How to maintain your guitar during the winter in Quebec?

Quebec winters can be tough on guitars. Heating dries out the air in our homes, and temperature fluctuations can affect the wood of your instrument. Discover some tips to protect your guitar during the cold season.

1. Monitor the humidity and temperature

Wood is like a sponge and reacts to changes in humidity. Air that is too dry can cause cracks, warping, or the ends of the frets to protrude.

It's difficult to maintain an ideal environment with precisely 21°C and 45% humidity, so I recommend keeping the humidity between 40% and 50% and the temperature between 17°C and 25°C. A small hygrometer will allow you to easily monitor your environment.

If you cannot control the temperature or humidity, leave your guitar in its hard case with a humidity control pack.

2. Use a humidifier

For acoustic guitars, a humidifier designed for instruments can help prevent damage caused by overly dry air. I recommend Boveda's humidity packs, which I use in my own guitars. It's worth noting that for luthier-made instruments, the wood is cut perfectly along the grain from dried wood. The manufacturing process takes place in an environment where temperature and humidity are controlled 24/7. These controlled conditions become a benchmark for the wood, so if you own a luthier-made guitar, it's even more important to keep the instrument in a good environment.

3. Avoid sudden temperature changes

Never leave your guitar in a cold car and avoid placing it near a heat source. Avoid leaving your guitar near a window to prevent sunlight from shining directly onto the instrument.

After transport in cold weather, leave your instrument in its case so that it can gradually acclimate to room temperature.

4. Monitor changes in your instrument

A guitar can react to climate changes: neck that moves, strings higher, fret buzz or frets that protrude.

A seasonal adjustment may sometimes be necessary to regain good playing comfort.

Take care of your guitar!

A few simple precautions can make all the difference and extend the life of your instrument. The Boveda humidity control kit is available at the workshop; be sure to ask me about it at your next appointment!