While the Repair Shop is REALLY good at fixing top cracks, we hate to see good wood go dry. During the winter months lack of moisture in the air can not only lead to top cracks, but binding and braces can come loose, frets can pop out of the fingerboard and the lacquer finish on your instrument can even shrink into the grain.

Whether you have a classic vintage guitar, or a starter instrument, properly humidifying it is extremely important for keeping it playing well in the years to come. Here are our 5* Tips for keeping your instrument humidified this winter season.

An example of analog and digital hygrometers

1. Get a Hygrometer
Okay, we know this sounds like something you would use in science class, but it’s honestly the first line of defense against dry air attacking your guitar. Place the hygrometer in your case, or in the room your instruments generally live, and check it often to monitor your humidity level. Generally, a humidity level of 45-50% is ideal for wood instruments to maintain their structure and playability.

The best way to double check your hygrometer, specifically on a flat top guitar, is to look across the top at the bridge and check it’s radius. You should see a gradual rise to the top, preventing you from seeing both sides of the instrument at the same time when holding the top at eye level. Shop our current inventory of hygrometer and sensors.

Visually check or carefully use a straight edge to ensure your flap top guitar still has a slight radius.

2. Keep it in the case
Guitars look really cool on stands…we get it, we’ve got an entire store full of them! However, during the winter months, especially when you have the heat on, bust out the cases and store them when you’re not busy jamming out.

3. Sponge Humidifier – We keep four different brands of humidifiers in stock here at the store to fit any and every sort of instrument. The Kyser Lifeguard is a shop favorite due to it’s ease of use, and ability to slide right into the sound hole without shifting around. We also tube based humidifiers that work great in the F-holes of Mandolins, Fiddles and Archtops. Shop our current inventory of humidifiers.

Kyser Lifeguard Humidifier

Dampit tube-style humidifier

4. Humidity System – The D’Addario & Boveda Two Way humidification system is a great way to supplement your sponge based humidifier during extremely dry periods. The reverse osmosis membrane releases water vapor without you having to refill the sponge and automatically maintains a proper humidity level in your case. These packs do expire though, so keeping a few refills on hand is a must.

5. Room Humidifier – These are great for regulating the humidity in a particular room of your house or studio. Make sure and pick one out that has a built in regulator, allowing it to automatically kick on when the humidity drops below 40%. If you insist on keeping your instruments out of the case, this is a must have.

*Bonus Pick: Whole House Humidifier – This takes the room humidifier to a whole other level. These are generally installed at your furnace and allow for the entire house to be humidified whenever your HVAC system kicks in. These are great for keeping humidity levels consistent without having to mess with refilling sponges or water reservoirs as they generally connect to a water line.