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).

What temp is bad for a guitar?

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 temperature and humidity should guitars be stored at?

Environment is Everything. In order to keep your guitar playing and sounding like the manufacturer intended, you're going to have to keep your guitar within the range of 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit with a humidity of about 50%. This is the same specific range that guitars are always made under.

What temperature is too high for a guitar?

In extreme cases we can authorize you to send us the guitar. High temperatures, generally above 100 degrees, cause glue joint failure and softening of the lacquer, making it susceptible to damage. Low temperatures, generally below freezing, cause lacquer to craze and check.

Is it OK for guitars to get cold?

In short, winter weather and guitars don't mix well at all. Winter weather causes humidity to fluctuate, which can cause all sorts of problems with your guitar. Cracked finishes are common in extremely cold temperatures, but other issues include neck warping and twisting.

Ideal Humidity

Can I store my guitar in the garage?

This means that you shouldn't store your guitar in any unfinished basements, attics, garages, or sheds, as these are the types of environments that have extreme fluctuating temperatures. If you happen to accidentally store your guitar in a room that does get cold, don't worry!

Does temperature affect guitar tone?

Temperature changes will affect the guitar by thermal expansion/contraction. But the speed of sound will also change. Even if you could keep the tension and length of the strings constant the "sound" emitted by the guitar (or amp) would change.

Should I 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.

Is humidity bad for guitars?

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

Is it OK to hang your guitar?

Part of your question is purely mechanical—will the guitar suffer at all from hanging by its headstock? The answer is no. It's generally accepted as a safe way to hang a guitar because the downward exertion from the weight of the guitar isn't nearly as strong as the pull of the strings in the opposite direction.

What temp is too cold to store guitars?

It is best to avoid keeping your guitar below 70 degrees Fahrenheit if possible. Similarly, do not store your guitar in excessively warm temperatures. This can result in the wood expanding and altering the guitar's sound.

Will cold temperatures hurt guitar?

You will absolutely ruin the strings on your guitar (of any kind) if you let them experience temperature variance of 35F or more - this is a simple mechanical fact rather than a musical one (true even without a winter - they will become warped and stretch beyond the ability to tune for any duration).

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.

How do you ruin a guitar?

Is AC bad for guitars?

Cold air can also dry out your guitar. Keep it out of direct sunlight. If it's on a stand in your room, make sure it's not catching any rays. Heavy humidity can soften glue used on bracking, so be aware of those hot summer days.

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.

Should I loosen my guitar strings when not playing?

Just like a fine Bourbon, the tone of a solid wood guitar should improve over time. In order to let the tone and resonance develop, you shouldn't loosen the guitar's strings when you aren't playing. Tune your instrument, and let it rest.

How do I store my guitar in my room?

If you're playing your guitar on a regular basis and want to keep it at arm's reach, using a wall hook or a stand are good ways to go. A wall hook will keep it off the floor while still displaying it to the room through a U-shaped grip that will hold it by the headstock, while a stand supports the guitar by its base.

Why do guitars crack?

Lack-of-humidity cracks typically run along the grain of the wood. As wood shrinks in low humidity environments, it eventually reaches a point where the wood can stretch no further and, well, it cracks.

How do I keep my guitar in good condition?

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.

How do I stop my guitar from warping?

The best way to store your guitar to prevent warping or bending of the neck is to keep the guitar in a hardshell case lying flat on it's back with no pressure on the neck. Inside the case humidification may be indicated in dry conditions.

What humidity level is good for guitars?

Start with a Digital Hygrometer

A hygrometer will give you an accurate reading of the humidity level of the environment in which you store your guitar, which will help you monitor it. The ideal humidity range for an acoustic guitar is 45-55 percent, but 40-60 percent is generally acceptable.

Do electric guitars need humidifiers?

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.

Should I loosen my guitar strings for storage?

Thankfully, loosening the strings on your guitar is not really necessary, and is something you should only consider if you're storing the guitar for longer than 6 months. While frequent detuning does not really provide you any benefit, over time it may cause damage to your guitar's strings, nut and neck.