How long to defrost a Rickenbacker?

octagon · Post by **octagon** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 7:50 pm

This question is to forum members living in colder climes.If you had guitar shipped to you in winter,how long would you let it warm up before opening the shipping carton and case?

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 7:53 pm

24 to 48 hours depending on how cold it is.

expomick · Post by **expomick** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 8:03 pm

Must be a slooooow, painful 24-to-48 hours.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 8:04 pm

It can suck, yes.

octagon · Post by **octagon** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 8:30 pm

Really?That long?I got a Rick coming from Kansas City to Minneapolis.It left KC this morning and it will probably arrive tomorrow.The temp here is 35 now and will go up to 44 tomorrow so it is not as cold as usual for this time of year.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 10:40 pm

It's a tough call but if the finish warms too quickly, it will crack like glass.

qmoder · Post by **qmoder** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 11:37 pm

I waited twenty four hours.

webhead · Post by **webhead** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 2:55 am

I live in MA, I'd leave it alone for the 48 hours...

captsandwich · Post by **captsandwich** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 3:52 am

What about just bringing it from one place to another in colder climates? Like going from my house to a gig in -20C? Or walking home from the guitar shop (about 90 mins) with a 330 in a gig bag in slightly below freezing? Am I going to pay for that in the long run?
PS: How anyone could leave a new guitar sitting in it's case for 48hrs is beyond me. Apparently, if ritalin had been around in the 70's, I would have been on it.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 4:20 am

Short trips are ok as long as the end points are about the same temp. If the case is cold for more than a few hours, I would exercise caution.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 7:55 am

My first new Rick (a 660-12)came to me almost exactly two years ago today, from Dave's in LaCrosse, WI. I opened the outer box and pulled out the case...the case hardware was ice-cold. A good indicator. It was below zero in LaCrosse when the guitar was shipped (overnight) and must have been as cold as a skeeter's tweeters in the FedEx plane. It was 60 outside in SF, and about 70 in my office.

I left the case in my office for a full 48 hours. Of course it was worth it!

The next week, my 381 arrived from Wildwood in Louisville, CO (near Boulder). Same drill.

Both guitars remain stable and glassy-smooth.

octagon · Post by **octagon** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 8:13 am

Ok,thanks for the good advice Paul.I guess I'll just stick it in the closet when it arrives and try to forget it is there.

armyric · Post by **armyric** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 11:58 am

Any time I PCS (report to a new post) it's always during the winter and my guitars are moved by the Army. I have never had that problem before with any of my finishes. ( to include Rics) I always pop them right open to look for damage..

octagon · Post by **octagon** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 12:40 pm

Thanks for your post Joseph.My new Rick is now sitting in my living room screaming "Open Me!Let me Out!Let Me Out!"Oh agony!AA-GO-KNEE!!!

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 1:05 pm

Pop'em open outside, Mitch!

Take it out to the garage or to your ice-fishin' hut, and serenade the perch!!!

You could open for a sec without any damage, but the danger here is that a sec turns into a minute, and then a minute turns into...