Guitars are of high value.
But we are not referring to price. We talk about emotional value.
For a guitarist, his or her guitar means the world.
With this in mind, it is no surprise that guitarists want to take care of them at all costs.
Unfortunately, there are too many threats out there. Weather, sharp objects, and who knows what else?!
So, purchasing a guitar case is the best way of avoiding these issues in the first place.
However, it is worth the question: are guitar cases resistant enough to protect the guitar from humidity and hot temperature?
For high-quality guitar cases, humidity and heat won’t be a problem. However, most regular cases cannot protect against heat. On the other hand, a tightly sealed case will protect from humid air.
If acquiring a good case is not an option, then you might want to read the following.
We are providing alternatives to protect your valuable instrument.
Do guitar cases protect against heat?
While a guitar case provides lots of security to your instrument, it cannot prevent heat from coming in.
Unfortunately, guitar cases cannot protect from outside weather. Both cold and heat may leak into the case.
If that happens, then you might encounter certain long-term damages to your instrument.
Sure enough, the heat could damage your guitar finish. Not only that but it can also melt the glue, which means that certain parts such as the neck or the bridge could get drastically harmed.
So, if you believe leaving your guitar inside a case on a hot summer day is going to serve as a kind of shelter, you are wrong.
Of course, there are cases of a higher quality, which all in all, could protect your guitar from hot temperatures.
However, they are not a one hundred percent guarantee of efficiency, so better be careful.
Do guitar cases protect against humidity?
Regarding humidity, the matter changes.
A good guitar case protects the instrument from humidity.
Consider that the smaller the space that a guitar is kept in, the lower the levels of humidity that can contain.
So, a guitar that is kept inside a tight area will most likely not absorb too much humidity.
This is great because the humidity is a big threat. It may ruin the guitar’s finish, interfere with electronics, and rust your strings, screws, or any other metal material.
What do guitar cases protect against?
Generally, guitar cases protect against physical damage, including scratches and marks.
Gig bags may not be too protective, since in most cases they are made of a soft material. So, they won’t absorb heavy blows.
However, a hard case will definitely protect the guitar from any kind of strike or smack. This is especially convenient whenever guitarists need to move their instruments from one place to another.
Also, quality cases protect against humidity (as we mentioned before), and other meteorological threats, such as rain or hail.
It is true that heat and cold air could leak into the case. Nonetheless, it would take a long time for the temperature to get in if you are guarding the instrument inside a good case.
How can you protect your guitar against heat?
If a regular case won’t help at all, then we encourage you to follow these alternatives.
Sadly, there are places in which heat cannot be avoided at all. However, you might find ways to avoid it from getting to your instrument.
First, try not to leave your guitar in extremely hot places. For example, do not leave your guitar inside a car or a car trunk in the middle of summer.
This logic applies to other places, such as attics or basements, so be careful!
Also, avoid direct sunlight, since it could affect both the guitar’s finish and the strings. In other words, try not to play guitar on the beach for too long.
Lastly, try getting the best hard case you can get your hands on. We understand that they are rather expensive, but they may be worth the price in the long run.
How can you protect your guitar against humidity?
In the case of humidity, we could mention getting a hard case too. If they could work for heat, they will definitely work for humidity as well.
Another thing you could do is get a desiccant to dry the air out of a room. Desiccants absorb moisture and humidity from the air, which is great for anyone looking to leave the guitar on the outside.
Last but not least, consider getting a humidifier. These prevent the wood of the guitar from getting too humid.
We hope you have found these tips helpful. If you take care of your guitar, you are ensuring a long life of durability.
Hello there, my name is Ramiro and I’ve been playing guitar for almost 20 years. I’m obsessed with everything gear-related and I thought it might be worth sharing it. From guitars, pedals, amps, and synths to studio gear and production tips, I hope you find what I post here useful, and I’ll try my best to keep it entertaining also.