I was touring through Minnesota in January. I brought my Martin D-28 into the hotel room and opened the case. The next morning, a sickening crack ran from the bridge to the soundhole. The dry heater air had sucked the moisture out of the wood. I filed a claim. Denied. “Damage caused by extremes of temperature or humidity is excluded.”
Key Takeaways
- The “Climate Exclusion”: Almost every property insurance policy (homeowners and specialized) has an exclusion for damage caused by “dampness, dryness, or extremes of temperature.”
- Wood Movement is “Inherent Vice”: Insurers view wood splitting due to humidity as a natural property of the material (inherent vice), not an accident.
- The “Endorsement” Fix: Premium musical instrument policies (like Heritage) often remove this exclusion or offer a specific buy-back for it, but you have to check the fine print.
- Prevention is the Only Real Insurance: Unlike theft, humidity damage is rarely paid out unless you can prove a specific mechanical failure (e.g., the hotel humidifier broke and flooded the room).
The “Why” (The Trap)
The trap is “Maintenance vs. Accident.”
An accident is dropping the guitar.
A crack due to low humidity is considered “poor maintenance.” The insurer expects you to use humidifiers.
Even specialized policies often exclude this because it is so common and preventable. If they paid for every cracked acoustic top in winter, they’d go bankrupt.
The Investigation (My Analysis of 3 Carriers)
I dug into the specific wording regarding cracks.
Heritage Insurance Services
- The Good: They are one of the few that can cover this.
- The Wording: Their policy is “All Risk,” and they are known to pay for crack repairs if the instrument was kept in a proper environment (case). However, they will scrutinize if you left it out on a stand.
Anderson Musical Instrument Insurance
- The Stance: Similar to Heritage. They generally cover “cracks” but will deny if it’s clear negligence (left in a car at -20 degrees).
Clarion
- The Benefit: They emphasize “Devaluation” coverage. If the crack is repaired but the vintage value drops by 20%, they pay the difference.
[IMAGE: Close-up photo of a split spruce guitar top running along the grain behind the bridge]
Comparison Table
| Scenario | Standard Policy | Specialized Policy (Heritage/Anderson) |
| Crack due to dry air | Denied (Climate exclusion) | Covered (Usually) |
| Finish checking (cold) | Denied (Wear & Tear) | Covered (If sudden) |
| Warped Neck | Denied | Maybe |
| Depreciation Payout | No | Yes |
Step-by-Step Action Plan
- Use Boveda/Humidipak: Put two-way humidity control packs in the case. They maintain 45-50% RH.
- Keep it Cased: Never leave an acoustic on a stand in winter. The case is a micro-climate.
- Let it Acclimate: When bringing a cold guitar inside, leave it in the case for 2-4 hours before opening. This prevents “finish checking” (cracks in the lacquer).
- Read the Exclusion List: Before buying insurance, search the PDF for “Humidity.” If it’s there, find a different carrier or ask for a rider.
FAQ
Can I fix a top crack?
Yes, a good luthier can cleat and glue it. It stabilizes the guitar, but the resale value drops.
Does finish checking lower the value?
On vintage guitars (1950s), checking is often accepted as patina. On a new guitar, it is damage.
Are solid body guitars safe?
mostly. Fret sprout (metal frets sticking out as wood shrinks) happens, but the body won’t crack like an acoustic.