April 11th, 2009 | 
Author: GarlickToast asked:
I just bought a bought a Taylor 814ce used acoustic guitar. Since this cost me $2,000 I thought that I'd take some precautions with it. Is it worth getting a humidifier?
I just bought a bought a Taylor 814ce used acoustic guitar. Since this cost me $2,000 I thought that I'd take some precautions with it. Is it worth getting a humidifier?
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Absolutely! A guitar humidifier is a MUST for all quality acoustic guitars with solid tops. They are not that important for cheap acoustic guitars with plywood tops. Guitar woods shrink and swell as the humidity of the wood changes. They were formed and fit together at a standard humidity level and that level needs to be maintained or the guitar wood and finish will crack if the guitar becomes too dry or the guitar will bulge if the guitar gets too wet. Get a guitar humidifier and protect your investment.
If I were spending that much money on a used acoustic guitar, then I would check the guitar’s web site or send an email to their tech support and see what they suggest regarding guitar humidifiers. Some of the sales guys at your local music store should have information on them and recommend one for your guitar. At the least get one of those smaller guitar humidifiers that can fit in your case.
Your guitar has a solid wood top and the other parts of the guitar are made from quality woods. There should be no doubt that you’d want to get a humidifier, whether it be for a new or used acoustic guitar. The mere fact that you are paying two thousand dollars for a used acoustic guitar should have been your biggest clue that it will need proper care.
I have a 1974 Martin acoustic guitar and while I was in Arizona I did not play it much, but I kept refilling the humidifier. A couple of years later when I started playing acoustic guitar again, the humidifier kept the wood in great shape.
Moral to this story is to get a good humidifier, pack it in your acoustic guitar case…but don’t forget about it. Keep refilling it as required. Your $2,000 used acoustic guitar will thank you for it.
You definitely want to use a humidifier with the used electric guitar that you just bought. I have a high end Alrarez that I’ve been playing for ten years now and I keep it in its case with a guitar humidifier. My friend did not use a humidifier and the wood split on his Taylor Grand Auditorium after he left it unattended for half a year. We live in Arizona where it’s pretty dry.