Acoustic guitars crack in winter. Action goes high in the summer. Frets feel sharp when the heat kicks on. These are all humidity problems — and they're preventable.
What Low Humidity Does
In winter, when indoor heat runs constantly and humidity drops, acoustic guitars are most at risk. The wood shrinks, the top sinks, action drops, and frets can feel sharp at the edges. In serious cases you'll see cracks — on the top, near the bridge, or along the binding. Electric guitars are less vulnerable but not immune: necks shift and tuning stability suffers.
Upstate New York winters are particularly hard on acoustics. Forced air heat in older buildings drops indoor humidity fast — we see more cracked tops and lifting bridges come through the bench in January and February than any other time of year. If your guitar came through this past winter and something feels off, bring it in before it gets worse.
What High Humidity Does
Summer brings the opposite. Wood swells, the guitar feels sluggish, and finishes can cloud. Cases left in hot cars are a fast track to warped necks and lifted bridges.
High guitar action in summer is almost always a humidity issue before it's anything else.
Action that rises in summer and drops in winter is the guitar responding to its environment — not a setup problem, until it is.
Signs Your Guitar Is Affected by Humidity
- Frets feel sharp along the edge of the neck
- Action suddenly feels higher or lower than normal
- The top looks slightly sunken or swollen
- Cracks forming on the top or near the bridge
- Tuning stability gets worse without another clear cause
If you're noticing tuning issues alongside any of these, humidity is one of several possible causes — but it's worth ruling out first.
What to Do
- Keep your guitar in its case when not in use — cases buffer humidity swings better than open air. See Guitar Case vs. Guitar Stand for when a stand is and isn't fine.
- Use a soundhole humidifier in winter if you have an acoustic (D'Addario Two-Way Humidipak is reliable — we stock them at the shop)
- Store guitars away from heating vents, exterior walls, and direct sunlight
- Target 45–55% relative humidity year-round
When to Bring It In
If your action has shifted noticeably, frets feel sharp, or you're seeing any separation at the bridge or binding, bring it in. Some of this is a simple setup adjustment — catching it early is cheaper than catching it late. If there's structural damage, that's a repair conversation.
Paul's Guitar Hideout is located at The Shirt Factory in Glens Falls, NY. Use the Cooper Street entrance and take the stairs up. If you need assistance, give us a call and we'll come down.
The Shirt Factory
71 Lawrence St., Suite 201B, 2nd Floor
Glens Falls, NY 12801
Wednesday–Sunday, 12–5pm
(518) 217-8695 · info@paulsguitarhideout.com