How long to wait before playing a cold guitar?

[fjk1138]

Hello Everyone.

I just received a new JPXI-6 from UPS about 1 hour ago. It's about 39 Deg F outside as of this writing and I have no idea how long the guitar has been in a cold environment.

I opened the boxes up but left the guiar case closed in a warm room (about 66 Deg F).
I waited about an hour. I felt the guitar case, which felt pretty normal (temperature-wise) to the touch, then I opened the case. After my initial drooling, I noticed that the guitar still felt rather cold and after a couple quick strums/tune up attempts I decided to put it back in the case.

Naturally, I am completely paranoid about ruining the guitar, so my questions here are:

1. How long do I need to wait before playing it?
2. Did I hurt anything by taking it out of the case that quickly? I did not see any cracks, checking, etc.

Thanks....

 

[Tollywood]

Hello,

I live in New England, so I deal with the same temps. I usually leave the sealed box in the house for an hour, then take the case out of the box and leave the case out for an hour, then I prop it open about 2" for an hour, and finally take it out of the case.

Your guitar is probably fine.

Good luck!

Bryan

 

[FantasyMetal]

I live in Maine where it is usually less than 39 degrees F outside and I do pretty much the same thing Tollie does and have never had an issue!

 

[Stratty316]

Thats why I live in a warm weather state...

 

[mikeller]

I think thats about what I did last time I recieved one in the mail - cut and opened the sides for the shipping carton and left the case in the box for a few hours, then removed the case and left it closed for another hour. Once it all seemed about room temp I opened it to play!

I agree - you should be good to to!!! Now we neeed pictures!

 

[GWDavis28]

Thats why I live in a warm weather state...

But if memory serves me right didn't you use to live in NY?

Glenn |B)

 

[Lou]

Should be no issues. I tore into my JP13 after waiting about 2 hours. I got right from the driver. It wasn't sitting around outside, but it was cold from traveling in the truck day. There seems to be a over caution here. I have never seen or had someone in know experience a cold guitar issue other than maybe some truss rod adjustment that's needed after it gets used to its new environment.

 

[fjk1138]

Well, I've got it out now, after about 4 hours total from receipt. It looks OK but won't stay in tune for nothing. I know it probably still has a lot of settling to do, so I am not really worried. The only real issue I am having is that I cannot get the trem bar into the base. It goes in a fraction of an inch and then gets stuck. Forcing it in just bends the bridge towards the body and I don't want to break it. Does this have to do with the cold also, or is there some other trick I need to do?

EDIT - I got it. Took some extra wiggling. Been awhile since I had a trem that you slipped in.

Thanks for everyone's help and input here. I'll put some pics up later. This guitar is beautiful.

 

[JayDawg]

I just got a Game Changer and had UPS ship it to me. I picked it up lat Friday and it was very cold outside. I have everything set up though to wear I go to UPS to pick up anything sent to me. It is a little more climate controlled in their warehouse than my front door and also a lot safer from someone stealing anything I have sent when I am not at home. But what I did was took my guitar out of the box and left it in its case for a few hours. I then opened the case to check the guitar. I probably would have been okay at that point playing it but it was late and I would have gotten "The look" from the wife for playing guitar past her and kids' bedtimes. As a result, I waited until the next morning to get it out of the case, I tuned it up and she has played great ever since.

With your tremolo bar not going into the bridge, wait until the guitar is fully acclimated to room temperature. If it still does not go, call EBMM Customer Service. (866)823-2255.

 

[fjk1138]

With your tremolo bar not going into the bridge, wait until the guitar is fully acclimated to room temperature. If it still does not go, call EBMM Customer Service. (866)823-2255.

I was able to get it in, it just took some extra wiggle. The previous trems I used were a Bigsby and whatever is on a Fender Jazzmaster, so I just forgot what it was like with a "snap in" one.

Thanks for your help though

 

[Stratty316]

But if memory serves me right didn't you use to live in NY?

Glenn |B)

Las Vegas... Before that several California beach cities

 

[Johnny Alien]

I live in the Northeast and I have never waited to open or play a guitar. That includes ones with nitro finishes. I have never had any type of issues with the guitar or finish or anything. I guess there is no harm in being careful but I feel it's unnecessary.

 

[Astrofreq]

You can't (and shouldn't) stop the rock.

 

[uOpt]

If you already opened the case you can play. Doesn't make a difference now.

If you are paranoid about this you should have left the whole box in the warm area for 24 hours, or the box in a semi-warm room (garage, mudroom) for 6 and then the case unopened in the warm area for another 6.

 

[Johnny Alien]

You guys that wait 24 hours, how do you do gigs in the winter? Just an hour or so in a car can get the case and guitar to very frigid temps. How long do you wait after bringing the guitar into the club?

 

[uOpt]

You guys that wait 24 hours, how do you do gigs in the winter? Just an hour or so in a car can get the case and guitar to very frigid temps. How long do you wait after bringing the guitar into the club?

I don't, especially not with bolt-on instruments. I was just addressing the OP's concerns. If you want to prevent split from too quick expansion and/or possibly from frozen pieces of water (from humidity) then you need to let it cool down very slow.

FWIW, it doesn't get the actual instrument down to outside temp in an hour if you have it in the car in a case.

 

[JayDawg]

You guys that wait 24 hours, how do you do gigs in the winter? Just an hour or so in a car can get the case and guitar to very frigid temps. How long do you wait after bringing the guitar into the club?

I do. I get my truck to running temperature and turn the heater on. Once it is warm inside my truck, then I place my basses or guitar in it.