COLD WEATHER/HUMIDITY EAST COAST help a CA kid out please!

[1973Marshall]

I have gigs that might take me to NYC and Boston during COLD.

I can't imagine the recent LA Freeze matches the possible snowy days in the east. Any advice for a guitar player taking ACOUSTICS, ELECTRICS, and/or TUBE AMPS to these climates?

Mind you, we are also dry heat in LA - so any advice as the weather warms up on Humidity in places like NYC and FL. I remember hating the humidity in those places.

My guitars should adjust just fine, no?

[meterman]

Don't leave stuff in the car longer than you have to and when you bring guitars in out of the cold open the case and let them get to room temperature before tuning, it will be more stable that way. Acoustics you could keep one of those humidifier things in the case to keep the wood from shrinking up too much in the dry air...you may need to learn how to do your own setups inlcuding truss rod adjustments if you're travelling alot...

[ohw05]

I have always been told to treat a guitar like you would treat a child. While it would be crazy in all cases, when dealing with hot/cold and humidity you cannot be too careful. Don't ever leave a guitar in the car in the cold. If you have to, take the case inside but don't open it.

I disagree with opening the case. If you do open it, the guitar will go from cold to warm too quickly, causing cracks and warping to occur. Keep the case closed and let the warmth slowly seep back into the case. The gradual warming will allow the wood to acclimate better rather than "shocking" the wood with a large temperature gradient.

Hollowbodys and acoustics need humidifiers. In the winter humidity can get down to 10-20%, (inside as well - electric heat=dry as a bone), so take steps to keep your guitars at 50-60% humidity in their cases. This doesn't need to be perfect, but you will know over time when your guitar is dry and needs humidity, it will play differently. I have a semi-hollowbody and when the wood shrinks from lack of humidity it tends to raise the action a bit.

Truss rod adjustments are a must I agree. I live in the northeast and have had to make 3 adjustments this winter already. Take it slow when adjusting and don't make huge changes, just in increments of quarter turns . If you feel uncomfortable, take it in to get adjusted but it isn't very hard. Use your best judgement and take it slow and you won't mess up your guitar.

Most importantly, learn your guitar and how it responds to changes in environment and climate. When you have an instrument for long enough you get to know it and what it likes and dislikes. But rule of thumb - better safe than sorry. Treat it like a baby, because that's what it is.

[Tycho]

I know that acoustics have to be kept humidified in a moderate temperature, but at what point does the temperature start to affect solid-body or laminate semi-hollow electrics? Are they safe if the temperature where they're stored goes down to the mid-50s?

[Seakayak]

I live in eastern Canada (New Brunswick, it's -7 degrees F as I type this, hee hee), and my advice would be to leave ALL equipment warm up in the case for as long as 12 - 18 hours (or as long as possible) before opening after subjecting it to cold, especially freezing cold. I also suggest using a humidifier, no matter what type of guitar, because you may encounter some very dry indoor environments.

[The_Whale]

I have gigs that might take me to NYC and Boston during COLD.



Keep your guitars at room temperature if possible. If that's not possible, let your guitars warm up in there cases.

[mad dog]

Amps and solid bodies are fairly robust in temp changes, though guitar finish is up for grabs if you have to come in and open up right away. Often that cannot be helped. Acoustics are different. Long ago I started tuning all steel-strung acoustics to open D when not in use. Never yet had a problem since doing that. I did have one warped neck with an acoustic left to standard pitch in the case, unplayed from autumn into winter.

[1973Marshall]

OK, now tell me do certain guitars fair better? Certain acoustics? Stats and their bolt on's vs Les Pauls per se?