Your Ballurio Guitar is a handmade instrument and with proper should last a lifetime (and beyond). You can maintain the value of your investment by paying attention to your guitar’s environmental needs and providing it with simple and reasonable attention to keep it in tip-top-shape.

Humidity
Wood is a porous material and it "breathes." Therefore, it responds to changes in humidity. As humidity drops, wood tends to release existing moisture causing it to shrink, resulting in fret end "jut out" and finish checking. High humidity results in wood expansion, which can alter a guitar’s action. When humidity is above 70%, some woods may experience a loss of sonority (less noticeable for a solid body than a chambered body).

Low humidity generally occurs during winter months because of the way a house is heated. Ballurio Guitars are constructed in a controlled humidity environment (maintained between 40% and 55% relative humidity). To maintain your guitar, keep it in the 40% and 65% relative humidity (RH) range, and never let your guitar stay in an environment below 40% for an extended period of time. We recommend that you purchase a hygrometer to monitor your environment's RH. Many retail stores such as Target, Walmart, etc. carry inexpensive hygrometers. Keep the hygrometer with your guitar. If the humidity is too low (less than 40%) add a little moisture to the environment with a humidifier. Many products that help to maintain the moisture in your guitar’s case are available through various vendors including music supply and guitar shops. A good rule of thumb is to keep your house at 45% RH.

Temperature
Perhaps the best rule of thumb is to treat your Ballurio Guitar as you would yourself, keeping it out of extreme temperatures. As temperature increases, the pliability of wood increases and when the temperature rises above 90/95 degrees, damage such as a loss of cohesion in glue joints or warped neck can result. Remember leaving your guitar in a hot car is a recipe for disaster. Inversely, allowing your guitar to get too cold can also cause different wood joins to contract and damage the glue joints. Never allow your guitar to get cold and then warm up too quickly - this expanding and contracting can cause finish damage. If your guitar has been cold for a time, keep it in its case and allow it to slowly acclimate to a warmer environment. Remember when an instrument is shipped in the winter, allow the guitar to slowly warm up to room temperature before removing it from the shipping container and case.

Exposure to Light
All wood is photosensitive, and any light source (including artificial light) will eventually change its color. Exposure to direct sunlight will accelerate the natural mellowing process, cause aging and, in some cases, cause unattractive spots to develop in only a few days. The spots are permanent and nothing can be done to remove them. Please take care to ensure that your guitar is not over-exposed to light sources.