First, here are some tips on how to best take care of your guitar.
- Never leave your guitar outside, no matter what time of year it is.
- Never leave your guitar in a car, no matter what time of year it is.
- Always use a hygrometer in your enclosure and home so you can measure the relative humidity.
The ideal temperature for guitars is 19 to 25 °C (66 to 77 °F). The ideal relative humidity is 40 to 50%.
If conditions change beyond this, consider using a humidification system in your case. It is always best to have a humidifier for the room where you store your guitars, especially if they are not in their case. When it comes to humidification systems for your case, we recommend the D'Addario® Humidipack Two-Way System.
HUMIDITY, WOOD AND GUITARS?
Trees love water; they are designed to allow fluids to circulate around their wood so that it can thrive. At the cellular level, the structure of wood has cells specifically designed to distribute water. Other types of cells promote growth, strength, and nutrients. When we cut down a tree and use it to make a guitar, the cellular structure that allows water to be absorbed and released is still functional.
So even though wood is no longer a tree, it is still active and, in a way, still alive and therefore a very porous and elastic material.
Understanding the effects of low or high humidity on a guitar is simple.
- Low humidity causes the wood to lose moisture (dry out), causing it to contract and shrink.
- High humidity causes the wood to absorb moisture, which forces the wood to expand.
Both reactions are due to the cells absorbing or releasing moisture due to the relative humidity of the air the guitar is subjected to.
WHAT IS RELATIVE HUMIDITY? (RH)
Relative humidity is the amount of potential water vapor (water molecules) present in the air at a given temperature, expressed as a percentage.
Air temperature is important. The warmer the air, the more moisture it can hold; conversely, cold air holds less water vapor. Absolute humidity is the total mass of water vapor in a specific air mass; it does not take temperature into account.
In other words, absolute humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air; relative humidity is the potential amount of water vapor in the air, relative to its high or low temperature.
For example, if you are outside and you take a sample of air and measure the water vapor in it, that will give you the absolute humidity. Then, if you save that exact sample of air and bring it into your home, where the temperature is higher because you have the heat on, the air temperature in the sample will change, which means the humidity will change as well. That will be measured as the relative humidity.
LOW HUMIDITY
Cold air contains less water vapor than warm air, so low humidity is more common during the winter months and therefore the air is generally drier.
There is also the effect of heating your home, which can have a huge impact on the relative humidity as we warm up the cold air from outside. Heating the air in our homes in the winter, when the humidity is low to begin with, rapidly expands the air as we heat it, but since there is no other source of moisture, the water vapor present is immediately diluted by the warmer air without a constant source of moisture, and the relative humidity drops.
Dry air can very quickly affect your guitar's soundboard and fingerboard.
This is because the moisture-retaining cells in the wood begin to dry out, and once dry, they contract and the wood shrinks. The fret ends then become exposed as the fingerboard contracts. Worse still, the angle of the neck changes as the soundboard cells contract and the soundboard arch flattens, lowering the bridge and bringing the strings closer to the frets. So the first signs may be sharp fret ends and fret buzz.
If your guitar is left exposed to low humidity, this can happen quickly: the top or even the back will contract further and may split. This will require extensive repair and sometimes, depending on the severity of the contraction or the size of the split or crack, it is often not cost-effective to repair the guitar.
So, keep an eye on your hygrometer, learn to understand what conditions can do to your guitar, and take precautions!
HIGH HUMIDITY
Warm air can hold more water vapor than cold air because it expands when heated. In warmer regions, water is continually evaporating, leading to more water vapor in the air and increased humidity.
So, high humidity is more likely to occur in warmer areas or during the summer months, but only if there is a source of moisture. For example, a summer day in Death Valley, Arizona, will likely have a relative humidity below 10%, even if it is hot, simply because there is little water or moisture to evaporate and create water vapor. A city like St. Louis, where Alvarez is based, is hot and humid in the summer. Even though it is not close to the ocean, it is affected by warm, humid air that comes in from the Gulf of Mexico in the summer and cold air from Canada in the winter.
So, very humid places can be humid for a number of reasons, but one thing we need to be aware of as guitar owners is that no matter what the reason it is humid, it can still seriously affect your guitar.
The cells in the wood of your instrument can quickly absorb water vapour, causing the wood to expand. This has a particularly big impact on the soundboard, as it can swell, which will change the angle of the neck, as the bridge will lift and create a high action. This makes your guitar more difficult to play. If your guitar is subjected to very high humidity levels for long periods of time, further damage can be caused by the swelling. Glue joints can break or the finish can react and even lift. The tone of a wet guitar is also affected; it will sound dull and lifeless compared to how it was designed.
So in humid locations or during humid times of the year, watch out for excessive swelling of the top or a change in the way your guitar responds if it becomes dull.
Again, keep an eye on your hygrometer, understand what conditions can do to your guitar, and take precautions.
WHERE SHOULD I STORE MY GUITAR?
Like all well-made acoustic guitars, Alvarez guitars should always be kept in an environment with a humidity level between 40 and 50%. You can display your guitar in a suitable environment, whether hanging or on a stand, but the best way to store it is in its case, away from direct sunlight. If you travel with your guitar or are faced with dry, cold or humid conditions, you should always use a humidification system. We recommend the D'Addario 2-Way Humidification System, as it can both release moisture in dry conditions and absorb it in high humidity conditions.
WHEN SHOULD I CHANGE MY STRINGS?
String life depends a lot on player preference. Some artists change their strings every gig, and some professionals enjoy the gritty sound of an older set. Typically, a new set of strings will take a few days to break in, and with regular playing, they will sound bright and fresh for weeks or even months. With all that in mind, the most tried and true way to tell if it’s time to change your strings is if one of them breaks!
HOW SHOULD I CLEAN MY GUITAR?
Guitars need to be cleaned regularly to prevent permanent damage to the finish and fretboard. Our skin and fingertips contain a lot of natural oils and acids that can build up and cause stains or faster oxidation on the frets. There are many products on the market that claim to restore a guitar's finish, but chemicals and solvents can sometimes do more harm than good. The best way to clean your guitar is with a soft, damp towel or microfiber cleaning cloth, leaving no moisture behind. A cotton swab is always helpful for hard to reach areas or for fine cleaning that the frets need. We also recommend lubricating your fingerboard and bridge every few months. We use D'Addario Lemon Oil.
Thanks to ALVAREZ for this information.
