I just posted that I have a new OM1A on the way.
The music store told me to avoid checking, I should wait 48 hrs. to open since I'm in COLD COLD Ohio. Does this sound about right?
Are Collings more prone to checking than other guitars? My Martin D28 Custom checked when it was shipped last winter, so I am very nervous about this happening with the collings.

It is always good advice to let a guitar aclimate slowly to temperature changes.

48 hours may be over doing it (of course couldn't hurt to wait that long).
When the shipping crate feels up to room temp open it. When the case feels up to room temperature you can open it. If the guitar itself still feels colder than room temp you can close the case a wait awhile longer. Probably several hours involved.
Enjoy, Rick

48 might be too much, but 24 is a must. That is what Collings recommends and it is too much money to chance it. And it is cold here right now...unless you have a heated FedEx truck!

Collings are not any more prone to checking than any other guitar, they use a standard lacquer finish. But if you subject it to extreme cold and then hit it with warm air it will check.

I agree that 48 hours is a little extreme, but if you follow Rick's method you won't have any problems.

Well....I have had many guitars shipped to me in the middle of the winter
(Nebraska here - lots of below zero temps here in the winter), and I've
never waited longer than a couple of hours before opening up the shipping
box. And, I not ever had a problem with guitar "finish checking".

I believe it's an old wives tale to have to wait 24 or 48 hours before
opening the box, especially since Collings has gone away from a lacquer
finish. If they had a lacquer finish, then I'd do the 24 hour wait. I
don't blame stores or dealers for this "WARNING"....they are just covering
their behinds!!!!

48 minutes is more in my time frame.

I had a luthier tell me he believes that 99% of any checking is done in the
cargo compartment of the airplane, where there are very sudden changes in
temperature. When a guitar is in the cargo section of an airplane, it's
usually not in a well heated area (most cargo areas of an airplane are not
heated, and if they are, its not much - it costs them $$$ to heat them -
and they aren't gonna spend the $$$ to do it anymore). In the middle of
winter, the temperature in those compartments easily is well below zero
degrees.

I know that UPS and FedEx does not heat those cargo compartment very well.
But, when an airplane reaches those higher altitudes, it is freezing in
those compartments. That's where 99% of the checking occurs. It occurs,
because suddenly the guitar gets frozen and the varnish just can't take the
sudden change. It's very unlikely that it's ever caused by taking the
guitar out of the box too soon in your home.....although, there is a very
small possibility that it could happen - thus, the warning concerning the
24 or 48 hour wait.

Here is what I always do when a guitar is shipped to me, and it is the
"safe" approach to take. I got these instructions from a noted luthier
located in Texas:

1. When you get the box, open the top of the box....but, let it set there
like that for 30 minutes or so.

2. next, place your hand inside of the box and on the outside of the case.
If the temperature of the guitar case is not at room temperature, the case
has to stay in the box until it reaches room temperature when you place
your hand on it. In such case, check again in another 30 -45 minutes.

3. when the outside of the case reaches room temperature, you can take the
case out of the shipping box. But, you can't open the case for at least
another 30 minutes. Carefully, and real slowly, just slowly open the case
only to where you can get 2 or 3 fingers in the case on the top of the
guitar. If the top feels cold, close the case and check it in an hour or
so. When the top feels about the same temperature as the room temperature,
you can fully open the case up and remove the guitar.

This is the safest approach.

Here is my secret:

I usually have any guitar that is shipped FedEx or UPS, shipped to the main
warehouse and have it held for customer pick up (any shipper can specify
this - and there is a section on the paperwork for this). That way, the
guitar will sit in a heated room for at least 24 hours and it will have
thawed out......and, it won't have been sitting in the back of a cold truck
before its delivered to you at home or the office.

I would recommend opening the guitar case up in front of the UPS or FedEx
guy when you pick it up from their location the next day. That way, you
have a witness if there is any checking, and the 24 hour waiting period has
expired (so that can never be an issue). If the instrument does have
checking on it when you open the box up, you've got a witness to show you
waited 24 hours, or whatever the waiting period is, and you will be in a
good position to deal with the deal if that becomes an issue.

Have fun.

The wait is part of the chase......part of the experience.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: lefty,