Many guitar players, like you, Danial, often wonder about the best way to showcase their beloved instruments at home. You’re not alone in wanting to display your vintage steel-bodied resonator guitar, and it’s a fantastic idea for several reasons. Let’s explore whether hanging your guitar on the wall is a safe option and how to do it properly.
Firstly, let’s acknowledge the sheer joy of seeing your prized guitar on display. Especially with a handsome instrument like a resonator guitar, it’s a visual treat! Vintage Nationals, with their classic designs and worn finishes, are undeniably cool pieces of art. Having your guitar visible, perhaps like my own vintage National hanging in my living room, brings a certain aesthetic pleasure to your space.
Alt text: Close-up of a vintage resonator guitar hanging on a wall, showcasing its metallic body and worn finish, ideal for a guitar wall mount.
Beyond aesthetics, having your guitar “Hang Guitar On Wall” offers a significant practical benefit: increased playability. When your guitar is easily accessible, hanging right there in your sightline, you’re far more likely to pick it up and play. For busy individuals, like creative professionals juggling day jobs, easy access is key to actually making music. It’s a simple life hack – reducing the barrier to playing makes you much more inclined to grab your guitar and strum a tune.
Now, for the slightly more cautious, luthier perspective. The absolute safest place for any guitar is, undoubtedly, inside its case, stored in a stable environment. In a case, your guitar is shielded from accidental bumps and environmental fluctuations. Floor stands, while convenient, present more risks. A stray pet tail, a distracted guest, or even a momentary lapse in your own awareness could lead to a knock-over, potentially resulting in headstock breaks, dents, or punctures. Therefore, mounting your guitar on the wall with a padded hanger is generally a safer alternative to a floor stand. It simply keeps your instrument out of harm’s way.
But to directly address your core question: will hanging your guitar by its headstock cause any setup changes or damage? The good news is, generally, no. Hanging a guitar by the headstock is widely accepted as a safe method. The downward pressure from the guitar’s weight is minimal compared to the immense tension exerted by the strings pulling in the opposite direction. However, ensure the guitar hanger you choose is appropriate. Check that the tuning pegs aren’t pressed against the hanger in a way that could cause damage. Critically, the hanger’s contact points should be coated in a soft, inert material that won’t react with or damage your guitar’s finish.
Alt text: A close-up view of a padded guitar hanger, illustrating the soft material designed to protect the guitar’s neck and finish when using a guitar wall mount.
Finally, we must consider the ever-present concern: humidity. Even for your steel-bodied resonator guitar, humidity control is important. Ideally, we’d all maintain a consistent 70 degrees Fahrenheit and 50 percent humidity in our homes, but this is often challenging. Fluctuations in temperature and humidity are common with changing weather. Investing in an inexpensive hygrometer is a wise move to monitor the conditions in your guitar room. You might need to use a humidifier, especially during winter months when heating systems dry out the air. Keep a close watch on both humidity and temperature levels. If you consistently encounter humidity-related issues, such as cracks in acoustic guitars (less of a concern for your resonator, but still worth noting for overall guitar care), then perhaps displaying a more robust instrument might be preferable.
Ultimately, a guitar that’s played and appreciated, even with a bit of dust now and then, is fulfilling its purpose. Hanging your guitar on the wall is a great way to encourage playing while showcasing its beauty, just remember to use a safe hanger and monitor humidity levels for optimal guitar care.
