The Importance of Keeping Your Guitar Hydrated.

Not too dry; not too wet.

Keeping your guitar at the right humidity level can be difficult sometimes. But it’s the difference between needing a setup and a complete restoration if it’s neglected over time.

Ideally, your guitar wants to be kept in a generalized range of 45-55% relative humidity. Different builders suggest different numbers sometimes, but all can pretty much agree that this range is ideal for acoustic and electric instruments. This is perhaps because the factories are kept at this level, and when the wood is stored after drying, this is the average range the guitar is most “comfortable” in.

But it’s difficult to keep this range consistent. Room and Whole-Home humidifiers help, especially with the dry winter months here in Kansas City, but they still can over or under-humidify for what is appropriate. Case sponges are nice, but require constant refilling in many cases, and are inconsistent at humidifying all parts of the guitar. There are not a ton of effective products out there to help us maintain these ideal conditions without worrying about parts drying out.

That’s where tools like the Humidipak come into play. It’s a simple and genius device that allows you to easily regulate the perfect humidity level of 45-55% relative humidity at all times by either regulating the release or absorption of moisture. You simple “re-up” your Humidipaks when they begin to feel solid, and therefor maintain the correct humidity level regardless of the environment your guitar (and its case) lives in. I’ve starting to switch my acoustics and “sensitive” guitars (classicals and other solid-wood acoustics) to being stored in the case with Humidipaks and have had a much easier time regulating proper humidity levels.