The wrong storage environment causes damage that's expensive to fix — or permanent. Here's how to do it right.
The Biggest Threats to a Stored Guitar
- Low humidity — the most common cause of long-term damage. Dry conditions cause wood to shrink, tops to sink, frets to feel sharp, and in serious cases, cracks to form. Acoustic guitars are most vulnerable.
- High humidity — causes swelling, high action, and finish issues. Less common, but still a problem.
- Temperature extremes — heat softens glue joints. Cold makes wood brittle. Never store a guitar in a car, garage, or attic without climate control.
- Direct sunlight — fades finishes and dries out wood faster than almost anything else.
In Upstate New York, the heating season is the danger zone. Forced air heat drops indoor humidity fast, and guitars stored on stands or in gig bags in uncontrolled rooms take the hit. We see the results every spring — cracked tops, lifted bridges, sharp fret ends. Most of it is preventable. See How Humidity Affects Your Guitar for the full picture, and Guitar Case vs. Guitar Stand for help deciding how to store it day-to-day.
Best Storage Practices
- Keep it in a case — a hard case buffers humidity and temperature swings far better than a gig bag or open air. This is the single most important thing you can do.
- Use a humidifier for acoustics — if storing longer than a month in a heated or air-conditioned space, use a soundhole humidifier. D'Addario Two-Way Humidipaks are reliable and low-maintenance. We stock them at the shop if you need one.
- Target 45–55% relative humidity — a cheap hygrometer in the case tells you where you're at.
- Store at room temperature — a climate-controlled interior room is ideal. Avoid exterior walls, basements, and attics.
- Loosen the strings for long storage — if storing for 6+ months, drop each string about a half step. Don't go fully slack, just take the tension down.
When You Take It Back Out
After long storage, let the guitar acclimate to room temperature before playing — especially if it's been somewhere cold. Check the tuning, the action, and the neck relief. If anything feels off, it may need a setup before it plays the way it should. Bring it in and we'll check it over and tell you what it needs.
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