How to Store Musical Instruments Safely in South Dakota

Whether it’s a piano that won’t fit in your new apartment, a guitar collection that’s outgrown your spare room, or band equipment between gigs, musical instruments need careful storage. South Dakota’s extreme climate makes this tricky — here’s how to do it right.

Why Instruments Are So Vulnerable

Musical instruments are built from materials that respond dramatically to environmental changes:

• Wood (guitars, violins, pianos, clarinets): Expands with humidity, contracts in dry air. Cracks, warps, and glue joints fail.
• Metal (brass, woodwind keys, strings): Corrodes with moisture, becomes brittle in extreme cold.
• Leather and felt (piano hammers, pads, straps): Dries and cracks in low humidity, molds in high humidity.
• Electronics (amps, keyboards, effects pedals): Circuit board corrosion, battery leaks, cold-sensitive LCD displays.

South Dakota’s climate — below zero in winter, 100°F in summer, 20% humidity in January, 70%+ in July — is basically a stress test for every material an instrument is made from.

Guitar Storage

Guitars are the most commonly stored instrument in our area. Whether acoustic, electric, or bass:

Short-Term (Under 3 Months)

• Loosen strings slightly — about a half turn. Fully detuning removes all tension and can cause neck issues. A slight loosening reduces stress without creating new problems.
• Store in the case — always. Hard cases are best. Gig bags offer minimal protection.
• Keep upright or flat on a shelf — never leaning unsupported against a wall.
• Moderate temperature and humidity — 65-75°F, 40-55% relative humidity.

Long-Term (Over 3 Months)

• Loosen strings slightly as above.
• Clean the fretboard with appropriate fretboard oil (lemon oil for rosewood/ebony, nothing on maple).
• Place a humidifier in the case — Dampit, Boveda packs, or similar. Essential in South Dakota’s dry winters.
• Climate-controlled storage is strongly recommended. An unheated shed or garage through a South Dakota winter will crack an acoustic guitar.
• Check quarterly — re-humidify, inspect for cracks, verify tuning stability.

Acoustic vs. Electric

Acoustic guitars are far more vulnerable. The thin wood top, bracing, and bridge are all affected by humidity. Cracks in an acoustic guitar can cost hundreds to repair — or be irreparable.

Electric guitars are more durable but still susceptible. Neck warping, fret oxidation, and electronic corrosion are the main risks.

Piano Storage

Pianos are the elephant in the room — literally. They’re heavy, delicate, and terrible to move. But sometimes storage is unavoidable: you’re downsizing, renovating, or inheriting a piano you don’t have room for yet.

Before Storage

• Have it professionally assessed — a piano tuner can tell you the instrument’s current condition and any pre-existing issues.
• Clean thoroughly — dust inside and out, clean keys with appropriate cleaner.
• Do not attempt to move a piano yourself. Hire professional piano movers. Seriously. A dropped piano is a destroyed piano and possibly a trip to the ER.

Storage Requirements

• Climate-controlled unit — mandatory. Pianos cannot survive a South Dakota winter or summer in an uncontrolled space. The soundboard will crack, tuning pins will loosen, and the action will seize.
• 10x10 or 10x15 unit minimum for an upright. Grand pianos need 10x15 or larger.
• Cover with a breathable cotton cloth — not plastic, which traps moisture.
• Keep away from exterior walls and the roll-up door where temperature variation is greatest.
• Do not stack anything on top of a piano — ever.

After Storage

A piano that’s been in storage will need tuning. It may need multiple tunings over several weeks as it acclimates to its new environment. Budget $100-200 for post-storage tuning.

Band and Orchestra Instruments

Brass (Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, French Horn)

• Clean thoroughly — flush valves, clean slides, empty water keys.
• Apply a light coat of valve oil to valves and slide grease to slides.
• Store in the case with the case unlatched or slightly open for air circulation.
• Remove mouthpiece and store separately to prevent corrosion at the joint.
• Climate controlled preferred but brass is more tolerant than woodwinds.

Woodwinds (Clarinet, Saxophone, Flute, Oboe)

• Swab out completely — any residual moisture causes pad damage and mold.
• Remove the reed (clarinet, saxophone, oboe) — store reeds separately in a reed case.
• Pad care — place a thin piece of paper between pads and tone holes to prevent sticking.
• Climate control is important — wooden clarinets and oboes are extremely sensitive to humidity changes. A clarinet barrel can crack in one South Dakota winter night in an unheated garage.
• Store assembled in the case with the case closed but not sealed airtight.

Drums and Percussion

• Loosen drumheads — release tension to prevent stretching and warping.
• Remove cymbals from stands and store flat in cymbal bags.
• Clean hardware — chrome and steel corrode in damp conditions.
• Cases or bags for all drums — even “just storing them in the garage” requires protection.
• Standard storage is usually fine for drums — they’re less sensitive to temperature than stringed or wind instruments.

Amplifiers, Keyboards, and Electronics

Amplifiers

• Tube amps: Store upright (the way they normally sit). Tubes are fragile. Transport with extreme care.
• Remove tubes if storing long-term and pack them separately in padded boxes.
• Cover with a breathable dust cover.
• Climate controlled recommended — capacitors can fail in extreme cold.

Keyboards and Digital Pianos

• Cover or case to prevent dust infiltration.
• Remove batteries from any battery-powered keyboards.
• Climate controlled for long-term — LCD screens, rubber contacts, and electronics all degrade in temperature extremes.
• Store flat on a shelf or table — don’t lean against a wall where it could fall.

Effects Pedals and Small Electronics

• Remove all batteries — battery leaks destroy circuit boards.
• Store in a padded bag or case.
• Keep cables coiled loosely — tight coiling damages internal wiring.
• Desiccant packs in the storage container to prevent corrosion.

The Climate Control Question

For musical instruments in southeast South Dakota, here’s the simple breakdown:

Climate controlled is mandatory for: - Pianos (all types) - Acoustic guitars - Wooden woodwinds (clarinet, oboe) - Violins, violas, cellos - Vintage or high-value instruments of any type - Electronic equipment stored long-term

Climate controlled is strongly recommended for: - Electric guitars - Saxophones - Amplifiers - Keyboards

Standard storage is acceptable for: - Drum shells and hardware (short-term) - Metal percussion instruments - Cases and stands (without instruments inside)

The cost difference between a standard and climate-controlled unit is typically $15-30/month. For instruments worth hundreds or thousands of dollars, it’s not even a question.

Insurance for Stored Instruments

Musical instruments can be surprisingly expensive. Even a student-level cello runs $500-2,000. Professional instruments can be worth tens of thousands.

Storage insurance is recommended for any instrument of significant value. Check whether your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance covers instruments stored off-site. Many musicians carry separate instrument insurance through providers like Clarion or Heritage — these typically cover instruments regardless of location.

Common Mistakes

Storing in a soft case. Gig bags are for transport. Hard cases are for storage. The rigidity protects against impact, pressure, and provides a more stable microclimate.

“The garage is fine.” It’s not. Not in South Dakota. Not for instruments.

Forgetting about humidity. A guitar without a humidifier in a South Dakota winter is a cracking guitar. Boveda packs are $5-10 and last months.

Stacking on top of cases. That “just one box” on top of your guitar case creates pressure that can crack the instrument inside.

Not checking on stored instruments. Visit every 2-3 months. Re-humidify, inspect, and catch problems early.

Keep the Music Safe

Your instruments represent investment, passion, and often family history. A fiddle passed down from a Czech or German ancestor who settled this area deserves better than a corner of the barn.

Lock N’ Leave It Storage in Tyndall, Springfield, and Freeman offers climate-controlled units that protect your instruments from South Dakota’s extreme temperatures. Contact us to find the right size unit — a 5x5 is enough for most musicians, and it costs less per month than a single guitar string change at a music shop.