A Guide to Maintaining Your String Instrument in Winter

by | Jan 8, 2019 | Uncategorized

There is a famous saying here in Indiana that goes “If you don’t like the weather, just wait a few minutes and it will change.”  With that being said, we have been lucky enough to experience a relatively mild winter this year!  Keep an eye out for the changing weather, though. Temperatures are about to drop again and this spring-like weather will turn wintery.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind with instrument care this season:

  1. Try to avoid abrupt environmental changes – if you are traveling with your instrument quite a bit, you may want to look into getting a small humidifier for your case (we have different kinds available at the store!) to help stabilize your instrument’s environment.  When you are not practicing or performing, try to keep your instrument in its case.
  2. Do NOT leave your instrument in the car – a good rule of thumb is to think of your instrument as a pet; if your pet would be uncomfortable in the car, so is your instrument.  This goes for cold temperatures as well as hot.
  3. Identify humidity levels in your home – invest in a hydrometer that will evaluate the humidity and help you determine if it is too dry.  The “golden spot” is going to be anywhere between 40%-60%.  If you are noticing that your home is consistently below 40%, we recommend that you get a small humidifier for the primary room that your instrument is stored in.
  4. Avoid storing your instrument near vents or heating/cooling sources – direct heat from a heating vent can quickly dry out the wood so it is best to store your instrument in a space that has a moderate temperature.
  5. Have extra strings on hand – because the weather is going to affect the wood causing it to contract and expand, it is a good idea to have an extra set of strings available in case one snaps which is very common this time of year.
  6. Keep an eye out for open seams and cracks – sometimes, it is easy to miss a small open seam, but it will drastically affect the performance of your instrument. Especially for larger instruments, it is very common for this to happen along with cracks when the weather is fluctuating quite a bit.  If this does happen to your instrument, don’t fret… we have wonderful and experienced luthiers on staff who can help you!

Following these simple guidelines will help you maintain the quality of your instrument so you can enjoy it for many years!