transporting guitar (in case) in cold weather

djazzy

Traveling not a long-distance with my guitar... I always keep Humidipaks in the case -- and I try to remember not to open the case too soon so the instrument can get acclimated to the temperature/humidity changes. And never to store it in a car. BUT does all this amount to a near-guarantee no cracks/checking/changes will occur in the instrument? The best feasible method? I wonder. Anybody have any additional advice? (Not talking about going through airports or shipping instruments in the mail...just traveling with it by my side.) Like maybe also wrapping the guitar in some insulated mylar blanket thing? Or a thin movers' blanket? Or maybe just bring a backup guitar & try to relax, maybe have a good time (which I usually opt for)? Especially wondering what y'all up north do.

voutoreenie

Just while driving? If so, when it's super freezing, I usually just put the guitar in the back seat instead of trunk so there's more of a heated environment (detuned too, just to be safe). Never had any issues and it gets pretty cold up here.

JSanta

It's currently well below freezing where I reside, and when I have rehearsals or gigs, I'm honestly not too concerned with the guitar going to and from. I think the bigger risk for checking and potentially cracks (though I believe cracks are really more of a humidity issue and not temperature) is the sudden temperature changes, like opening your guitar up from being under a plane after 8 hours without letting the guitar acclimate.

I do warm my car up on really cold days regardless of whether or not I have my guitar, and have yet to have any issues. I gate-checked my Duffell when I brought it home from the UK last year in a Bam case and flight case, and the case was very cold when they brought it to me, but by the time I made it home and let it sit for a day, there weren't any issues.

Don't think there's anything you can do to absolutely 100% prevent something from happening, but to and from your car, or a walk with it shouldn't be an issue. The case offers some level of insulation.

paulmcevoy75

I don't have any actual evidence on this, but my guess is that a guitar that has a really flat top will crack before one that has an arch. Probably the more arch the better. I do notice the arch in my guitars flattening out in the winter and I think if they were dead flat there would be no "stretch" in the wood to protect it from cracking.

That's just a guess though.

I'd also guess that a mono case which has a lot of actual foam insulation and is fairly well sealed is probably better than a hard case which is fairly thin. Maybe

Arcticguitar

Don’t overthink it. Everything will probably be fine, and if not the damage will likely be minor. Having said that, the best/bombproof solution is: 1) buy a custom Calton case and spec it out with extra thermal insulation, 2) buy an insulated cover for the case. I’m pretty far North, in the winter we get long stretches below zero (Fahrenheit) and in the summer, while it doesn’t get super hot, we have nearly 24 hrs of daylight so the inside of a car can be like a greenhouse. I went the Calton route described above. Mainly for my peace of mind. It isn’t really necessary, I know plenty of folks up here who have no problems with a regular case or a gig bag. With my set up, I am perfectly comfortable stopping at the grocery store on the way home from a gig, or jam, and leaving the guitar in my car at -10 F. I wouldn’t do that with a regular case or bag. Admittedly, my set up is overkill, but it makes me more comfortable. In the end you need to do whatever makes you feel that your guitar is safe. That’s what I did. My motto is: overkill is underrated.

billyshakes

I'm happy taking lived advice about cold weather transport from a guy called @Arcticguitar 👍️😂

cass

I put one of these in my case! They’re cheap and can warm your hands if performing outside in colder temperatures!

temperatures.

djazzy

thanks @Arcticguitar!

paulmcevoy75

https://www.djangobooks.com/forum/discussion/comment/124158#Comment_124158

I'd be careful with that tbh. Probably fine but my guess is that the worst kind of cold is one with a gradiant. If you have hot and cold together in one guitar, I think that's probably the worst scenario (again, my guess).

Best is not let your guitar get too hot or too cold, but I think a consistent slow increase or decrease is probably the safest. I would worry less about a guitar in an unheated storage unit than I would about one that is regularly coming in and out of a car in a really cold climate.