Do you need to acclimate a guitar from hot to indoor AC?

[Rosewood99]

I'm expecting a guitar coming by fedex today. It's 97 degrees outside and not sure how long it's been on the truck. Does it need to acclimate coming into a typical AC house? If so, the same amount of time as from cold to warm?

[beatcomber]

Originally Posted by paulzoom

I'm expecting a guitar coming by fedex today. It's 97 degrees outside and not sure how long it's been on the truck. Does it need to acclimate coming into a typical AC house? If so, the same amount of time as from cold to warm?

My guess is you should leave it be until the outside of the case is at room temperature.

[gfa]

Definitely acclimate. I saw a friend's guitar (uncased) get a top crack from being moved from really hot outdoors to indoor A/C. I've no idea about how long, seems like a couple or three hours should be fine.

[jseth]

Same as usual... wait til the box feels room temp, pull the case... wait til the case feels room temp, open it. Wait til the guitar gets close and you're good to go!

Not rocket science, but a bit of prevention can cure future ills... good thinking!

[ChrisE]

I live where it's hot and humid in the summer and I go from inside the house in the AC to outside in the heat and back again all summer and have not had any problems.

But then again, it never hurts to be cautious.

[llew]

Originally Posted by ChrisE

I live where it's hot and humid in the summer and I go from inside the house in the AC to outside in the heat and back again all summer and have not had any problems.

But then again, it never hurts to be cautious.

I'm with Chris and we live in a humid place in the summer. But again...erring on the side of caution is always a good thing. One thing I have noticed when I walk outside to play is the guitar will break out in a sweat. Well, condensation from having been in a climate controlled environment. I have to wipe it down before I can play it.

[BrunoBlack]

Caution is wise, but is it a Nitro finish?

[Rosewood99]

I waited an hour and a half and it the temperature seemed to be fine. It wasn't as hot coming in from the fedex truck as I thought it would be.

[MikeBmusic]

Originally Posted by llew

I'm with Chris and we live in a humid place in the summer. But again...erring on the side of caution is always a good thing. One thing I have noticed when I walk outside to play is the guitar will break out in a sweat. Well, condensation from having been in a climate controlled environment. I have to wipe it down before I can play it.

That's condensation from outside moisture on the cool guitar surface. Sure, you wiped down the outside, but what about the inside surfaces? Not good.

[RustyAxe]

No. But you’ll be told you should.

[ChrisE]

Originally Posted by MikeBmusic

That's condensation from outside moisture on the cool guitar surface. Sure, you wiped down the outside, but what about the inside surfaces? Not good.

I'm sure it goes back to normal pretty quick when we go back inside to 50% humidity A/C, so I don't really worry about it. Besides, it stops gathering condensation after a minute or so when the surface warms up so it's not like a constant barrage of moisture attacking your guitar.

Like I said, I suppose it never hurts to be cautious, but personally I don't obsess over it.

[jgottsman11]

I got my Collings OM2H T yesterday and the box was hot, the case was hot, but I was too anxious and opened it. I should've listened to all of you guys because the tragedy... Just kidding, the guitar is fine.