WikiHow Article / Why is this so important??
Acoustic guitars are such fragile instruments and many people simply forget how easily their valuable possession can be ruined from poor maintenance. It was very surprising to find out that there was nothing on WikiHow related to humidity, and how it affects an acoustic guitar. This spawned a drive to create this step-by-step guide to help people protect their acoustic guitar from the natural dangers of humidity. Everyone who owns an acoustic guitar should follow these steps to protect their investment from the forces of nature!
There is already a lot of information regarding humidity and
its effects on an acoustic guitar. I pulled two references for the article that
I believe are the most important for more information relating to the
humidification process. First, there is a reference to www.taylorguitars.com. Taylor is one of the leading brands that
produce acoustic guitars. They tailor their instruments for beginners, all the
way up to professional pieces for touring musicians. Being one of the biggest
names of guitars on the market today, there is no doubt they had some amazing
information regarding this topic. The second reference in the article is the
website of D’Addario. They helped explain the “ideal range” an acoustic guitar
is supposed to be in. It also tells us how much their product is to purchase
and where to buy it from. They are also very popular for their other accessories
for guitars, so using this reference in the article can introduce people to
other tools they might need for their guitar.
The article is very straightforward and at times, there
is more information in the pictures alone than the descriptions beneath them. Humidifying
an acoustic guitar is a very simple task, but you need to understand the small
details in order to do the job properly and efficiently every time. This is
where personal experience comes to the table. Working at a music store gives you
plenty of time around guitars throughout the year. In Buffalo, humidity drifts
drastically between seasons and has a huge impact on acoustic guitars if not
treated properly. In a music store in an area like this, big dehumidifiers are
used in the rooms where acoustic guitars are stored. They are mainly used in
the summer when humidity is at its peak. It is important to note, the main
danger humidity brings to an acoustic guitar is all the moist air. The moist
air does not ruin the acoustic guitar on its own, but when all that moist air
gets ripped out of the acoustic guitar when winter comes. Wood becomes more
durable when moist but when the wood dries, the glue and other elements of the
acoustic guitar become weak, which is the main factor to damaging the guitar. If
the guitar can be “set-up” and maintained in the ideal humidity range, when winter
comes, all it takes is a humidifier to keep the guitar playing in perfect
condition. Even if you live in a climate where the humidity doesn’t change that
often, keeping your guitar in the ideal range will keep your guitar from
shifting slightly to maintain its technical performance. With this knowledge, the
wiki article includes plenty of tips and warnings when using humidifiers. Obviously,
these humidifiers aren’t dangerous, but using them the wrong way can affect the
guitar and the actual humidifier and even damage your guitar.
Working at a music store can introduce you to plenty of
new encounters with customers and their guitars. Having worked around guitars
for a few years, from time to time we see customers bring in their guitars to
get repaired. Most of the repairs that are done on guitars nowadays are from
humidity damage. From the bridge of the guitar separating from the body, to the
neck of the guitar warping from intense humidity changes, all are the result of
humidity damage. This is one of the most important reasons this article was
published. People should not have to pay for repairs that they can prevent
themselves, especially when they own guitars that cost tons of money! Therefore,
this article should be shared everywhere, so that people know how to keep their
guitar in the best shape possible against the forces of humidity.
Playing guitar is a very enjoyable hobby that everyone can
partake in. Whether you are a skilled professional, or picking up the guitar
for the first time, keeping your acoustic guitar humidified is the easiest and
best way to keep your guitar playing at its best for a very long time.
References:
1.
Taylor Guitars - https://bit.ly/30SNOVa
2.
D’Addario - https://bit.ly/33eIL39
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