Humidity, Temperature, And Solid Wood Instruments - Breedlove American Series C25/CRe Herringbone Owner's Manual

Humidity, Temperature, and Solid Wood Instruments

As with any high-quality solid wood instrument, humidity and temperature
are very important factors affecting the health and longevity of your guitar,
mandolin or ukulele. Humidity and temperature are easily monitored and
regulated with the right accessories - specifically, a thermometer and a
hygrometer.
You can take an in-the-case approach to humidity control, or you can treat
the entire room in which your instrument will be kept. Measure the relative
humidity (RH) and temperature of your storage environment to determine if
it is suitable. Measuring daily for a week or two will help you determine
whether conditions are stable. Your Breedlove guitar was built in a
controlled environment with an RH of approximately 45% at a temperature
of 70° Fahrenheit (F). An RH of between 40% and 50% at this same
temperature will ensure a suitable environment for your Breedlove. Note that
RH is temperature-dependent. Air with 45% RH at 60° F does not have the
same water content as air at 70° F with 45% RH.
If your storage environment is below 40% RH, invest in a humidifier with
variable controls to establish proper RH. If the environment is above 50%
RH, a variable-control dehumidifier will be needed to achieve optimal RH.
Humidifiers and dehumidifiers are available at many department stores.
The transfer of water vapor between the wood of your guitar, mandolin or
ukulele and the atmosphere is actually a relatively slow process, and this
works in your favor. When an instrument is kept in its case, the process is
slowed even further. By keeping your instrument in suitable conditions most
of the time, you can take it on short trips to places with less desirable RH
conditions without causing problems. If you are taking a longer trip (more
than several days) you will want to use some sort of in-case humidity control
and measurement.
Before you take any steps to control humidity, you should be sure you can
accurately measure the humidity conditions inside your room or guitar case.
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