NGD! but not mine...

Col Mustard

Col Mustard

Ambassador of Perseverance
Country flag
So for many reasons too complicated to attempt to explain,
my music partner Libby's new guitar has shown up in
my entry way. Still in its box...
NGD@100.jpg
She ordered this instrument from a 'new" luthier, who was
"trying to break into the business..."

He's spent the last six months lovingly building her guitar.
He's sent lots of pictures as the instrument took shape.
She's published them on her twit face page.

I don't know how many instruments he makes per year...
or if he knows anything about what he's about.

Libby has confidence in him, and has paid him for his work.

The box is right next to me here...
Her Luthier insisted that she MUST NOT open the box for 48 hours...
He's fearful that the temperature swings related to climate change
will cause his new creation (which he has Christened "the Libby")
to crack if exposed to room temperatures after shipping via UPS.

...to me this sounds like typical CYA bullshit.

if it were my guitar, I'd open that box and be playing it already.
But I'm the guy who took his guitar out into the cold every night
for decades, and opened the case after arriving at the gig...
...and played the Hell out of that guitar like there was no tomorrow...
because for us, and at those times, this was true. My old Mossman was
covered with little checking lines after years and years of use like that.

What do y'all think? Is there any merit to the notion that 24 hours in the carton
and another 24 hours in the case are necessary to preserve the pristine perfection
of a hand made guitar.. Or should we just get them out in the daylight and play
the Hell out of them...

I told Libby I would NOT open that box.... even though I'm strongly tempted to.
I promised.... and I will keep that promise. She herself, who has been waiting and
observing "in progress" pictures for months... ought to be able to open that box.
This guitar is named "The Libby" in her honor.

What do you think? Even tho I"ll keep my promise. For reasons too complicated
to explain clearly in two thousand effing nineteen...
 
Play a joke on her Col.
Hide the guitar and hire a midget to be sealed in the box wearing nothing but a thong.
Then when she opens it, the midget jumps out and starts running around the room screaming I'm a guitar, pluck my G string.
 
I have heard this many times. There are enough horror stories out there to justify the proliferation of the concern (with alleged pics), some of which are probably false stories. That said, in the deep freeze we have been having, if it were true, this would be when it would happen. I have been told to open in stages..remove from box after 5 hours..crack case after another 12, etc. I would remove it from the box, and if it is on a case, wait another 5 hours, then have at it. The "extreme" part of the equation would likely have passed by then.
 
WHAT IF -- something has all ready happened???????

I ALWAYS open guitars IN FRONT of the UPS or FEDEX guy (yes I make them stand there -- usually I am B.S ing with them -- and my regular UPS woman is to the point she brings the box-- hands ME the box CUTTER, and says "what kind is it this time??"---IF there is damage (readily visible) I can REFUSE the shipment right there--- and begin the return/refund process......

you've lost the element now-------

but then you might open it----and accidentally break it--- and then ...........whats the phrase about hath no fury ...like,,,, what was it?????
 
I would do the 48 hours sounds strange most say 24 hours at 35,000' it is 20 below zero in the cargo hold of a jet.
 
I WOULD say leave it overnight to allow just the temperature to stabilize to avoid condensation.
then it will acclimate over a few days and maybe a truss rod adjustment is in order.

BUT, I say go with the midget in the key of G.

Wait, 'midget', is that a "curse word" these days?
No harm meant to all the mini-me dudes.
Hey Dudes! all the little mini-me dudes,
carry the news.
 
Tell her you were doing research and discovered, because of the colder than normal influence of the polar vortex, that it really should sit for another 36 hours.
 
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