Keeping your Karma Guitar in great condition is essential for both its tone and longevity.

Our restringing and maintenance guide offers helpful tips and step-by-step instructions so your favorite instrument stays in top playing shape and continues to produce beautiful music for years to come.

At Karma Guitars, we craft every instrument in a controlled workshop environment with 50% relative humidity.

This level has proven ideal for ensuring that our guitars remain stable through the wide humidity fluctuations found not only in northern México but also around the world.

That said, no guitar is completely immune to environmental changes. High-quality instruments are built from carefully selected tonewoods, which are naturally responsive to shifts in humidity.

Well-seasoned woods reach a moisture equilibrium of about 8% when the surrounding relative humidity is around 50%. If humidity rises to 80% and stays elevated, the wood absorbs excess moisture leading to a swollen top (often called a “belly”) and higher string action.

On the flip side, prolonged exposure to low humidity (around 20%) can cause the top to sink, frets to protrude, and strings to buzz due to a lower action.

In either case, the solution is to gradually reintroduce the guitar to ideal humidity conditions until the wood returns to a balanced state.

In Sonora and other parts of northern México, relative humidity typically ranges between 30% and 60% a range that Karma Guitars are well-equipped to handle. However, if your guitar is exposed to more extreme conditions, we recommend the following precautions:

If you're in a high-humidity area, keep your guitar in its case when not in use and store it with a humidity control system. We recommend a two-way system like Boveda, which helps regulate and maintain a stable humidity level (around 49%) inside your case. Instructions on how to use it are available on the Boveda website.

In dry environments, use an acoustic guitar humidifier inside your guitar and case. These are widely available and are designed to slowly release moisture to prevent the wood from drying out. The Boveda system is also a reliable option for protecting your guitar in low-humidity areas.

Remember, wood takes time to absorb or release moisture—it doesn’t happen instantly. Don’t worry about playing your guitar at a gig or rehearsal, but avoid exposing it unnecessarily to extreme environments for extended periods. For consistent protection, we recommend using a humidity control system like Boveda.

Cracks caused by prolonged exposure to very low humidity can appear on the top, back, or sides of the guitar. These types of cracks are the result of the wood drying out and shrinking over time.

Please note that damage due to low humidity is not covered under warranty, so it’s important to address any signs of cracking as soon as they appear. If left untreated, small cracks can expand into more serious splits.

When repaired correctly by a professional, these cracks do not affect the tone or structural stability of your Karma Guitar. However, early intervention is key to preventing long-term issues.

Exposing your guitar to excessively high temperatures can dry out the wood even if the surrounding air is humid. These conditions should always be avoided.

Leaving your instrument in a hot car or placing it in direct sunlight for extended periods can cause the wood to lose moisture rapidly. This may also weaken glue joints and lead to warping, cracking, or structural damage some of which can be challenging or even impossible to fully repair.

To protect your Karma Guitar, always store it in a cool, shaded place and avoid extreme heat at all costs.

At Karma Guitars, our warranty covers issues related to craftsmanship and materials, but it does not cover damage caused by humidity or temperature extremes.

We strongly encourage owners to be aware of the climate conditions where their instrument is kept or played and to take preventive steps as needed. A small amount of care goes a long way in protecting your guitar from long-term damage.

For added protection, we recommend using a Boveda humidity control system or an equivalent solution to maintain a stable environment inside your guitar case.