NGD... How long do I gotta wait?

[MichaelD23]

Staring anxiously at an unopened guitar case. It was delivered about four hours ago on a comfortable sunny Tennessee morning, but I know it almost certainly sat overnight in a cold trailer somewhere -- or at best a semi-cold warehouse. I really do not want to take a chance on temperature shocking the tonewoods, so I'm wondering how long I need to keep staring at it before popping it open. Conventional wisdom says 24 hours but I suspect that might be overkill. In the dead of winter, sure, but it's still autumn.

Whatchall think?

[Godfather]

I am from the "better safe than sorry" camp so I always wait.

[ahorsewithnonam]

I’m sure after four hours it’s at room temperature so go for it

[Tahitijack]

Even though I'm in SoCal, where it's 85 today, I'd give it 24 hours before opening the box. Better give it a day and enjoy a lifetime of playing an undamaged guitar.

[rct]

I've been taking guitars from one extreme to another and after a reasonable time in the new clime, hour maybe, they even tune well. Nobody ever died. Trees miraculously live through potentially hundreds of years of seasonal changes, your guitar will be fine too.

rct

[ahorsewithnonam]

Originally Posted by rct

I've been taking guitars from one extreme to another and after a reasonable time in the new clime, hour maybe, they even tune well. Nobody ever died. Trees miraculously live through potentially hundreds of years of seasonal changes, your guitar will be fine too.

rct

Exactly. Come on it’s not even winter yet hasn’t been really cold anywhere and you live in Tennessee and believe me your weather is not that warm right now open it and start playing

[PWoolson]

Originally Posted by MichaelD23

Staring anxiously at an unopened guitar case. It was delivered about four hours ago on a comfortable sunny Tennessee morning, but I know it almost certainly sat overnight in a cold trailer somewhere -- or at best a semi-cold warehouse. I really do not want to take a chance on temperature shocking the tonewoods, so I'm wondering how long I need to keep staring at it before popping it open. Conventional wisdom says 24 hours but I suspect that might be overkill. In the dead of winter, sure, but it's still autumn.

Whatchall think?

In this situation, it's less about the woods than it is about the finish. Nitro finish can't handle temperature changes very well. I'd wait the 24 hours. That's much less time than you'd have to wait for a finish repair.

[HFox]

Reading your signature you have some really fine guitars to occupy your wait time.....open the box tomorrow morning !
By the way what is it ?

[Ricky Nelson]

Is that a list of guitars you've owned or guitars you own currently!? Really, whaddya buy?

I say double the 4 and open er up. Nah, wait the 24. Better safe.

At this point I think its less about temperature and more about humidity. I think the temp would have equalized by now.

RNF

[Scottj121]

Probably best to wait about 6 weeks. Just kidding. Let it get to room temperature plus a couple hours and it should be fine.
Scott

[bogdan101]

Depends on what's inside.

[PiousDevil]

[hairpuller]

Dang, Michael, with all those fine guitars what's the one you'd want with you if stranded on a deserted island? Humidity is not an issue.

Scott

[MichaelD23]

It's a Martin 000-28 Sunburst. Used to own a natural finish 000-28 but traded it early this year, and found myself missing it. Don't have many short scale instruments, and the ones I do have are smaller bodied. And there's that Martin tone. The only one that approximates it is the Santa Cruz OM/PW, a fine one in its own right.

Which would I take to a desert island? Hell, I dunno. I use the Larrivee whenever I'm going somewhere iffy, like playing at the lake or an outside gig (or at a total eclipse of the sun...!)

At various times I've tried to determine my favorite(s), but I rarely get the list down below 5-6. Owning a bunch of good guitars inspires me to play a lot, because they all deserve playing!

And I ended up waiting 6 hours, by which time it was almost warm to the touch and the indoor humidity was at 46. Got it from Chicago Music Exchange — have had nothing but good dealings with them — and was again pleased with the packing job and the setup on the Martin. In fact, it's time to shut down this computer and get back to pickin'!

[ahorsewithnonam]

Michael, I cruised through Knoxville Saturday on the way back from Ft Myers. You really should up your game on your guitar selection. Come on....some of those listed are just embarrassing. You need some X series Martins, a few authentic Taylor Academy series before we can take you serious. Even an Esteban would help.