Looking after your ukulele

All Noah ukuleles are made from solid wood, which gives them their beautiful tone and character – but it also means they can be sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity.

Our instruments are handcrafted by Mr Anh in a carefully controlled environment, where the humidity is kept between 45–55% and the temperature sits around 22–24°C. Once your ukulele leaves the workshop and makes its way to your home, it’s really important to try and keep it in similar conditions. Sudden or extreme changes in climate can unfortunately cause damage – and no one wants that!

☁️ High Humidity – What Can Happen

If the relative humidity where you keep your ukulele goes above 60%, the wood can absorb moisture and start to swell. This might lead to:

  • Weakened glue joints
  • Higher action (making it harder to play)
  • A duller or less responsive sound

🌵 Low Humidity – The Bigger Danger

Too little humidity (below 40%) can dry out the wood, and this is one of the most common causes of problems with all-solid wood instruments. Signs that your uke might be drying out include:

  • String buzz – often because the action has lowered as the top shrinks
  • A concave (sunken) top
  • Fret ends sticking out from the sides of the neck
  • In more serious cases, cracks in the body

🛠️ Our Advice

Damage from changes in humidity is considered preventable, so it’s not covered under warranty – but the good news is that it’s quite easy to protect your ukulele with a few simple steps:

  • Keep your ukulele in its padded case when you’re not playing it
  • Buy a digital hygrometer/thermometer to monitor the conditions where you store it
  • In the colder months (especially winter), use a humidity control system – central heating can really dry the air out. Simple solutions like a Dampit or Planet Waves Humidipak work well and cost around £15
  • If you’re moving your uke between different environments, let it acclimatise slowly – keep it in its case for a while before taking it out to play

Taking a bit of extra care will help keep your Noah ukulele sounding (and looking!) its best for years to come. And of course, if you’re ever unsure about anything, just get in touch – I’m always happy to help.

Matt

Noah Ukuleles