The Care and Feeding of Acoustic Guitars

Help keep your acoustic guitar happy by knowing some of the inherent weather-related problems and performing some of your own adjustments.

Big shifts in temperature and/or humidity between summer and winter mean greater seasonal changes for your guitar. All guitars are sensitive to different to temperature and humidity variations:

  • All solid construction - high sensitivity. (top, back and sides are all solid sheets of wood.)
  • Solid tops/laminated back and sides - medium sensitivity.
  • All-laminated instruments - low sensitivity. (Included are most entry-level guitars.)

Avoid extreme or prolonged periods of hot or cold. Solid tops may arch and necks may warp . Other extremes may cause solid tops to flatten and necks may straighten out. Avoid closets and car trunks as well as outside walls, drafts and direct sunlight. Always keep it in it's case when you're not playing it. Any one or combination of the above will effect the action and cause buzzing or breaking strings.

To avoid damage:

  • Hang a thermometer/hygrometer unit in the room where you usually play.
  • Learn to adjust guitar neck.
  • Get a shim (1/32") to go under the saddle. Install it in the fall if needed and remove in the summer.
  • In the winter use a Dampit humidifier in the sound hole to release moisture.

New Acoustic Guitars

© 2006 Alamo Music Center Hit Counter 04/01/06