CLASSICAL GUITAR HUMIDITY AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL:

To avoid shrinkage, cracking, swelling, warping, and other material damage to a fine, handmade classical guitar and to keep a guitar sounding at its musical optimum, you should keep it in an environment in which the humidity and temperature remain constant year round.

To avoid shrinkage in a guitar's woods never leave a guitar next to a heat source such as a radiator or wood burning stove, or next to a cooling source such as an air conditioner. While most people associate dryness with cold weather, it is important to note that dry warm weather as well as air conditioning in humid weather can greatly reduce a room's relative humidity in a very short amount of time - often below the minimum safe level for a fine classical guitar.

To avoid swelling in a guitar's woods never leave a guitar next to a source of moisture such as a lake, pond, swimming pool, running shower, or filled bath tub.

When not in use a guitar should always be stored in its case (with the case latches securely closed), preferably a good hard shell case with a tight weather seal. A guitar should not be left exposed in the open air where greater moisture loss can occur in a dry environment and greater moisture absorption can occur in a humid environment. For these reasons do not store your guitar on a guitar stand or hang your guitar on a wall. Storing your guitar in a good closed hard shell case also helps protect a guitar from accidental damage by young children and pets.

Before transporting a guitar in a car in dry weather or with a car's heater or air conditioner on, a good in-case humidifier should be placed inside a guitar's case (D'Addario's or Boveda's Two-Way Humidification System - formerly Humidipak - is best, see "Essential Guitar Care Investments" below). A guitar and case should also be placed inside a sealed case cover (or alternatively a large sealed air tight plastic bag; a jumbo garbage bag will work fine) to seal in moisture and protect a guitar from excessive dryness and large, quick fluctuations in humidity levels. Note: Do not leave a guitar in the passenger compartment or trunk of a car or anywhere else where intense sunlight and excessive heat or cold may damage it.

1. An accurate digital hygrometer (humidity gauge): ThermoPro TP50 Digital Hygrometer Indoor Thermometer Room Thermometer and Humidity Gauge with Temperature Monitor. This gauge is a necessity for monitoring the humidity level around a guitar on a daily basis. Hygrometers are available from many on line retailers. This gauge is a necessity for monitoring the humidity level around a guitar on a daily basis. Hygrometers are available from many on line retailers.

2. A room humidifier: AIRCARE Digital Whole-House Console-Style Evaporative Humidifier. If the humidity level drops to 40% or below for thirty minutes or more where you play and store your guitar, we STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you purchase a room humidifier to artificially raise the humidity level aroudf your guitar to a safe level (see safe humidity parameters above). Large hardware stores, department stores and on line sources carry an assortment of room humidifiers. NOTE: (A) To avoid damaging a guitar by over humidification, do not store your guitar directly next to a room humidifier. (B) Do not use your room humidifier if the relative humidity in the room in which you keep a guitar remains at a constant 45% or above with your room humidifier turned off.

3. D'Addario's or Boveda's Two-Way Humidification System (formerly Humidipak): This product is only a very temporary stopgap and not a safe, all day replacement for a room humidifier. However when you travel with your guitar away from your room humidifier this calibrated product is the finest and safest in case guitar humidification system on the market. Actually, it has dual virtues: (A) it adds moisture to the air in a closed guitar case when a case environment is too dry, and (B) it draws moisture out of the air when a closed case environment is too moist. The D'Addario or Boveda Two-Way Humidification System is available from many on line retailers. NOTE: Under NO circumstances should you ever use an in case humidifier which completely seals a guitar's sound hole. Such products can damage a guitar by trapping too much moisture inside a guitar's body cavity.

4. A Sounboard Protector (easily made out of cardboard): Place the cardboard protective shield in front and behind your guitar's bridge to protect your guitar's soundboard from string dings while you change strings on your guitar.

5. A chamois: A large, soft chamois cloth is useful for wiping fingerprints off a guitar's finish and for placing between you and a guitar to help as a moisture barrier between you and your guitar when you play. You can purchase a chamois at most hardware stores and on line.