As a musician, your instrument is extremely valuable. Learning the best ways to keep it safe is a prerequisite for maintaining a pure, high-quality sound. If your instrument is made of wood, continued or lengthy exposure to hot weather will eventually impact its condition and the acoustics it emits through warping and other factors. The impact of heat and humidity is not as severe on metal instruments, but it’s better to be safe than sorry and keep your pride and joy away from direct sunlight and humid conditions.
How Hot Weather Impacts Sound
Depending on your instrument, hot weather and especially humidity can cause your instrument to sound different. With cellos, violins and other instruments where you use a bow, warmer temperatures affect the friction between the bow and the instrument’s strings, which could result in harsher tones and even squeaking for less experienced players. Similarly, guitarists may notice a subtle change in sound when plucking their strings in hotter temperatures.
High humidity levels can impact an instrument's sound even though, in many cases, only an experienced ear will notice the difference. Take a piano, for example. High humidity in warmer temperatures causes a temporary swelling of the piano’s internal mechanical components. The soundboard’s upward crown expands, pushing the bridge harder onto the strings, which stretches them tighter and increases the piano’s pitch. The crown expansion is more in the soundboard’s center, so the piano’s pitch rises more in the center octaves than in the bass or treble keys.
These sound changes are usually temporary, as the instruments return to normal when the humidity drops and the weather cools. However, long-term exposure to hot weather can have dire and permanent effects on an instrument’s condition.
Effects of Prolonged Exposure to Heat on Instruments
When not playing or practicing on your instrument, storing it away from the elements is crucial. Exposure to hot weather and humid conditions can impact your instrument’s sound and have devastating effects on its condition. Whether your instrument is predominantly brass or wood, following the best storage practices will ensure a life free from warping, cracking, corrosion and compromised structural integrity. Taking these precautions can prevent permanent damage.
Keep Your Instrument in a Conditioned and Dehumidified Room
In a hot climate, keeping your musical instrument in a temperature and humidity-controlled room will prolong its lifespan and keep it ship-shape for your next performance. Ideally, a permanent HVAC system provides the most effective cooling for long periods. Portable air conditioners are less effective than permanent systems, but they are fast and cost-effective if you only store your musical instrument in one place for a short time.
If you live in a humid environment, a dehumidifier is an excellent addition to your storage room. Store your instrument somewhere with 40% to 50% humidity to prevent warping, cracking, swelling, glue separation or wood parting. 30% to 70% humidity is ideal for storing your guitar amp or home recording equipment.
Store Your Instrument in Suitable Packaging
If you’re storing your musical instrument for an extended period, it's essential to follow strict guidelines to minimize any chances of warping in wooden pieces and rusting in metal ones.
An original case, preferably containing a mini-dehumidifier, is a good starting point for wooden instrument storage. You’ll further protect its condition by wrapping it in a polyurethane bag before casing it. Before storing, release the string tension, if applicable, to prevent the instrument’s strings from snapping and the neck from warping. Ideally, disassemble your instrument if you’re storing it for an extended time, and clean and polish each part using a recognized instrument polish to further protect it.
You should store larger instruments, like baby grand pianos, on their sides, raising them from the floor level using pallets or casters to minimize temperature changes and the chances of warping. Brass and woodwind instruments won’t easily warp, but you’ll want to prevent rust by keeping the instrument as dry as possible, so remove its mouthpiece and disassemble it wherever possible. Clean, oil and polish the parts internally and externally with a specialized instrument cleaner or water and a lint-free cloth.
Avoid Leaving Your Instrument in the Car
A study found that, on a 95-degree Fahrenheit day, a previously air-conditioned small car reached 150 degrees Fahrenheit within 40 minutes, even with a window slightly open. This extreme temperature and additional humidity buildup could severely harm a musical instrument, promoting warping, cracking and glue failure. Even when the weather isn’t as extreme, leaving your musical device exposed to direct sunlight can cause the wood to fade or the metal to tarnish.
Don't use the trunk if you have to leave your instrument in a vehicle. While never ideal, lay the instrument in its case — which provides extra protection from temperature and humidity fluctuations — across the rear floor where temperatures are likely more moderate. If there’s shade in the vicinity, ensure you choose that area to park the car and not in the sunlight. As a good rule of thumb, treat your instrument as you would your child or pet.
Hot Weather and Humidity Can Warp Your Instruments
You should protect your precious instrument in hot and humid weather. While the potential impact on metal instruments isn’t as severe as in wooden ones, which will warp and damage more easily, taking precautions could still benefit your instrument in the long run.
Author bio:
Jack Shaw is a freelance writer out of Brooklyn, NY and senior editor of Modded, a men's lifestyle magazine where he covers pop culture news and general men's interests. Jack has been writing professionally for 7 years and has been self-teaching himself music for as long. Jack Always has a pulse on whatever new music innovation is around the corner.
