Caring for Your Guitar When You Live by the Sea (Lowestoft Edition)
- 81guitarworks
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Caring for Your Guitar When You Live by the Sea: A Guide for Lowestoft & Suffolk Guitarists
Living in Lowestoft, the most easterly point in the UK, means enjoying the beauty of the North Sea every day — but it also means your guitar is exposed to a unique set of environmental challenges.Salt air, humidity swings, and colder coastal winds can all impact how your guitar plays, ages and sounds.
As a guitar repairer in Lowestoft, I see the same issues come up again and again, especially with instruments kept in homes close to the seafront.
Here’s how to protect your guitar and keep it playing beautifully.
1. Humidity & Coastal Moisture
Sea air carries more moisture than inland areas. In Lowestoft and along the Suffolk coast, this can lead to:
Swollen wood
Higher action
Sticky or swollen fretboards
Bridges lifting
Braces popping inside the guitar
Rust on hardware
Corrosion on strings
Tip: Keep your guitar in a room with stable humidity — ideally 45–55% RH.If your home gets damp, a small dehumidifier can make a big difference.
2. Rust & Corrosion from Salt Air
Salt in coastal air accelerates corrosion. You may notice:
Strings rusting faster
Frets tarnishing quickly
Hardware becoming dull
Electronics developing scratchiness
Tip: Wipe strings after each use and change them regularly if you live near the seafront.
If your frets feel scratchy or look dull, a fret polish can restore smooth playability.
3. Storing Your Guitar Properly
Avoid leaving your guitar:
In cold conservatories
Near windows with sea breeze exposure
In sheds or garages
In direct sunlight
The best storage: A hard case in a room with consistent temperature.... I know its not the coolest place to leave them, but in the winter, its the safest place.
4. Seasonal Setup Changes
In Suffolk, temperature and humidity swing dramatically between winter and summer.This affects:
Neck relief (truss rod)
Action height
Intonation
Fret sprout in winter (sharp fret ends)
If your guitar starts buzzing or the action feels wrong, a seasonal setup can fix it quickly.
5. How I Can Help (Lowestoft, Suffolk)
At 81 Guitar Works, I regularly repair guitars affected by the coastal climate.I offer:
✔ setups
✔ fretwork
✔ neck adjustments
✔ cleaning & corrosion removal
✔ electronics repair
✔ rust prevention care
If your guitar isn’t playing as well as it used to, or the sea air has taken its toll, I can help get it playing like new.
Final Thoughts
Living by the sea is amazing — and with a few simple habits, your guitar will stay stable, clean and sounding great, even in the salty Suffolk air.
If you’re in Lowestoft, Beccles, Great Yarmouth or anywhere along the Suffolk coast, feel free to get in touch for expert guitar care.
If you'd like to book in please email
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