Guitars suffer in the cold?

Subject: Guitars suffer in the cold?
From: Gary T
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 10:38 AM

I see lots of good advice about how guitars can be damaged from excessive heat, humidity, or dryness, and from sudden temperature changes. But what about cold, in and of itself?

Specifically, I'm wondering about a guitar being out in sub-freezing weather. I can speculate that if it's cold enough, residual moisture in the instrument could crystallize into ice and break the wood fibers. Does anyone know if something like this could actually happen? Or are there any other concerns about exposure to intense cold?

Subject: RE: Guitars suffer in the cold?
From: Zebedee
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 10:45 AM

Wood is pretty good at being cold. At such temperatures, I'd be looking after myself...

Not quite sure what you're getting at, unless you intend storing your guitar in the freezer?

Ed

Subject: RE: Guitars suffer in the cold?
From: catspaw49
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 11:02 AM

I really am not being flip here Gary, but if its wood and has strings, its affected by temperature and humidity. In answer to your question, in a way, dry and cold is somewhat worse than wet and cold....same as heat. In other words, if I had to choose between temp and humidity, I'd control humidity first. Of the two temperature extremes, I'd worry more about excessive heat than cold.

If you plan on being out and about in the extremes, be sure to buy a good humidifier for your case and a case cover is not a bad investment for the cold either.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Guitars suffer in the cold?
From: Bert
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 01:47 PM

Never had any problems with a guitar up in the mountains in Colorado in winter. I had a cheap one which I'd leave up there. It'd go down to 20 below or more while we were away and we'd get the cabin toasty hot when we were there every weekend. Humidity was also very low, below 10% most of the time.

The only problem I had was, someone broke in and stole it. I hope they enjoyed it. It cost me $14 at a thrift store. 'Course I had to fiddle with it a bit at first, to make it playable.

Then I got to carrying my Yamaha back and forth. It didn't seem to mind being in the back of the truck on the journey.

Subject: RE: Guitars suffer in the cold?
From: Midchuck
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 01:59 PM

Cold, in and of itself, doesn't appear to do any harm.

Rapid transitions from cold to warm will often cause the finish of a guitar to "craze" - i. e. get a whole lot of little tiny cracks, just in the varnish, not affecting the wood.

This doesn't really harm the guitar at all, and some very knowledgeable people claim it can improve the sound of a guitar, by letting the wood vibrate more freely. But a lot of people are horrified when it happens, because the instrument looks beat-up.

To avoid this happening, have your instrument in a good hard case, preferably with an insulated case cover, when you take it out into the cold; and don't bring it into a warm room and immediately take it out to play it. Let it warm up to room temperature inside the case.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Guitars suffer in the cold?
From: Ebbie
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 03:49 PM

Hmmmm. I do know of a Northern River bluegrass band member who had a bad experience in wintertime Fairbanks Alaska.

He says he'd had the Martin in its case in the truck for hours. Brought it into the house, took it out of its case and leaned it against a chair. Someone accidentally knocked it down and part of the body split into shards.

He had it glued together but he says that although he still has it, it has never been the same.

Ebbie

Subject: RE: Guitars suffer in the cold?
From: Bert
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 04:08 PM

Hmmmmm, I'd always suspected them yuppie Martins might be a little wimpy.

Subject: RE: Guitars suffer in the cold?
From: Ebbie
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 04:14 PM

Right-because they're not made out of 3/4 inch plywood. :)

Ebbie

Subject: RE: Guitars suffer in the cold?
From: Bert
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 04:17 PM

Nice retort Ebbie. LOL.

Subject: RE: Guitars suffer in the cold?
From: Bill D
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 05:25 PM

you need that Jesus Gibson on the other thread...supplies it's own internal heat...*grin*

Subject: RE: Guitars suffer in the cold?
From: Ebbie
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 08:25 PM

hahhahhah

Ebbie

Subject: RE: Guitars suffer in the cold?
From: mkebenn
Date: 13 Dec 00 - 07:44 AM

Played a jumbo Gibson in a tent in April, and the finish shattered like tempered glass. Mike

Subject: RE: Guitars suffer in the cold?
From: Lady McMoo
Date: 13 Dec 00 - 08:24 AM

Well yes, if it's cold enough to freeze their nuts off...

Seriously, cold doesn't do too much damage. As 'Spaw points out, heat is a worse problem, both extreme humidity and extreme dry heat. Of the two the latter is more serious. Also rapid changes from very cold to warm can be a problem. If seen this once or twice from instruments coming in from -20oC into a hot and sweaty pub or club and MIdchuck's comments above are right to the point.

mcmoo

Subject: RE: Guitars suffer in the cold?
From: Gary T
Date: 13 Dec 00 - 09:32 AM

Thanks all of you for your input.

Subject: RE: Guitars suffer in the cold?
From: Grab
Date: 15 Dec 00 - 09:43 AM

Don't forget that metal strings get tighter as the temperature drops - one thing to bear in mind if you're going out in the cold. Your guitar'll probably be OK, but the strings are more likely to go.

Grab.

Subject: RE: Guitars suffer in the cold?
From:
Date: 16 Dec 00 - 05:41 AM

There is a guy from Alaska who hangs out on "rec.music.makers.guitar.acoustic" called "hojo". You might post the question to that group.

Murray