Shipping form US

[Jonesy]

alright...

Would an acoustic guitar from the US suffer from any moisture or temperature problems if it was shipped to the UK?

[CaffeineJunkie]

if it swam, then maybe...


depends on the weather conditions, i'd say try and order it when you know that both countries have similar conditions, so that the guitar doesn't go through much change during the journey

[Searcher]

It depends.  

It depends on where the guitar was made, where it's been sitting, and how that compares to your own climate.  I'm pretty sure the trip over won't hurt it, though you might need to adjust the truss rod when it gets there.  And you will possibly have to watch the humidity and temperature, at least for a few weeks after you get it.

[PhilKing]

I ship backwards and forwards quite a bit and accoustics are a problem.  I have a Gibson J185 Centenial that hates the US but loves England.  In the New York area the humidity can be anywhere from 35-80%, whereas England is 55-85%.  My guitars like the England a lot more!  But if you are getting a guitar fom a low humidity area, it will move when you get it to England.

You don't say where in the US it is comming from and there is a huge difference from place to place.

The guitars can be adjusted, but you will need to watch it for a while.

[Joe Dorcia]

Hi,

I build acoustic guitars (still learning at MANCAT in manchester but the guitars that all the students make are stunning) and it really is a big issue. The standard buiilding humidity is 45% (+/- 5%) in the UK so the wood reamains stable, however, in very dry areas like texas where the humidity can drop below 30% the top could collapse and most of the wood will crack (of course this can be stopped with a humidity controller).

Find out where abouts the guitar is coming from and e-mail te company to ask what sort of humidity it is built in, then u will know. The trip should be ok if its in a hardcase.

When it gets here check the dome on the top and the back by placeing a ruler across the back/ top from side to side (not top to botom). All acoustic tops and backs have a curve to stop 'wolf' notes, and if it is more than 3-5mm (from side to centre) on the top then it has been made in a dryer climate, if it is flat (very little curve 0-1mm) then it has been made in a very wet environment (which would be worrying if it is wetter than bloody UK).

Hope all this helps

Joe

[mikeluke]

Guys - just to say "thanks" and that I've really learnt something from these comments!