Playing outside in the cold?

[sjhoffma]

So I know any form of extreme temperature is a guitars worst enemy, however each year my band plays on a float in the Magic Hat Mardi Gras Parade, which goes down Church St, in Burlington VT, and lasts all of 30 minutes to an hour.  
 
My question is, how horrible would it be for my guitar to be outside in cold temperature for about an hours time. It will be the only time I've taken it outside of a well heated, well humidified environment, but will the short span of the parade cause any irreversible harm to my baby?  
 
Do you think it will be fine for such a short period or should I play a guitar I think lesser of just in case?

[811952]

My recommendation (and I'm sure others will disagree vociferously) is to let the instrument acclimate to that temperature while still in the case, otherwise it'll adjust too quickly and you'll get finish-checking (cracking) and it won't stay in tune.
 
John

[keith_h]

I agree with John on the slow acclimation. It needs to be done on both ends. Getting used to the cold and then again when taken inside. Personally I would not use one of my Alembics in such a situation but I would do the same slow acclimation for the bass I would use.  
 
Sam,  
Just one question. How do you expect to use your fingers when they will be frozen stiff? :-)  
 
Keith

[sjhoffma]

Keith, Mardi Gras is an early drinking holiday in Burlington. By the time the float takes off I wont be able to feel any cold.  ;-)

[pauldo]

John and Keith got it. . .  a slow normalization to and fro from cold to warm temperatures would be the safest.
 
However if you have something that you could use other than an Alembic - I would certainly go with that option.

[terryc]

get a parker fly or some other graphite composite instrument..they don't move at all in the cold or heat except at the most extremes