Many players buy their first guitar or ukulele and, within a few months, run into strange problems: the strings rust quickly, the tone gets dull, the action rises until chords are hard to press, or the tuning drifts every single day. Most of the time the instrument isn't the problem. The weather is, especially the hot, humid climate we have in Thailand. The good news is that keeping your instrument healthy for years is neither hard nor expensive.
Why humidity matters
Acoustic guitars and ukuleles are made of wood, and wood constantly absorbs and releases moisture. When the air is very humid, the wood swells, the top can bulge, the strings sit higher and become harder to press, and the sound often turns muffled. On the other hand, if the instrument lives for long stretches in a very dry air-conditioned room, the wood shrinks, fret ends can poke out and scratch your hand, and in serious cases the wood can even crack. Wooden instruments are generally happiest at around 45–55% relative humidity, while a rainy-season day in Thailand can easily pass 80%.
A one-minute routine after every session
- Wash your hands before playing. Sweat and skin oil are the main reasons strings rust.
- Wipe the strings after playing. Pinch each string with a dry microfiber cloth and slide it along the full length, underneath as well as on top.
- Wipe the body and neck. Clean off sweat where your forearm rests and along the back of the neck so the finish doesn't dull or get sticky.
- Skip household cleaners. Glass cleaner or alcohol can damage the finish. If you use a cleaner at all, use one made for instruments.
Store it in the right place
Where you keep your instrument matters more than you might think. Avoid spots next to a sunny window, near the bathroom door or against a damp wall, and never leave it in a car during the day: the heat inside a parked car can soften the glue and lift the bridge. If you play every day, a wall hanger or stand in a well-ventilated room is fine. If you won't play for a few days, put it in a gig bag or case, which keeps out dust and slows down changes in humidity.
Simple humidity control
- Get a hygrometer. These small humidity meters are cheap. Keep one in the room or in the case so you know the real numbers.
- Use moisture packs. During the rainy season, put silica gel or two-way humidity control packs in the case, and replace or recharge them as directed.
- Watch out for over-dry air-con. If the air-con runs all day and your hygrometer reads below 40%, you may need a humidifying pack instead.
- Let it adjust slowly. When you bring the instrument from the hot outdoors into an air-conditioned room, leave it in its bag for a while before opening it so the wood doesn't change temperature too quickly.
Change strings and check things regularly
Guitar strings you play daily should be changed roughly every one to three months, or whenever you see rust, they feel rough, or they won't stay in tune. Nylon ukulele strings last longer but should still be replaced once they sound dead. Each time you change strings, clean the fretboard. Unfinished rosewood or ebony fretboards can get a thin coat of fretboard oil once or twice a year; more often than that isn't needed.
Signs it's time to see a technician
- The action has risen so much that chords are hard to press, or notes buzz even when fretted correctly.
- The bridge is starting to lift, with a small gap between it and the top.
- The neck looks noticeably bowed or back-bowed when you sight down it from the headstock.
- You see any crack in the wood, even a tiny one.
Caught early, these problems are usually quick and affordable for a technician to fix. Left alone, they can grow into much bigger repairs.
Wrapping up
Caring for a guitar or ukulele doesn't take expensive gear. Wash your hands before you play, wipe the strings afterwards, keep the instrument away from sun and heat, and keep an eye on the humidity. Do that, and your instrument will sound good, play easily and stay with you for many years. And of course, keep picking it up to play your favourite songs with the chords on Chordcafe.
