Why talk about hygrometry?
Humidity is the percentage of moisture present in air or materials.
A musical instrument reacts strongly to ambient humidity. With this in mind, it’s vital to focus on this point.

In this article, we’ll see that any instrument, be it a piano, a wooden flute or a guitar, will obviously react to humidity and temperature variations.

A story about wood

Consider wood as a sponge: with high humidity, the wood will swell and warp, and the glue joints may give way, affecting sound and playability.
With a low percentage of humidity, the opposite occurs: the wood will shrink, revealing cracks and poor playability.

From time immemorial, luthiers have sought out well-dried wood for its stability and sound quality.
It’s important to know that freshly felled wood contains over 50% moisture, firewood 20%, and luthier’s wood 5%.
Beware of instruments too entry-level, with which the woods may lack stability.

5% is enough to prevent damage within a reasonable range.
When the humidity in your home is between 40 and 60%, the risks for your instruments are minimal. A few adjustments may be necessary, but the condition of your instrument will be preserved.

How can you tell when your instrument is in poor condition?

Low humidity leads to :

• Cracks and crazing in the wood, buzzing in the sound, parasitic noises. Wood shrinks strongly.

Hygrometry too high leads to :

• Detachment of the instrument’s structural parts, difficulty in playing, cracks. Moisture-laden wood swells.

How to maintain a good hygrometry?

It’s a good idea to use a hygrometer to monitor humidity levels.
New digital sensors and readers record variations over a day or a month. This allows you to see how much your humidity has fallen or risen over the course of a day, week or month.

Let’s take a look at the devices that can best regulate this humidity and thus preserve your musical instruments.

Humidity too low :

• Water containers, plants in the room.
• A humidifier covering the entire room (Oskar-Stadler)
• On-instrument systems (MusicNomad MN306 Premium Humidity Care, Dampp Chaser)

Humidity too high :

• A dehumidifier covering the whole room
• Silica Gel sachets
• On-instrument systems (Boveda System, Dampp Chaser)

As you can see, healthy hygrometry will save you from many problems. We have all the equipment and products you need to care for your instrument. You can call us for more information on 021 811 28 28 or buy a humidifier directly from our website if you don’t want to come to the store.
Enjoy your music!

Jérôme
Guitar luthier at Boullard Musique