How long should I wait?

skeeterbuck · Post by **skeeterbuck** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:40 am

My 1996 should be arriving next week and the weather here has been rather cold, (20's to 30's during the day and in the teens to single digits at night).
How long should I wait before opening the shipping box and then the guitar case itself to prevent any damage?

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:44 am

48 hours.

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 8:53 am

Instructions printed on the carton . . .

86kubicki · Post by **86kubicki** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 9:11 am

"FRA-Gee-LE, huh, must be Italian."

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 11:39 am

I know some folks who pronounce it "fraggle".

brammy · Post by **brammy** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 12:58 pm

I guess we're talking thermal shock here.... is the concern that the finish would crack?

incubus2432 · Post by **incubus2432** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 12:59 pm

mrtidy · Post by **mrtidy** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 11:36 am

48 hours seems a bit extreme to me. It seems like I'm always getting guitars on the coldest days. I normally bring them in and open them in about 8 hours(4 hours in the shipping box and 4 hours in the case), but I've done it in as short as 3 hours also (1 hour in the box, 2 in the case). I guess I live dangerously!

skeeterbuck · Post by **skeeterbuck** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 4:20 pm

My 1996 arrived today.

When I arrived home from work, UPS had laid the box on the front porch. And wouldn't you know it's one of the coldest days in the Baltimore area in awhile.

Luckily, I checked on the UPS web site to see what time it was delivered and it was only about 10 minutes before I arrived.
The box was in good condition, no holes, rips etc., so I hoping that after I wait the 48 hours before opening, that upon inspection everything will be OK.

It one thing to wait months to years for a guitar to arrive, but when it sitting right in front of you and you have to wait before opening it's shear torture.

rumbush · Post by **rumbush** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 6:22 am

Mucho Congrats! Don't forget it was probably on that ice-cold UPS truck for many hours preceeding its delivery. Pics please!!

beefandbones · Post by **beefandbones** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 7:51 am

My 1996 is just fantastic, and if it's at all typical of the run, these are outstanding guitars! Congratulations!

winston · Post by **winston** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 7:55 am

Congrats Ethan,

Pics please (so we can share your enjoyment).

skeeterbuck · Post by **skeeterbuck** » Sun Feb 18, 2007 2:21 pm

Well guys, I finally opened the box and I'm glad to report that everything looks fine. I gave her a test run and have some slight buzzing on the E and B strings. Oh the joys of the roller bridge!
I try and get some pics taken tomorrow, but I may need someone to post them for me. It seems that when I try they come out too small.

I A/B the 1996 against my 325C58....

The necks are close to the same thickness but the C58 has more shoulder in the profile which makes it feel chunkier.
The C58 is lighter and more fragile feeling compared to the 1996.
When played acoustically, the C58 is a fair bit louder. when I compared them amplified, you could easily hear the difference between the pickups. The C58 are weaker and brighter. That glassy treble tone. (think "All My Loving") The 1996 is simular in tone to my 1997 re-issue, taking into account the scale and body size differences.
It shows how close RIC got these re-issue models.
You can actually hear and feel the changes that took place from the '50 to the '60. Kudos to JH and the gang.

I haven't tried a 325C64 model, but I would say that the 1996 is very close to almost exactly sounding and feeling the same.

firstbassman · Post by **firstbassman** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 6:02 am

OK, to keep this issue going for just a moment, I have two (somewhat) hypothetical questions:

Restatement of current axiom: States on RIC carton to wait 48 hours before opening.

Q #1: Person receives purchased electric guitar that does NOT come with a case. It is only in a cardboard box. (Most guitars do not include case.) Purchaser knows that guitar was in the back of a freezing cold delivery truck for a very long time. The box is now in the house. What does he/she do? Open box right away or wait 48 hours?

Q #2: Band member comes home late at night from a successful gig in the dead of winter. The band member only uses a nylon gig bag when traveling to a local show and places the guitar in the back seat of his car. In his tired state he leaves the guitar in the car overnight that is parked outside his house. The rest of the band is now at his door for rehearsal. What does he do with his guitar? Bring it inside to his warm house and play it? Tell his band members, sorry, I can't bring the guitar inside the house? We have to wait til Spring. Or I can turn the engine on, and VERY SLOWLY turn up the heat and leave the engine running for 48 hours.

ken_j · Post by **ken_j** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 6:37 am

I would put it in the basement or garage (attached in my case) where it is warmer than outside but cooler than the living area for a few hours. Then move it to the living area of the house. I believe that this will work for both scenarios.