Humidity and how it affects your instrument.

It is important to note that your Stagg solid top acoustic guitar- like all acoustic guitars is made of wood and this
has certain implications with regard to environmental factors, particularily in the case of solid wood instruments.
A minimum of care and due attention to these factors should ensure that your guitar will last a lifetime. Wood
changes according to its environment. In high humidity conditions, wood will absorb moisture and expand, while
in dry conditions it will shed moisture and contract. Solid wood is especially vulnerable to changes in humidity as
it gains and loses moisture more quickly than laminated wood and thus expands or contracts to a greater degree.
Acoustic guitars are typically manufactured in an environment with a neutral humidity level of 45 to 55% relative
humidity. Relative humidity or RH refers to the amount of moisture present in the air relative to the maximum
amount of moisture the air can hold before saturation. The airs maximum threshold for holding moisture will
increase with the temperature. This is why when a room is artificially heated in winter time, the RH will drop
dramatically as the airs capacity for moisture retention is increased without an additional source of moisture
being provided. In general terms, a guitar is at its most stable when in an environment that is most comfortable
for humans, in other words where the RH is between 45 and 60%.

Low Humidity.
If your guitar is exposed to an RH level of below 40%, the wood in your guitar will lose moisture, contract and
become brittle. This can cause the top to become concave, the fret ends to feel sharp and the action to lower,
causing buzzing when the guitar is played. If the guitar is stored for an extended period in a low RH environment,
particularily if this is lower than 30%, glue joints may fail, notably causing the bridge to become unstuck from the
guitar due to the top contracting. The top itself may develop cracks in the finish and in the wood itself. If you
live in a dry area with low humidity levels, we would recommend that you keep your guitar in its case as much
as possible whenever it is not in use. A case will insulate the instrument against changes in temperature and
humidity. If you prefer to keep the guitar out of its case, we would recommend that you invest in a hygrometer
to measure the RH level of the room where your guitar is kept. A humidifier is another useful tool to ensure that
this RH level is kept at a safe reading of 47%. If you are subject to travelling/touring a lot with your guitar, a
hygrometer and humidifier can
be installed in the case with the guitar to keep the RH inside the case at an acceptable level. In such an instance,
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the hygrometer must be placed on the outside of the cases inner accessories compartment on the side closest to
the guitars body. The humidifier should be placed inside the accessories compartment itself.

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EMD MUSIC
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USA: PO Box 487 LaVergne, TN 37086-0487
 High Humidity.
Conditions of high humidity will have a less potentially devastating effect on your guitar, but are harder to effectively
guard against. The maximum safe RH is 65%. Beyond this level, the guitar will expand as the wood absorbs
moisture. This will manifest itself in the top and back becoming bloated and convex. With more prolonged or
extreme exposure, the bloating will expand to the fretboard, further raising the action and drastically diminishing
both playability and sound quality. The expansion of the wood can eventually cause the loosening of glue joints
and the undoing of back braces and the bridge. However, glue joints are reparable and unlike with low humidity,
there is little or no danger of structural damage. If you live in a humid climate, we would recommend that you
keep your guitar in an air conditioned room during the summer months when the RH is naturally increased. In
lowering the temperature, air conditioning also lowers the moisture saturation point of the air and the RH with it.
Avoid using a swamp cooler in an already high humidity environment. This will only further increase the RH and
will spell problems for your guitar.

Avoid any rapid and immediate changes in humidity level, as this will cause the most damage to your instrument.
Gradual changes, undergone with the guitar being kept in its case as much as possible, will greatly reduce the
potential for damage being sustained by your guitar.

By sticking to these safety guidelines, you will ensure that your guitar provides you with a lifetime of joy and
inspiration!
07-2007

emdmusic.com

EMD MUSIC
Europe: 16a bd G.Wahis-1030 Brussels, Belgium
USA: PO Box 487 LaVergne, TN 37086-0487