How to open/acclimate guitar that has been shipped.

[JackB1]

If it was me, I would let it sit unopened in my office for a few hours.
Then open the box for the next few hours, then take the case out and
let it sit a couple hours.....then open it.

Originally Posted by VTexan

...of a New Jersey guitar to here in San Antonio. It will have been warm in both places, of course.

Question: I suspect it will have been in a FedEx delivery vehicle with air conditioning provided by the vehicle's open windows. If said guitar is delivered to my air conditioned office, is that enough of a temperature differential to be concerned about?
Follow up: If that IS enough of a differential to be concerned about, would opening up the package outside in the shade be sufficient?

[jaymarsch]

Well the original post was from 2009 so I hope no one waited that long. : - )

Unless the guitar is going from one temperature extreme to another, letting it sit for a few hours and then feeling if the case feels like most other surfaces in the house or office, you should be fine. I do know folks who err on the side of caution and always keep to an at least 12-hour rule.

Best,
Jayne

[Shades of Blue]

Originally Posted by jaymarsch

Well the original post was from 2009 so I hope no one waited that long. : - )

Unless the guitar is going from one temperature extreme to another, letting it sit for a few hours and then feeling if the case feels like most other surfaces in the house or office, you should be fine. I do know folks who err on the side of caution and always keep to an at least 12-hour rule.

Best,
Jayne

I love zombie threads! Just shows how problems 10 years ago are still relevant to this day!

I am glad that my new Taylor isn't Nitro though...funny how our tastes and preferences change over time.

[VTexan]

...by googling "acclimating your guitar" or something. The link for this thread was the very first thing that came up.

I felt like Gene Wilder. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VkrUG3OrPc

[frankmcr]

Originally Posted by VTexan

...of a New Jersey guitar to here in San Antonio. It will have been warm in both places, of course.

Question: I suspect it will have been in a FedEx delivery vehicle with air conditioning provided by the vehicle's open windows. If said guitar is delivered to my air conditioned office, is that enough of a temperature differential to be concerned about?

No. It is not.

[vintage40s]

Why take any chance at all? What is one day more compared to the value of the guitar and the years that you might keep it?

[jaymarsch]

Originally Posted by Shades of Blue

I love zombie threads! Just shows how problems 10 years ago are still relevant to this day!

I am glad that my new Taylor isn't Nitro though...funny how our tastes and preferences change over time.

I have had guitars with stain, nitro, poly, and French polish. All very different finishes for sure.

I have found that it is really easy to do a search and then forget that you are responding to an old thread exactly because all the chatter is pretty much covering the same issues and opinions. Congrats on the new guitar.

Best,
Jayne

[VTexan]

...to find information that one is seeking. That much of the thread occurred years ago really has no bearing on finding that info.
Thanks for the congrats. I'm really looking forward to it. It'll be my first Gibson.

[swampyankee]

Reviving this zombie threat once again for the season.

I just got my new-used J-35 from the seller this morning. It's basically been in transit for about 24 hours (across state), potentially exposed to temps in the 40's.
My plan is to let it sit undisturbed for the next 6 hours or so and then get the case out of the box, and keep it unopened for a few hours. I can even check the case temp with my IR thermometer to see if it's close.
We're only talking a max temp differential of maybe 25 degrees or so, so I can't see it taking too long, but can't be too careful...

[mawmow]

Up here, in cold season, I would allow the closed box to acclimatate to room temperature four at least four hours,
then unbox and if the case is not to room temperature, allow another four hours before opening the case.

Had only one issue over the years (the nitro finish was cracked as I opened the case and did not crack just before my eyes)
but I suspect the box and case were opened in a cold warehouse... and nobody would dare confess that !

[DesertTwang]

I don't understand what is so difficult about following manufacturer's advice (printed on the shipping box usually) that says, let guitar sit packaged for 24 hours?

[HodgdonExtreme]

Originally Posted by DesertTwang

I don't understand what is so difficult about following manufacturer's advice (printed on the shipping box usually) that says, let guitar sit packaged for 24 hours?

Seriously? Have you never waited with bated breath for the delivery truck to deliver the highly anticipated guitar you've been GASing for for weeks/months/years???

I mean, obviously we want to be careful and not hurt the new guitar, but we want to check it out and play it as fast as reasonably possible. And 24 hours is on the super duper conservative side. It's a "CYA" thing for the seller; it doesn't truly take that long...

[vintage40s]

Originally Posted by HodgdonExtreme

... 24 hours is on the super duper conservative side. It's a "CYA" thing for the seller; it doesn't truly take that long...

Sweetwater's 24-hour sticker is from the experience of shipping thousands of guitars a year. I did not see a downside in waiting.

[AZLiberty]

Open box as soon as box is no longer hot to the touch.
Open Case as soon as the case is no longer hot to the touch.

But I live in Phoenix, I've never seen a COLD guitar box.

[jim1960]

Originally Posted by vintage40s

Sweetwater's 24-hour sticker is from the experience of shipping thousands of guitars a year. I did not see a downside in waiting.

We live in an instant gratification society.
We also live in a blame someone else society so when the instant gratification results in finish checking, the buyer will shift the blame to the shipper or the seller.