Preventing your guitar’s neck from warping can be essential as a warped neck can make it impossible for you to tune your guitar and cause the notes to sound dull. Repairing it can be difficult, and you might not always have the necessary tools, so it’s best to avoid it.
Here’s how you can prevent your guitar neck from warping in 10 easy steps:
- Keep your guitar in a hardshell case.
- Use a guitar stand.
- Use a guitar hanger.
- Maintain proper humidity levels.
- Don’t store your guitar in the basement or garage.
- Don’t leave your guitar out in the sun.
- Loosen the strings when storing your guitar.
- Don’t leave your guitar in your car.
- Keep your guitar away from heat sources.
- Change the strings correctly.
In this article, I’ll explain each of the above steps to help you protect your guitar and ensure that your guitar neck never warps.
Related: how to straighten an acoustic guitar neck and how to clean an electric guitar bridge. Our guitar maintenance basics covers the basics in one place.
👇😀👇NOTE👇😀👇
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- Fender Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar Bundle (MY FAVORITE GUITAR)
- Snark SN-8 Super Tight All Instrument Tuner (Easiest Tuner I’ve Used😏)
- 6 String Acoustic Guitar Capo (Best CAPO for quick changes)
- Dunlop Max Grip 1.0mm Nylon Picks (Thick Guitar Pick So You Don’t Lose Grip!)
- Universal Guitar Stand (Cheap & Minimalist Guitar Stand I Recommend)
- Levy’s 2″ Wide Quick Adjust Guitar Strap (Best Guitar Strap For Any Level)
1. Keep Your Guitar in a Hardshell Case
When you’re not playing your guitar, you need to ensure that you’re at least keeping it safe. The best way to do so is by storing it in a hardshell case. If possible, lay the case flat, so there is no pressure on the guitar’s neck.
It might be irritating to constantly take your guitar out of its case to play and then put it back just to take it out an hour later, but it is the only fool-proof way to keep your guitar safe. Leaving your guitar lying around the house or outside makes it vulnerable to heat and humidity changes which can cause the neck to warp.
A hardshell guitar case like this Gator Cases Hard-Shell Wood Case (available on Amazon.com) will work perfectly. The hardshell case is durable, made from plywood, and is covered with ultra-durable black Tolex PVC. It has a spacious interior accessory compartment for all the necessary add-ons. This case in particular provides extra neck support and a plush cushioned lining for protection.
2. Use a Guitar Stand
If you don’t want to continuously put your guitar away throughout the day, you can invest in a guitar stand. These stands are specially made so your guitar will be supported on the lower bout.
Don’t ever place your guitar so that it is lying at an angle against a wall. It can cause the neck to warp. Instead, put the instrument on your guitar stand or lay it down flat on a clean, dry table.
You can get an Amazon Basics Guitar Folding Stand from Amazon.com. This frame will work for any guitar as it has three adjustable width settings. It’s lightweight, durable, and has soft foam arms and a backrest to ensure your guitar doesn’t scratch. This guitar stand can fold flat, so it is easy to put away and will help your guitar stay safe between playing sessions.
3. Use a Guitar Hanger
Another excellent way to keep your instrument safe is to use a guitar hanger. You can get this Snigjat Guitar Wall Hanger from Amazon.com. They are perfect for keeping any guitar safe and out of the way. These guitar hangers have a unique V-shape bracket, ensuring your guitar is secure and won’t rub against the wall.
Hanging your guitar on a wall hanger exerts the force in a vertical direction, meaning there is no pressure on the neck, protecting it from warping.
This is the ideal solution for somebody who doesn’t want to leave their guitar lying around but also doesn’t want to pack it away in a hardshell case the whole time. A guitar hanger can also add a bit of aesthetic appeal to your space, especially if you have a few guitars hanging on your wall.
4. Maintain Proper Humidity Levels
Maintaining the correct humidity levels in the storage location is the best thing you can do to prevent your guitar’s neck from warping.
Dry air will dry out the wood your guitar is made of, causing it to shrink and warp. If there is a lot of moisture in the air, the wood will swell. The wood that your guitar is made from requires a specific moisture level and temperature for it to stay impact. If the temperature or humidity fluctuate drastically, they can cause severe structural damages to your guitar.
The ideal humidity and temperature levels for most guitars are:
- The perfect humidity level is between 45% and 55% (relative humidity).
- The ideal temperature to keep your guitar in is between 65°F and 75°F (18°C and 24°C).
To ensure that humidity levels aren’t too high or low, you can use a digital hygrometer. Keeping track of the moisture content in the air surrounding the instrument can help prevent your guitar’s neck from warping.
You can get this D’Addario Humidity And Temperature Sensor from Amazon.com. It can fit inside your guitar case and read both the humidity and temperature inside the case. It’s accurate and has a memory feature so you can keep track of the temperature and humidity fluctuations your guitar has been exposed to.
Effects of High Humidity in a Guitar
If you live in an area with extremely high humidity, your guitar’s structural integrity, sound, and longevity can be negatively impacted. It’