heat and guitars

Subject: heat and guitars
From: ermintrudeclaire
Date: 16 Sep 01 - 03:19 PM

how hot is too hot for a guitar? if it is in its hard case and its in the back of the car - pretty warm in summer - while i go to asda - will it be ok? what might happen in the worst scenario?

Subject: RE: heat and guitars
From: catspaw49
Date: 16 Sep 01 - 03:29 PM

No it probably won't be OK.....

Heat and varying humidity is tough on both wood and glues so you may find anywhere from cracks to bulges to complete seam splits when you return.....Then again, you could get lucky.

Read all about this at Frank Ford's wonderful website, Frets.com.........CLICK HERE FOR INFO ON HEAT STRESS

Spaw

Subject: RE: heat and guitars
From: Sorcha
Date: 16 Sep 01 - 03:41 PM

Wrapping the case in a "space blanket" helps, but you don't want to know the worst case scenario.

Subject: RE: heat and guitars
From: Justa Picker
Date: 16 Sep 01 - 04:39 PM

Yes, it's all laid out on the Fret's website that 'Spaw linked to. (But since I can't resist commenting on things of this nature) if you want it to remain a guitar, and not become a glorified canoe paddle, do not leave it in a car, ever, whether in the trunk or the back seat. Nor should you leave it sitting out in the sun outside.

Ideally, you want to store it in an environment with a temperature of between 68 and 72 degrees F. (20-22 C.) with a relative humidity of between 40 and 55%.

Heat, and extreme cold can do terrible things to guitars, from massive lacquer checking all over the entire finish, to bridges lifting, as well as internal bracings becoming unglued, and those braces starting to push up into the top.

You want to avoid any temperature extremes. If it's freezing out in the winter and you have to take it somewhere via car, start the car and let the engine and heater warm up, before putting the guitar in. Conversely, in the summer, if you have air-conditioning in your car, let the air cool the interior before putting it in and heading out.

It's also a good idea to never leave it in your car, because of the possibility of theft.

Subject: RE: heat and guitars
From: Bert
Date: 16 Sep 01 - 06:46 PM

No it's not alright, you might get away with it once or twice, but very soon you'll go to pick up you guitar and find that the bridge has come off.

Subject: RE: heat and guitars
From: catspaw49
Date: 16 Sep 01 - 06:51 PM

Bert, for instance, was left in the sun and heat too long and a lot of his stuff has totally crapped out. Nowadays the only time he thinks about doing it a second time is just before the first......and he loses concentration during even that and goes off to have a glass of orange juice.

Spaw

Subject: RE: heat and guitars
From: CraigS
Date: 16 Sep 01 - 09:22 PM

One cold frosty night I took my pride and joy, in a hard shell case, for a walk to a local hostelry. When I got back home it had a big split in the side. It took a lot of glue, clamping and prayer to get it back into operation. Avoid all extremes of temperature. Remember that repairers use higher temperatures and humidity to loosen joints and correct faults. If the man has to heat and steam it to correct the fault, then uncontrolled heat and steam (if you get the analogy)can cause the fault.