Requirements for drying high quality wood for use in musical instruments are very strict. With Chinese Fir （Picea asperata） lumber, which is to be used as the surface material for （violins,） a series of drying tests were conducted, with a small-sized dehumidification kiln made by the Kilnshine Co., at CRIWI, Chinese Academy of Forestry. Results showed that no surface or （internal） checks occurred in the dried lumber and the moisture content difference within stack was low. However, a moisture content gradient occurred along the thickness direction but could be （balanced） after about a week. The drying cost was around 100 yuan/m ,3,. The dried wood retained its original color and sound property, and so could be used to make musical instruments. It was （concluded） that with a reasonable drying schedule and stacking method, the dehumidification kiln was applicable and could be used to dry different sizes of instrumental wood materials together.