Keeping a hollowbody in a hot car?

Retroman1969 · #1 08-14-2011, 10:29 PM

I wish I meant keeping one in a Ferrari, but...
I'm going to a photo-shoot in the morning, and have to have my archtop and my acoustic with me for my lesson afterwards. No time to go home in between.
This means having to leave them in the back seat of my truck (in their cases of course) for about 4 hours with temps getting to the mid-90s before it's over. The back windows are deeply tinted, I'll crack the front windows and put up my sun screen, but I'm still a little concerned.
Think they'll be safe? Any other precautions I should take?
Thanks in advance!

FatJeff · #2 08-14-2011, 10:52 PM

Bring the guitars inside with you. I leave my hollowbody in the car for a max of one hour in hot weather...or in very cold. Cracking the windows won't do much for the internal ambient temperature (which could go >130 degrees).

TruthHertz · #3 08-15-2011, 01:27 AM

You don't want to do this. When we're working on a guitar, and we want to remove a fingerboard, pull the neck from the body, separate a top from the sides, take a bridge off an acoustic, any glue joint, know what we do? Apply heat. Lots of it.
A guitar is under an enormous amount of stress from the stings alone, heating it up like that expands things a lot. Frets and fingerboards will expand at different rates, then contract again when they cool down. Wood warps, glues become soft and liquid, finishes develop microfractures, wood dries out... you get the idea.
A guitar is a system of very small tolerances being held in delicate balance under a huge amount of pressure. Why chance it? On the other hand, if you needed an excuse to buy a new guitar, well... very tricky!!
David

AlohaJoe · #4 08-15-2011, 01:35 AM

What they said...small convenience, big risk. Take them both in with you.

Retroman1969 · #5 08-15-2011, 03:35 AM

Thanks for the input. Thinking about it that way puts it in perspective.
I'll make a special request to keep them with me or leave them in the office or something.
I'm shooting at a large Catholic school today, and schools these days are really weird about these sorts of things. You have to wear photo IDs, go through metal detectors, check in with staff when you're arriving and leaving, put a decal on your car and park it in a specific place, have equipment bags opened, inspected, and approved, etc.

Two quick stories:
1) Once at a school I forgot my ID badge and was pulled from my camera by an office staff that was passing by, questioned, and background checked to make sure I was the photographer and not an imposter there to molest all the kids and blow up the school.

2) At another school I was told by a secretary that I could park my truck on a side entrance so it would be easier to load/unload my equipment. She didn't tell the principal who panicked, CALLED HOMELAND SECURITY! who had the local police tow in the "unauthorized" vehicle and inspect it for bombs!
All while I was happily clicking away inside like an idiot.
Hey, money is money, but I've almost given up on doing schools because it's such insanity.

Anyway, that's why I considered leaving these two big cases in the car. Thanks for bringing me back to reality!

jazzbow · #6 08-15-2011, 03:35 AM

Aaaahh! Noooo! Don't do it!!
A guy wanted set up work for his Jap copy J200 acoustic.
'Where's the guitar?' says I.
"Oh it's in my camper van parked outside." Yes it was one of the hottest days in SW Scotland(a rarity) and when he pulled it out of the roof section of the van because he "Didn't have a case" I just was speechless. Needless to say he looked puzzled as the guitar wasn't as bad as when he put the guitar in earlier that morning. After assessing the damage and cost of repair it would be cheaper to buy a new guitar and use his 1973 Antoria guitar as a decorative piece for hanging on the wall!
Take one guitar and don't leave it in your car, cancel your photo shoot/guitar lesson or buy one of these for this sort of situation.

Go Guitars - Travel Guitars Manufacturer

I bought one and imported it to the UK, it's a great piece of kit, obviously not bassy sounding but it's great for comping and surprisingly loud for single note runs. One day i'll put a pickup on it but Go Guitars can do this for you.
Yes, it's time to buy a new guitar. ;-)

Retroman1969 · #7 08-15-2011, 03:47 AM

Not to worry, I'll make sure it stays with me... And I can't afford to give up such a big paying job.

I could cancel my lesson but I did that a couple of weeks ago and would rather not again.

PS: in that second story, the thing that always blows me away is that not once did anyone think to ASK anybody! ("Hey, who's car is that?") Silly me, seemed like a simple concept.
But that's the world we now live in I guess.

Patrick2 · #8 08-15-2011, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retroman1969

Not to worry, I'll make sure it stays with me... And I can't afford to give up such a big paying job.

I could cancel my lesson but I did that a couple of weeks ago and would rather not again.

PS: in that second story, the thing that always blows me away is that not once did anyone think to ASK anybody! ("Hey, who's car is that?") Silly me, seemed like a simple concept.
But that's the world we now live in I guess.

Why not just ask your instructor if you could use one of his guitars for todays session???

TruthHertz · #9 08-15-2011, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick2

Why not just ask your instructor if you could use one of his guitars for todays session???

or if he'd let you bring it by earlier? Or park in a sheltered parking lot?
David

Retroman1969 · #10 08-15-2011, 08:22 AM

I might do that in the future, he has lots of guitars, but the store I take them in doesn't open near as early as I have to get started in the mornings. Typically I don't work on Mondays (my lesson day), but it's crazy right now.
Have it inside here with me, so all is well.
Thanks again!

TruthHertz · #11 08-15-2011, 08:25 AM

Have a good lesson. I love stories that work out!
David

oldane · #12 08-15-2011, 11:11 AM

Bucky Pizzarelli has told about an incident in his youth when he left a L5 in a car on a hot, sunny day. When he opened the case most of the glue joints had separated, and the instrument had literally disassembled to its single components. He had to pay a neat sum to have it put back together again at a repairshop.

I wouldn't leave a guitar in a hot car.

jazzbow · #13 08-15-2011, 02:17 PM

Hey Retro'
Coming back to me previous, if you want a great guitar that's portable then try and track down the Go Guitar and give it a spin. I use mine for teaching and bar room sessions when I know I'm gonna have a beer or two.
I must say it's nice to have a day when you can say 'Monday is my Guitar lesson day.'

Stackabones · #14 08-15-2011, 03:44 PM

Forget about the heat. Just leaving them in your backseat is an extremely bad idea. It's probably okay if you live in Mayberry with Sheriff Andy Taylor and Opie. Otherwise, why leave any gear in your backseat at all?

FatJeff · #15 08-15-2011, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stackabones

Forget about the heat. Just leaving them in your backseat is an extremely bad idea. It's probably okay if you live in Mayberry with Sheriff Andy Taylor and Opie. Otherwise, why leave any gear in your backseat at all?

This reminds me of a joke.

A man parks his car in a rough part of town with two accordions in the back seat, right there in plain view, forgetting to lock the back door.

When he returns, his worst fears are realized: there are now three accordions.

Stackabones · #16 08-15-2011, 03:50 PM

^^LOL^^

Someone once broke into my car and installed an 8-track player.

Retroman1969 · #17 08-15-2011, 04:25 PM

Lol, i do live in Mayberry, sort of. Small town just south of the city. I'm not sure anyone even has locks on their doors. When in the city, like today, i have to conciously remember to lock up.
I apologize to that man for leaving that accordion in his car, couldn't help it! My foray into heavy-metal polka was very short-lived.

sdr · #18 08-15-2011, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TruthHertz

You don't want to do this. When we're working on a guitar, and we want to remove a fingerboard, pull the neck from the body, separate a top from the sides, take a bridge off an acoustic, any glue joint, know what we do? Apply heat. Lots of it.
A guitar is under an enormous amount of stress from the stings alone, heating it up like that expands things a lot. Frets and fingerboards will expand at different rates, then contract again when they cool down. Wood warps, glues become soft and liquid, finishes develop microfractures, wood dries out... you get the idea.
A guitar is a system of very small tolerances being held in delicate balance under a huge amount of pressure. Why chance it? On the other hand, if you needed an excuse to buy a new guitar, well... very tricky!!
David

How much less of concern, if any, would it be if we were talking about a solidbody?

hot ford coupe · #19 08-15-2011, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FatJeff

This reminds me of a joke.

A man parks his car in a rough part of town with two accordions in the back seat, right there in plain view, forgetting to lock the back door.

When he returns, his worst fears are realized: there are now three accordions.

Now that there is a great joke. I used to play the accordion when I was nine years old. If that car had been on my street at that time, there would have been four accordions in it.

I drag my guitars where ever I go. I'll go to restaurants, the mall or anywhere I need to go before I play. When we take my handicapped sister in law to her activity center, the wife and I go to lunch and then to Starbuck's in Barnes and Noble book store where I practice in the back acoustically for 2 -3 hours undisturbed and undistracted. Then we pick her up and go home. If I practice at home, I'll want to go to the TV, the wife will find something for me to do or I'll want to take a nap. Nobody cares and I get some solid work done. Leaving my guitar in the car is not my idea of a good thing to do.

TruthHertz · #20 08-15-2011, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdr

How much less of concern, if any, would it be if we were talking about a solidbody?

In principle, it's not as crucial, one doesn't need to concern one's self with thin tops that hang in balance of structural integrity and efficient acoustic radiation. But that said, finishes have oils, wood has moisture, glues still resent being cooked. Think of it this way, did you ever notice a difference in action when you take the guitar to a totally different climate, or notice changes in the "feel" of a guitar from season to season? If you have, if a simple change of conditions on a gradual basis can change an instrument so you can feel the difference, then a radical change will do so even more traumatically.
You may not notice as much because with lighter strings, thicker bodies, poly finishes (maybe) and less stress it isn't as pronounced, but it's gotta change somehow, and it's gotta come back to the same spot when it cools down.
It's a lot to ask. Maybe a change you can feel, maybe not. Maybe not now but later. If it changes, regret is a poor stand in for a decision to be cautious.
David