep your relative humidity at these levels.

Do I need a guitar humidifier?

A little care can save your instrument from fret buzz, top sinking, warping and cracking. One—of many—common questions that new acoustic guitar owners ask is, “Do I need a humidifier to keep my guitar safe?” Basically, the answer is yes, you do.

Should you keep guitar in case?

Cases Closed

Generally speaking, the safest way to store a guitar is in its case—ideally, a good-quality hardshell, as opposed to a gig bag or ill-fitting chipboard case. As obvious as this might seem, if you have multiple guitars, don't stack them one on top of another in their cases.

What is the best room temperature for guitars?

Guitars are made mostly of wood and that wood can be affected by temperature and humidity. Extreme temperatures and changes in humidity will cause the wood to shift and change, sometimes dramatically, which affects the sound and shape. Ideal temperature is 66-77 °F (19-25 °C).

Are humidifiers good for electric guitars?

The Simple Answer. In most cases, no. Electric guitars usually do not need humidifiers. This is because - unlike acoustic guitars - most electric guitars have what's called a solid body, meaning it's a solid chunk of wood that's too thick to be susceptible to the same problems we run into with acoustic guitars.

Is 35% humidity OK for guitars?

Humidity causes different problems depending on its current levels. You don't want your guitar to be stored in a place that is too humid, but you also don't want to store your guitar in a place that is too dry. A perfect value is somewhere in between. The general consensus is that 40-50 percent humidity is optimal.

Can you humidify a guitar in a gig bag?

You can humidify a gig bag, but the results will vary depending on the type and quality of the gig bag. Generally, this is not as effective as using a case humidifier in a hard-shell guitar case. A gig bag is not as airtight as a hard case, and the moisture is not evenly distributed throughout the gig bag.

Do I need to humidify my guitar in summer?

If you live in a dry climate, like the American Rocky Mountain region or even our home in Southern California, you'll want to keep your guitar in its case (unless you have a fully climate-controlled room) and use a case humidifier like the D'Addario system mentioned above.

How dry should guitar wood be?

How dry should guitar wood be? The general consensus is that you want the wood to reach the moisture content of the environment it is in. In most modern homes this would mean 6-9%. The main advantage of wood with this moisture content is that it will not deform or change shape when the instrument is built.

Is it OK to hang your guitar on the wall?

Hanging a guitar on the wall is not recommended. While hanging a guitar on the wall is unlikely to cause damage in and of itself, it's not nearly as safe as storing your guitar in its hard shell case.