Guitar vs cold

[Tanax]

Haven't found this before.
Just wondering how well do the guitars tolerate cold? I've heard that it can detune due to cold but I don't know if this happens pretty quickly or if it only happens when long periods of cold? Are there other side-effects or damage that could happen if exposed to cold?

For instance, can I take out the guitar and put on a guitarstand in the snow(not touching the snow obviously!) and take photos of it and then take it inside again? Or will I risk damage?

Sorry if this has been covered before I would then kindly ask to be redirected to that thread/page since I couldn't find anything upon searching.

 

[Sweat]

Just bring it back to room temp and check tuning, extremes either way may affect tuning but hell wont ruin it

 

[redeleon]

Just bring it back to room temp and check tuning, extremes either way may affect tuning but hell wont ruin it

+1 someone also said that we should also get some desiccants and place it while storing the guitar to absorb moisture..

 

[Jack FFR1846]

I would imagine that with the newer urathane finishes, they'll fare better than the old time lacquer finishes. I was just reading about lacquer finishes being really screwed up by fast temperature changes. Big differences in wood expension vs lacquer. Having painted cars over the years in lacquer and urathane, I can see how the lacquer wouldn't be very happy and urathane would likely just laugh at your stupid temperature changes.

Still...personally, I would avoid fast temperature changes.

 

[Colin]

+1 someone also said that we should also get some desiccants and place it while storing the guitar to absorb moisture..

definitely apply this with acoustic instrument. Both hot and cold weather will affect your guitar as is made of wood, especially an unsealed neck. These things are really nothing to be worries about, just be conscious of it. Common sense things like don't leave it in a hot car or direct sunlight and vise versa.

 

[peterd79]

the weather does tweak with the fluctuation of the neck a lil but a quick tune and shell be good to go.

 

[S. Humley]

Temperature changes will certainly change the pitch of a guitar as the neck contracts and expands. How many times have you picked up a guitar that is in tune with itself but is sharp or flat to the tuner. That is the neck moving. The real danger with hot and cold is if a guitar gets really cold and then warms up too fast. The wood can expand quicker than the finish leading to checking and cracking of the finish. I have never had it happen to a solid body electric, but on acoustic guitars where the top is thin and expands rapidly it happens all the time.

Short answer: quick trips in and out of the house won't affect the guitar.

 

[straycat113]

If you are going to take some pictures in the snow, after you are done put the guitar back in its case and bring it in the house and let it sit in it a few hours till it slowly gets to the indoor temperature before taking it out.Going rapidly from one extreme to the other can cause issues explained by Humely.

 

[TNT]

yeah, if you know it's going to be a cold out, tune the guitar a few cents "flat", it'll come up to pitch from the coldness. Conversely, if it's going to be a little hot, do the opposite.

I do it all the time, and my neck(s) are set perfectly straight (no relief). I set all of my guitar's actions with custom neck and saddle shims only (no relief or bridge raising/lowering).

Sometimes it's "tuned" right on the button by the time I take it out of its case at the gig.

 

[Tanax]

Thanks for all the help!
Seems like the guitar will be fine after all if I just take it out for a couple of minutes, shoot some pictures and then bring it inside. Sadly it has been -21 degrees over here in Sweden so I won't take it out when it's that cold(or will I be fine eventhough it's -21?).

And I usually keep the guitar in the case all the time - except when I'm playing of course. Is that a bad thing? Should I keep it outside of the case?

Cheers for the replies and sorry for my late reply!