Humidity, heat and cold
Extreme temperatures and thermal shock can affect your instrument. Like most organic materials, wood expands in heat and contracts in cold.
Too much heat can cause irreversible damage to the varnish or cause the joints to peel off. You should never leave your instrument in direct sunlight, or from any source of heat, or in the trunk or passenger compartment of a car.
If a change in temperature is unavoidable, it is advisable to allow the instrument to acclimatize smoothly by waiting about ten minutes before opening the case.
Temperature and humidity go hand in hand. Humidity is an important factor to consider when maintaining your instrument at Strings. When the air is humid, the wood swells and when it is dry, it contracts, to a greater or lesser degree depending on the species.
As a rule, wood reacts strongly to rapid humidity fluctuations (especially to dehumidification). It is possible to prevent problems caused by humidity variations by using a hygrometer, in both summer and winter. The hygrometer is an instrument used to measure the relative humidity level. Expressed as a percentage, this is the amount of water vapour contained in the air at a given temperature.
It is also recommended to control the relative humidity of the room where the instrument is usually located. In the summer, air conditioning can help lower humidity levels.
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