How To Take Care of Your Guitar | Humidification, Friction, Polishing, and more!

So you just bought your new guitar-- now it's time to take care of it! Proper instrument maintenance is key to the longevity of your guitar, and this goes for both acoustics and electrics! Whether it's tracking and adjusting the humidity, cleaning and polishing, or friction removal at the saddle and nut, all forms of maintenance will preserve your guitar and help it age properly and avoid damage of all kinds. Take a listen to Chris' wise words, and let us know if you have any other tips!

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[Sydberg]

You forgot a step where you give it a goodnight kiss before bed.

[marksavage]

My home has all electric heat where humidity in the winter stays around 20% and it’s been a constant struggle to keep my guitars humidified. After listening to your video I bought the humidipaks you recommended and it’s made a huge difference. Guitars come out of the cases in tune and happy. Your videos are informative, entertaining and helpful. Thanks!

[RonBaker]

Use 2 sets of humidipaks, changed twice a year in my Martin dread and it is a solid solution for sure.

[klew]

One of my favorite music channels. I love Alamo music

[coopernorman]

Just as a piint of history, i purchased my first Damp It green rubber humidifier in 1965 ... been around muchlonger than thirty years ... thinks ... where did that thing go ... maybe time to purchase my second one.

Great guidance series, guys.

[sc]

DO NOT use Dampits on a regular basis. They will over humidify your guitar and can cause serious problems. They are supposed to be used on guitars that are dried out and are not used to "maintain" RH.

The humidipaks is the exception and will "maintain" proper humidity and you can use these on a regular basis.

[robertwashburn]

Good job on humidity importance. Just recently i have learned of importance. 50 + years and
Just catching on. 9 instruments currently ( only 3 of them are serious quality but still all of them give me sweet joyfull noise. Any how your info show is always good im nput. Mighty fine. Please keep up the goodwork. Thanking you most sincerely. Robert A

[jakeheadley]

This was so helpful! Unfortunately, my dream guitar was recently stolen, but about a month before, its bridge lifted due to lack of humidity. I’m about to get a new guitar here soon, and I can’t wait to have a new chance to right my mistakes.

[le_th_]

Super informative, thank you for investing the time to help keep us noobs from making costly mistakes! Saving this to my "guitar noob" list. : )

Loving the more closely cropped beard trim here! So adorable on you and I'm guessing your wife loves it!

[stanrogers]

Another great information session Chris. Keep em coming.

[SeanAllocca]

FYI - Ideal humidity for your guitar is 40%-50%

[kenhoward]

"When they're new, they still kinda want to be a tree." I never paid much attention to humidity in the past, with cheaper, laminated guitars, but I have a new, all-wood, acoustic guitar on order, and (living in the PNW) will take all this advice seriously to protect my investment.

[tim]

Upper Pacific Northwest 4-6” of rain annually! Temperatures in hundreds 119* highest last year! No natural trees! Winters very very dry sub zero to mid thirties!
Very little of the state is wet.

[ghhufgtyhj]

I got a dehumidifier for my bedroom and I putcmy guitars in there I just started playing a couple weeks ago and I think it's a great idea

[doctorstrainlove]

I’m just gonna order the 2 way things, I have an oasis & I keep getting mixed answers on whether to take it out during spring to avoid mold & over saturation. I live near Baltimore MD. The weather can be.. well just say different.

[charlesbranch]

Thank you, Chris. I've noticed that since I retired from the Gulf of Alaska coast where humidity ranged upward from 60% (usual annual precip above 80 inches) back to dry Montana and Idaho (annual precip 24 inches in a wet year) that my skin dries out, cracks and gets chapped. Wood behaves the same way. Move a custom cabinet from a dry clime to a wet one, the doors swell to to acclimate to the new home and will no longer close (or open). In the opposite direction, the wood parts will shrink as they dry. Keep guitars at that happy medium, and she'll foretell good fortune for you and the instruments. (I don't know many guitarists with only one, so plural's the rule. Starting out with four plus a baritone uke and assembled an ash five case rack this afternoon to try to limit the collection. Or empty the guest bedroom and turn it into the guitar playroom...) It's all good! P.S. I can hardly wait for you and Cooper to produce some factory tour videos.

[klew]

I wanna learn to play your intro/outro song

[GuitarLessonsandOver]

One way to dehumidify a guitar is to take it outside and play it; in the sun till it goes out of tune, then bring it back in the house. The excess moisture will evaperate;

[Taylor]

Great info on the guitar case as well. I usually use the Damp It and in the market for a new one but think I'll try out the Oasis brand. Thanks!

[TheSoulsandRevive]

Very informative video! Been using the 'Boveda 2-way Humidity packs' for a few years now and has always worked in keeping my acoustic properly humidified. Have not even need to buy new packs as I have just restored the moisture when the packs get dried out and reuse over and over. cheers