Spring Guitar Care: What to Expect as the Weather Changes

March 26, 2025
2 min read

After a long, cold, and extremely dry winter, spring is finally arriving here in Pennsylvania. And while the warmer, more humid air might feel like a relief, your guitar is about to go through another round of changes. At Guitars on Main, we’ve seen the effects of dry winter air all season long—cracked tops, sharp fret ends, warped necks, and more.

Now, as the air shifts, we want to help you get ahead of the next round of changes—and keep your guitar playing and sounding great.

The Problem: Guitars React to Weather

Wood is a living material. Even after it’s shaped into a beautiful instrument, it still expands and contracts with changes in temperature and humidity. Over the winter, many guitars dried out. Now, as spring arrives, they begin to rehydrate—and that can cause the wood to swell.

This swelling affects the shape of the neck and top, which can throw off your guitar’s setup. One of the most common symptoms we see in early spring?

Fret buzz.

If your guitar suddenly starts buzzing—especially on the lower frets—it’s likely that the neck has moved due to the climate shift. The fix is usually a simple truss rod adjustment, which brings everything back into alignment.

Other common seasonal effects:

Acoustic guitar tops may swell, raising the action
Neck relief may increase or decrease
Intonation can drift

What You Can Do to Keep Your Guitar Stable

There’s no way to stop the seasons from changing—but there are steps you can take to keep your guitar in good shape year-round.

Use D’Addario Humidipaks Year-Round
These two-way humidifiers help maintain a safe, consistent humidity level inside your guitar case. They can add or remove moisture as needed, and their Absorb Packs are ideal for areas with excess summer humidity.
Track Conditions with a Hygrometer
A digital hygrometer, like the Music Nomad Humidity & Temperature Monitor, lets you see real-time readings so you can catch problems before they start.
Schedule a Seasonal Setup
Our repair team can make truss rod adjustments, tweak your action, and ensure your guitar is set up for spring and summer play. If your guitar has been sitting dry all winter, this is a good time for a checkup.

Be Proactive—Not Reactive

The guitars that suffer the most are the ones left to react to sudden changes in humidity. If you didn’t use a humidifier this winter, that’s okay—but now’s the time to start consistent care.

Keeping your guitar in a healthy humidity range year-round helps avoid costly repairs and preserves tone, comfort, and resale value.

Spring Guitar Care: What to Expect as the Weather Changes