Though the name would suggest a tasty recipe for preparing wood, "seasoning" is the process by which wood is prepared for guitar building. It involves not only the removal of water, which leaves comparatively quickly, but also other, more subtle changes. This includes the removal and/or hardening of less volatile materials such as oils, fats, resins, and gums, as well as the structural changes that take place over time. The use of dehumidifiers and kilns are common tools for achieving the optimal moisture content within the wood (generally around 5% of the weight of the wood).

Careful attention is required to guard against drying the wood too rapidly, particularly in thicker dimension lumber. If not dried properly, the non-uniform stresses involved can cause cupping or twisting upon subsequent re-sawing or working. Once wood has been dried, it is allowed to "rest" in a climate controlled environment for several days to several months.