Entering the guitar world can seem overwhelming at first as you learn huge amounts of information in a short period of time. One thing that is really important for keeping your guitar in good shape is how you store it, but this is often overlooked.

 

It is best to keep your guitar from exposure to cold temperatures as much as possible. To minimize the damage that could occur from cold temperatures, you should:

• Store your guitar in a case

• Only keep your stored guitar in a temperature-regulated room

• Allow your guitar to warm back up before playing

 

Caring for your guitar is essential to making the instrument last. It is also key to preserving the sound quality, so you definitely should take care to store your guitar properly. One of the most basic care ideas for guitars is limiting their exposure to cold temperatures.

What Is the Ideal Environment for Storing Guitars?

 

Regardless of whether you have an acoustic or electric, your guitar most likely is made primarily of wood. Since wood expands and contracts with changes in temperature and humidity, guitars are subject to those changes. 

 

Obviously, you may not be able to completely control the environment you have your guitar in, but you should try to keep the environment as friendly to guitars as you can. 

 

Store Your Guitar at Moderate Temperatures

The ideal temperature for storing a guitar is between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit (21 to 24 degrees Celsius). Generally speaking, a good temperature for a guitar is around what you would keep your house at for your comfort.

 

If you anticipate that you might have to expose your guitar to cold temperatures, you can start to store it in a cooler area for short periods of time. This can increase its durability if you store the guitar, in its case, in a room between 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit (5 to 10 degrees Celsius).

 

Allow your guitar to stay in its case for a couple of hours after you move it to a warmer area. This process is best used if you have to store your guitar in a car as you travel. (WARNING: FAILURE TO DO THIS CAN TRULY DEVASTATE YOUR GUITAR!) I have seen the finish on peoples beautiful guitars crack in front of their eyes and watch as the owner was brought to the brink of tears.  Be careful to acclimate your guitar to the surroundings before cracking open that case.  It is best to avoid keeping your guitar below 70 degrees Fahrenheit if possible. 

 

Similarly, do not store your guitar in excessively warm temperatures. This can result in the wood expanding and altering the guitar’s sound. 

 

Maintain a Steady Humidity Level

Guitars will maintain their durability the best if you keep the environment’s humidity between 40 and 50 percent. As previously mentioned, wood reacts to changes in temperature and humidity. Even if the wood on your guitar is treated, it still is sensitive to humidity.

 

Maintaining the right humidity level is key for guitar storage. Too much humidity can result in:

• Swelling: Excessive moisture can cause the guitar’s wood to swell and warp, altering the sound quality. This can cause a buzzing sound when you play.
• Glue melting: Too much humidity and a high temperature can cause the glue used in the construction of the guitar to melt, which compromises the guitar’s structural integrity. 

 

On the other side of the spectrum, too little humidity can also have negative impacts on your guitar as well:

• Shrinking frets: With lower humidity, the wood of your guitar will contract. This can cause the frets to shrink, which will skew the tone and tuning of the instrument.
• Cracks: As the wood contracts, cracks may appear on the guitar’s surface. These cracks might be limited to the finish of the guitar, but prolonged exposure to a dry environment can result in deeper cracks.

 

You should regularly check the humidity of the storage area and the case you have your guitar in. A good guitar case will protect your guitar from harmful particles, but it will do so without blocking out necessary humidity.

How Do You Safely Store a Guitar?

It might seem like it is really complicated to create the perfect environment to store your guitar in, but there are plenty of easy ways to make sure that you are caring for your guitar properly. Doing so will ensure that your guitar lasts for years to come.

 

Use a Suitable Case for Your Guitar

Usually, a hard case will offer the best protection for your guitar. It will not only help insulate the guitar from unsuitable conditions, but it will limit exposure to other unwanted factors. Accumulated dust can be harmful to your guitar just like extreme temperatures.

 

Before you put your guitar in its case, make sure to wipe down the instrument to remove any particles of dirt or dust. Wiping the guitar down also removes any excess moisture that might have gotten on the instrument while you played. 

 

Monitor the Humidity of the Storage Area

Maintaining the humidity level where you store your guitar is much simpler than you might think. You can easily find out the humidity levels in the room by using a device called a hygrometer. 

 

After you determine the humidity level of the storage room, you will have to assess whether or not you need to make changes. If the humidity is already at the desired 40 to 50 percent, then you just have to regularly check to make sure that level stays consistent.

 

• For a room that does not have enough humidity, you can purchase a small humidifier to add moisture to the space. In some cases, you can even use a small humidifier device that you can place inside the case.
• If the room has too much humidity, then you can similarly purchase a dehumidifier. This will pull excess moisture out of the air. You can even place silica packets in the case to absorb moisture; just make sure that you replace them regularly.

 

Sometimes, you might opt to place a case hygrometer to specifically measure and monitor the humidity levels of the guitar case. This can be an even more accurate reading of your guitar’s environment.

 

Allow the Guitar Time to Adjust

Any time that you store your guitar in a colder environment than is ideal, you must make sure to allow the guitar time to warm back up before you start playing it again. Leaving the guitar in its case, set it in a room temperature area.

 

Depending on how long the guitar was in the cold and at what temperature, you will need to let the guitar sit for anywhere between ten minutes and two hours. This allows the wood to adjust to the change in environment. 

 

Avoid Changing Environments

The best thing to do when it comes to storing your guitar is keeping the conditions consistent. Moving the guitar from different environments frequently is more likely to cause damage to the guitar. 

 

Try to keep the guitar in a stable environment as much as you can. Naturally, this is difficult when you need to transport a guitar from home to a gig but try to keep changes to a minimum. Drastic changes can cause damage over time.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, you should avoid storing your guitar in cold temperatures as much as possible. The humidity levels of the storage area should also remain consistent to prevent changes in the guitar’s wood.

 

Storing your guitar in the case is the best practice for protecting your guitar from harmful conditions. Even in a case, you should still keep the surrounding temperatures and humidity suitable for the guitar. 

 

Wood is sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity, so try to keep the environment consistent as much as you can.