Your hand-crafted instrument is made from the finest materials available, and need to be treated responsibly. In order to insure that yours will last a lifetime in good condition, we recommend you follow these guitar maintenance guidelines:
Solid wood instruments and their finishes are affected by temperature, as well as humidity. They shrink and swell as their environment changes, which is why we maintain our shop at 45% relative humidity and 73 degrees Fahrenheit.
Unfinished areas such as fretboards & bridges (also the interior of acoustic instruments) take on and give off moisture. Exposure to low humidity can shrink wood, “delaminate” lacquer and cause acoustic sound-board tops to crack. There are tell-tale signs to watch before this happens, such as string action dropping, tops sinking, fret ends protruding, glue joints separating, grain sinking, etc. (Learn more about your options for controlling humidity here).
A dry or sunken top can also put stress on the sides of an acoustic guitar. Back seams on acoustic guitars & mandolins can also separate due to dryness. High humidity can cause instruments to swell, causing binding separations, splitting joints etc. These types of damage are not covered by most builders’ warranties.
Please keep your instrument in its case and use a soundhole humidifier to regulate the RH (relative humidity) when necessary; especially if you live in dry areas or cold weather regions where indoor heat is required. Please follow the instructions on whatever humidifier you choose and beware of over-humidification.
Most mountain states have dry climates, however even areas near the beach in southern California can have days with single digit humidity. An apartment building in New York City can likewise be damaging without the proper care. A small digital hygrometer, placed in the room with your instruments (or even inside the case), will help you monitor the climatic conditions to which your instrument is exposed. A room humidifier might help in some areas. Conditions with a relative humidity below 40% or above 60% can begin to cause stress in any instrument built from wood.
Always store your instrument in its hard-shell case. Be sure to remove any accessories that might damage the instrument through prolonged contact, i.e. capos or anything made of vinyl or plastic. The rubber padding on certain stands, and also chemicals such as insect repellant can also cause damage to the finish. Even the dyes used in some leather straps may “bleed” into the finish of your instrument.
If your instrument is equipped with a pickup, we recommend removing the battery before shipping your acoustic guitar, and also during extended storage periods. (For detailed shipping advice, see our FAQ “Shipping Procedures”)
Never use an abrasive wax, or any polishes that contain citrus oils or silicones. While they may not cause immediate damage to the instrument’s finish, they could impact future finish work, should it ever be required.
If you have any questions concerning the care and maintenance of your instrument, please contact us by email info@artisanguitars.com or give us a call by phone at 615.595.2544. Whether your question is about an instrument you purchased from us – or a brand that we don’t offer, we are pleased to offer our advice and assistance.
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