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So, you ask, what do I have to do to make sure my acoustic guitar stays healthy and happy?
It is the perfect time of the year for you to be asking! The key to caring for acoustic instruments is knowing about humidity. Why? Acoustic guitars, like people, are happiest in certain climates. They love moderate, tropical climates, where they can soak up just enough humidity to keep them sounding and looking great (Hmmm...sounds like a good excuse to take your guitar on vacation, no?).
For those of us who don't live in the tropics, humidity can be a very serious issue. Without the proper amount of humidity, a guitar may suffer some of these terrifying symptoms: undesirable changes in the action of the guitar, shrunken fingerboard, string buzzing, loose frets, warped neck, and a cracked top!
Prevention is Good. Try This:
1.) The dry season is different in various parts of the world. Make sure you know when your dry season is before you use any sort of humidifier on your instrument. There is a danger of over-humidifying if you use a humidifier at the wrong time, or incorrectly.
2.) It is a good idea to keep a hygrometer in the instrument's case so that you can monitor humidity levels. If your home is humidified, you may want to keep a hygrometer in the area of the room where your instrument is kept.
3.) Maintain your guitar's humidity at 45%-50% at all times, paying special attention to humidity levels during the dry season. Make or purchase a humidification device for your instrument if necessary.
4.) It is also a good idea to take your guitar to a local repairperson for adjustments after each seasonal change. Costs are minimal to none, and smaller, more frequent adjustments will save you big bucks in the long run. |