Can humidity in the 65-70% damage a guitar if exposed for a few days?

[rov]

Here in Mexico City we are having humidity of 65-70% only for a few days. Can it damage my Martin guitars if the are stored in their cases and this humidity only lasts about a week long?. Thanks!

[Rinaz]

I would say it could damage your guitar in some way but if you keep it in the case I would say it’s... fine

[Proclaimer888]

No expert here but if that range of humidity is damaging, well guess I am screwed. Thats what inside reading is currently in my home in NC...I would think that very prolonged exposure....ie months might become a problem but not a few days or weeks...its the extreams that hurt guitars and sudden changes. That being said, I would not leave my guitar next to any direct heat or cooling elements for prolonged periods, nor leave it in a hot or freezing car. I will let the experts chime in.....Play On!

[Scotso]

nope...nbd

[merlin666]

When I put an Oasis humidifier into the soundhole then the humidity inside the body goes up to that range. I usually humidify for more than 6 months per year and have not noticed damage, but action on some guitars can grow a little.

[bobio]

Get a hygrometer, inside humidity is what is important. Do you have AC, that will take quite a bit of humidity out of the air. Regardless, if you have acoustic guitars, you should own a hygrometer...

[Robin, Wales]

I don't think that my guitars have been below 65% RH since April.

[Rpt50]

What, there are no other guitars in Mexico City?

I live in North Georgia and I don't run my AC all that often. Right now my meter is showing 70%. It's pretty much between 60 and 70% all summer long when the AC is not running. Your guitars will be fine even if you decided to stay in Mexico City.

[Erithon]

In short, no. That humidity will not damage your instruments if they are in their cases and it only lasts a week. You may see a change in the action if the soundboard swells enough to raise the bridge and the guitar might not sound as good (specifically, it may have more muffled tone), but there won't be any damage.

If this becomes a regular thing, then it's probably worth looking into some of those de-humidifiers for the inside of your cases. And probably worth grabbing some cases that do a lot to mitigate environmental changes (aka carbon fiber or plastic, and not wood).

[Rosewood99]

Originally Posted by Rpt50

What, there are no other guitars in Mexico City?

I live in North Georgia and I don't run my AC all that often. Right now my meter is showing 70%. It's pretty much between 60 and 70% all summer long when the AC is not running. Your guitars will be fine even if you decided to stay in Mexico City.

What he said. I live in Savannah and have about the same humidity. Never has damaged my guitars. Might make them sound a bit like a sock stuck in them sometimes but that’s all.On those days I run a dehumidifier which takes it down enough.

[noledog]

Well my guitars are my tools as a full-time musician and they are exposed to that humidity and higher at times for years here on the Florida coast and they are fine... I would not worry about it unless it gets in the 80-90% for extensive period of time. I play in 100% humidity sometimes for several days a week, on river cruises and have on big ship cruises, then I bring 'em home and they dry out a bit and as they re-acclimate to the 55-65% in my home. So I think from my experience you'll be ok at 60 to 70% for a few days.

[Matts67]

Originally Posted by Rinaz

I would say it could damage your guitar in some way but if you keep it in the case I would say it’s... fine

....what??

[6L6]

Your guitar started life as a tree. Trees do fine in all kinds of humidity.

No worries!

[Russ C]

Your tone will suffer until it dries out again but your guitar will survive just fine.

[bobio]

Originally Posted by rov

Here in Mexico City we are having humidity of 65-70% only for a few days. Can it damage my Martin guitars if the are stored in their cases and this humidity only lasts about a week long?. Thanks!

Humidity outside where I am is 74% right now. AC is NOT on and my acoustic guitars are comfy in their SKB hard cases at 55% with no de-humidification going on in the case or the house.

Granted, I would likely take some measures to de-humidify the guitars if the humidity climbs much higher, but it is not expected to...

I use Oasis humidifiers during the dry times of the year and either D’Addario Planet Waves OR Boveda humidipaks in the wet times. There is a period in between where you don’t need anything. Thing is, you need a hygrometer to figure that out...