Safely Store Your Vintage Acoustic Guitar

Whether you own one guitar or a collection of multiple guitars, it’s worth knowing some simple tips for storing them properly, especially if they’ll be sitting for a few months or more. To keep your musical instruments looking and sounding as great as they did the day they were made, you’ll need to protect them from big swings in humidity and temperature.

No matter what type of guitar you’re playing, chances are good it’s made out of wood and wood is susceptible to moisture. Wood is a natural material that is sensitive to its environment –it swells in damp conditions and dries out when exposed to heat. Both can affect your guitar’s look and completely change its sound. Vintage guitars are especially prone to damage because the older wood they’re made from tends to be brittle and has very little moisture left in it.

However, humidity and temperature are not the only things you need to worry about when storing a guitar. At XYZ Storage, we understand that so with just a little planning and the tips you’ll find below, you can store or display your guitars in a way that keeps them in top shape, no matter your budget or length of time. 

How to Store Vintage Acoustic Guitar

No matter how old your guitar is, extreme temperatures and humidity (or the lack of it) can seriously mess with its sound and appearance. Wood reacts quickly to environmental changes, expanding and contracting, but the metal parts—like fret wires, strings, tuners, and electronics—don’t budge as easily.

When a guitar isn’t stored properly, the constant push and pull between the wood and metal can lead to cracks, warping, or even parts separating. It’s a common problem that luthiers and repair shops see all the time, often leaving instruments in need of major repairs or nearly unplayable.

Therefore, to keep your guitar in its best shape, it’s important to store it properly when you’re not playing it. The good news? Storing your guitar the right way isn’t hard it just takes a little know-how and effort. Here are a few tips to help you out:

Use Humidifiers/Dehumidifiers

As we mentioned, vintage guitars are highly sensitive to humidity and temperature changes. To keep your acoustic guitar in great condition, you’ll need to protect it from extreme fluctuations in both. This means ideally storing a guitar in a climate-controlled environment.

The ideal temperature for storing a guitar is between 70–75°F, with a humidity level of 45–50%. Air conditioning usually does a good job of keeping indoor humidity below 60% during the summer, which is fine for most guitars. However, if you don’t have AC, too much moisture can be harmful. In the winter, the cold air holds much less moisture, so keeping your guitar at a relative humidity of 45% – 50% at room temperature can be a challenge.

If you can’t maintain these conditions precisely, consider using a dehumidifier or humidifier to help.

Heat is your guitar’s worst enemy, as it can warp wood, melt glue, ruin electronics, and damage the finish. Avoid storing your guitar in places that get too hot, like attics, cars, or near heaters.

Cold temperatures can be just as harmful, if not worse, so steer clear of storing your guitar in unfinished basements, garages, sheds, or anywhere prone to big temperature swings. If your guitar does get cold, don’t panic—just let it sit in a slightly warmer room for a few hours before playing it.

Dry or overly humid environments can also wreak havoc. If the air is too dry, consider polishing the fretboard and other wooden parts with lemon oil before storage to prevent cracking. On the flip side, if the room is too humid, a dehumidifier can help protect your guitar from swelling or warping. There are also guitar-specific humidifiers and dehumidifiers designed for different types of guitars, like acoustic or electric guitars, to make things easier.

Even though most guitars are sealed with nitrocellulose or polyurethane finishes, the wood can still absorb moisture from the air, so keeping it in a humidity-controlled environment is key. With the right care, your vintage instrument will stay in excellent shape for years to come.

Use a Quality Hard-Shell Guitar Case

If you’re not someone who plays weekly or bi-weekly, storing your guitar inside a hard-shell case is one of the best ways to keep it in great condition for years to come. A case not only protects your guitar from scratches but also shields it from dirt, dust, and sunlight, which can damage the finish and fade its colour.

When displaying guitars, some people like to hang their guitars on wall hooks, which keep them safe on the wall. While others use guitar floor stands to keep their instruments accessible and out in the open. These options work well for frequent players, but if you’re planning to store your guitar for an extended period, a hard case is your best bet. It’s portable, practical, and keeps your instruments protected excellently.

Additionally, when storing your guitars in their cases, it’s best to keep them standing upright and not stacked one on top of the other. If standing the guitar upright isn’t an option, lay the cases on their sides with the top side facing up. This helps keep your prized guitars safe and in good condition.

Clean it Before Storing Away

As we just mentioned, a quality guitar case not only protects your guitar from scratches, but also shields it from dirt, dust, and sunlight, which can damage the finish and fade its colour. It’s also important to clean the guitar before placing it inside the case.

Dirt and dust don’t just mess with how your guitar looks. It can also affect how your guitar sounds. They can scratch the surface and build up inside the guitar, which can mess with its resonance and intonation.

Remember, dust tends to collect around and inside the pickups. For acoustic guitars, this can lead to poor tone and crackling, while on electric guitars, it can cause rust and corrosion around the pickups. The good news is that keeping your guitar dust-free is pretty simple. Just wipe it down with a dry cloth before storing it and keep it in a hard case to protect it.

Keep in mind that when cleaning your guitar, don’t forget to give some attention to the nut. Dirt and grime can build up in the notches, which makes it harder for the strings to slide smoothly. This can lead to tuning issues over time. You can use a thin nail file or even dental floss to clean out the notches. Remembering to clean the nut will help your strings move freely the next time you take it out of storage to play.

Finally, don’t forget to clean and condition your fretboard while you’re at it! A little fretboard conditioner or lemon oil with a cleaning cloth works perfectly. A clean fretboard not only feels great under your fingers but also helps your strings glide smoothly, making it easier to play with speed and precision. A dirty fretboard, on the other hand, can slow you down and make your playing feel less fluid.

Loosen the String Tension

The tension on your acoustic guitar’s neck is a big deal when it comes to long-term storage. The neck is the part most likely to get damaged because of the constant pressure from the strings.

If you’re planning to store your guitar for a while, it’s a good idea to reduce some of that tension by loosening the tuning pegs one or two half steps. Just don’t make the strings completely loose—you want to ease the pressure, not remove it entirely. Completely removing string tension can cause the neck to bow over time, which is something you want to avoid.

In addition, take a moment to check your strings. If they’re rusty or have any pits, it’s time to change them. It’s a good habit to establish a routine for replacing your strings after a certain amount of playing time. Old strings don’t just sound dull and lifeless—they’re harder to tune, less responsive, and way more likely to snap.

Consider Renting a Climate-Controlled Space

As we’ve mentioned, the ideal temperature for storing a guitar is between 70 -75°F with a humidity level of 45 -50%. If you can’t maintain those conditions at home, even with the use of a humidifier or dehumidifier, it might be worth looking into a temperature-controlled storage unit. By renting a temperature-controlled space, you can feel confident that your acoustic guitars are protected from humidity damage and helping to extend their lifespan.

FAQs

What’s the ideal temperature for storing a vintage acoustic guitar?

The ideal temperature for storing a guitar is between 70 -–75°F with a humidity level of 45 -–50%.

Why is humidity important when storing a vintage guitar?

Humidity levels that are too high or too low can mess up a guitar’s sound and look. Wood responds quickly to changes in the environment, expanding and contracting, while the metal parts,—like the fret wires, strings, tuners, and electronics —stay rigid. This push-and-pull effect between the wood and metal can cause cracks, warping, or even parts separating.

What’s the best way to clean a vintage guitar before storage?

To clean a guitar for storage, wipe it down with a dry cloth to remove any dust. To remove dirt or grime from the notches in the nut, you can use a thin nail file or even dental floss. You may also want to condition your fretboard with a fretboard conditioner or lemon oil and a cleaning cloth.

Can I store my vintage guitar without a case?

You should never store a vintage guitar for long-term storage without a case. A case not only protects your guitar from scratches but also shields it from dirt, dust, and sunlight, which can damage the finish and fade its colour.

Should I use silica gel packs when storing a guitar?

Absolutely not. Silica gel packs are included in guitar cases to absorb moisture during shipping, but they should be removed once your guitar arrives. Your guitar needs a certain level of moisture to stay in good shape, and leaving silica gel packs in the case can dry it out too much. This can lead to cracking, shrinking, and even ripples in the finish, especially during storage.

How XYZ Storage Can Help

At XYZ Storage, we understand the challenges of storing your guitars or any temperature-sensitive items in a non-climate-controlled space. That’s why we highly recommend renting one of our temperature-controlled storage units.

All our self-storage facilities are equipped with temperature-controlled units, giving you peace of mind when storing items like furniture, electronics, musical instruments, artwork, wine, medications, or anything else sensitive to temperature and humidity. We’ve got you covered!

With locations across Toronto and the GTA, including Toronto Downtown, Toronto Midtown, Toronto West, Etobicoke, and Scarborough, we make storage convenient and accessible. Plus, we offer a variety of affordable and customizable options to fit your needs.

If you’re interested in renting with us, drop by any of our locations! Our friendly self-storage experts are always ready to help.