Humidity

Humidity should be checked daily during the winter months.

In order to track your humidity we recommend the purchase of a digital hygrometer (available at K-Mart or Radio Shack for around $20.00).

Place the hygrometer in the room where the instrument is kept. The ideal humidity range to protect your instrument is 40% to 50%.

We maintain our shop at 40% humidity year round and have had no problems with cracking or open seams. If your humidity level drops below 40% you will need to acquire a humidifier that is appropriate for the room space, and raise the humidity to the 40% range.

If you use your instrument outside the home in the winter, on a regular basis, you will want to keep your humidity level closer to 40% because most public places are very dry. The average school auditorium has a humidity level of 26% to 28%.

Over-humidification in winter is discouraged, as we have seen many instruments crack due to large changes in the environment.

General Instrument Care

The winter months can be very hard on carved instruments. It is critical for you to care for your instrument correctly in order to keep your instrument healthy and fun to play.

If you follow the guidelines in the categories below you will protect your investment, maintain it’s value, and save money (lower repair costs).

Humidity

Bridge

Additional Monthly Maintenance

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Call or e-mail with any questions. Our hours are by appointment between Wednesday through Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Nothing matches the accuracy of a digital hygrometer like this one we use in our shop everyday.
We highly advise against using a inaccurate old style analog hygometer like this one. They are simply unreliable.