Imagine this: a prized guitar, victim to a freak accident involving falling antlers. Or picture another, warped from prolonged exposure to underfloor heating. These are not scenes from a guitar player’s nightmare, but real incidents recounted by seasoned luthiers. While humorous in retrospect, these tales underscore a crucial point: how you store your guitar significantly impacts its lifespan and playability.
Whether you own a single cherished instrument or a growing collection, understanding proper guitar storage is paramount. It’s not just about tucking your guitar away; it’s about creating an environment that preserves its structural integrity, tonal quality, and overall value. From choosing the right case to considering room humidity, this guide will walk you through the essential aspects of storing your guitar, ensuring it remains in perfect harmony, ready whenever inspiration strikes. Let’s explore the best methods to keep your guitars safe, secure, and sounding their best.
Cases: The Fortress for Your Guitar
When it comes to safeguarding your guitar, nothing beats a high-quality hardshell case. Think of it as a personal vault for your instrument, offering robust protection against physical trauma and environmental fluctuations. While gig bags and flimsy chipboard cases offer minimal defense, a sturdy hardshell case acts as a shock absorber against bumps, drops, and impacts – even stray antlers as our opening story illustrates.
For those with multiple guitars, resist the urge to stack cased instruments atop each other. Instead, store them vertically, side-by-side, much like books on a shelf. This prevents accidental toppling and potential damage. Consider investing in a specialized guitar case rack like the String Swing CC29 Folding Hardwood Guitar Case Rack. These racks are designed to securely hold cases upright, whether they’re empty or housing your precious guitars. If horizontal storage is preferred, utilize heavy-duty shelving, ensuring the shelves can bear the weight – a safe estimate is 12–15 pounds per guitar and case.
However, a case alone isn’t a complete solution. Even within the confines of a case, your guitar isn’t immune to harm. One often-overlooked threat is string tension. Richard Hoover, the esteemed founding luthier of Santa Cruz Guitars, explains the insidious effects of constant string tension: “As the action rises [due to string tension], the change in your instrument’s geometry decreases the guitar’s resistance to the string pull and in turn increases the forward movement of the neck… This bulge in the top will raise the strings even higher, which will further accelerate the now well-established—and possibly fatal—distortion of the whole instrument.”
To mitigate this risk, especially for guitars in long-term storage, detuning your strings is advisable. For short periods (weeks to months), slacken strings by a half to whole step. For extended storage, loosen them further, just enough to keep the nut, saddle, and bridge pins (or floating bridge on archtops) in place. Hoover also recommends a crucial step for guitars with single-acting truss rods: “When storing a detuned guitar with a single-acting rod for a long time, it is advisable to put the truss rod in a neutral position, which will make adjustment after retuning a sure thing.”
Climate control within the case is equally vital. Avoid storing cases against external walls, in attics, or near heat sources, as these locations are prone to temperature and humidity extremes. Relative humidity is a critical factor for wooden instruments. Some premium cases, like certain Ameritage models, come equipped with built-in humidifiers and hygrometers to monitor and regulate internal conditions. For a more accessible solution, consider D’Addario’s Humiditrak. This compact device, placed inside your case, uses a Bluetooth sensor to transmit humidity and temperature data to a smartphone app, providing real-time monitoring and push notifications if conditions stray outside optimal ranges.
Tripod stands like the Hercules GS414B will give you both peace of mind and easy access to your guitars.
Soundhole humidifiers, such as the Kyser Lifeguard, are another effective way to maintain humidity within a case. However, vigilance is key. While crucial for preventing dryness, over-humidification can be equally detrimental. Excess moisture can lead to black mold growth inside the guitar and even structural damage. Richard Johnston, co-founder of Gryphon Stringed Instruments, recounts a cautionary tale: a pristine vintage D-18 damaged by a leaking soundhole humidifier. The slow leak caused water damage through the guitar’s back, devastating the finish and stain, resulting in a staggering $20,000 devaluation.
For guitarists managing multiple instruments, individual case humidification can be time-consuming. A practical alternative is to humidify the entire room where your guitars are stored. A room humidifier can effectively regulate humidity levels for a collection. For a more budget-friendly approach, consider placing cased guitars in a closet with a bowl of water – a simple yet surprisingly effective method. For serious collectors, a whole-house humidifier integrated with your HVAC system offers the most reliable and hassle-free climate control. Paul Heumiller, owner of Dream Guitars, advocates for this approach, noting its cost-effectiveness and health benefits, especially evaporative steam humidifiers which minimize mold risks.
Floor Stands: Easy Access and Display
Floor stands offer a convenient and accessible way to store and display your guitars. They strike a balance between protection and immediate playability, allowing you to grab your instrument whenever inspiration strikes. Available in various designs, from basic A-frames to robust tripods and space-saving multi-stands, floor stands cater to different needs and preferences.
Affordable A-frame stands, like the Top Stage Pro Universals, are compact, foldable, and budget-friendly, making them ideal for portability and players on a budget. However, their simplicity comes with a trade-off: they are less stable and non-adjustable, increasing the risk of a guitar being knocked over. For enhanced security in an A-frame design, consider models like the On-Stage Professional Flip It, which features an adjustable neck support and a locking top yoke to hold the guitar firmly in place.
Tripod stands generally offer superior stability and security. Inexpensive options like the On Stage XCG4 provide good value, while premium models like the Ultimate Support GS1000 or Hercules Stands GS414B offer enhanced features like self-closing neck yokes, providing both security and effortless access. Richard Johnston of Gryphon Stringed Instruments favors Hamilton tripod stands, praising their robust design: “Our favorites [at Gryphon] are the Hamilton hangers, which have been around forever…the guitar is hanging in the stand [suspended from its neck] and the weight is aimed at the center of the stand’s three legs, rather than moving out. Sometimes I do a test where I’ll put a guitar in a Hamilton stand on the floor and just bat it about. It’s amazing—those things can hop around like a spider and the guitar is still hanging on the stand.”
For guitarists with multiple instruments and limited space, multi-guitar stands and racks are excellent solutions. Gator Frameworks offers tripod-style stands for two or three guitars at an economical price point. Hercules Stands also provides double and triple versions of their popular GS414B stand, offering premium features in multi-instrument configurations. Guitar racks, like Hercules’ GS523B and GS525B, minimize footprint by Storing Guitars side-by-side, ideal for tight spaces. However, side-loading racks can be less visually appealing for displaying instruments compared to stands that present guitars facing forward.
When choosing any floor stand or rack, always verify that the contact points are finish-safe, especially for guitars with nitrocellulose lacquer finishes. Paul Heumiller of Dream Guitars cautions against cheap stands, stating, “I have seen cheap stands bubble the nitro finish on a guitar neck or body.” Even with reputable stands, consider adding soft cotton covers to contact points for extra protection. Furthermore, be mindful of off-gassing from new synthetic materials. Johnston advises, “When a [synthetic] material is new, the plasticizer…is a solvent, and that solvent can potentially be harmful to lacquer.” Regularly remove your guitar from a new stand to minimize potential finish reactions.
Wall Hangers: Saving Space and Showing Off
Wall hangers like the String Swing Guitar Keeper protect your guitar from ground-level hazards while providing an attractive storage option.
Wall hangers are a superb choice for elevating your guitars, both literally and figuratively. They offer a space-saving storage solution, particularly beneficial in homes with limited floor area. More importantly, wall hangers lift your instruments out of reach of ground-level hazards like pets and small children, preventing accidental bumps or curious explorations that could lead to damage. As the author humorously notes, “If you’ve ever struggled to remove the miscellaneous items that a toddler has deposited into your archtop guitar via its f-holes…then you know what I mean.”
Beyond practicality, wall hangers transform guitars into works of art. As Paul Heumiller aptly states, “Guitars make beautiful wall art. I have them hanging in most rooms in my cabin.” A simple wall hanger, like the String Swing Guitar Keeper, is an affordable and effective way to achieve this, offering both security and aesthetic appeal. String Swing also offers multi-guitar versions for displaying a collection on the wall.
Proper installation is crucial for wall hangers. They must be securely mounted into a wall stud for maximum support. If studs aren’t accessible, plastic toggles in drywall or appropriate masonry screws for brick or concrete walls can be used. However, if you lack experience with wall mounting, it’s wise to seek professional help. Richard Johnston emphasizes the importance of correct installation: “A person who doesn’t understand how a molly bolt [plastic toggle] expands…might drill too big of a hole…You don’t want your first installation of a drywall mount to be for your D-45—and have it come crashing down.”
Creative and Advanced Storage Solutions
For those seeking ultimate protection and display, or needing to think outside the box, several creative and advanced guitar storage solutions exist.
High-end guitar cabinets and display cases, like those from American Music Furniture and Acoustic Remedy, offer museum-quality storage. These custom-built wooden cabinets, often featuring tempered glass doors, humidity control, LED lighting, and storage drawers, provide a luxurious and protective environment for prized instruments. While representing a significant investment, starting at $1,850 and reaching upwards of $12,500, they are the gold standard in guitar preservation and presentation.
Take a Stand offers elegant, sculptural stands made from cherry, walnut, curly maple, and other solid hardwoods that are customizable with inlay and binding options.
For a resourceful and budget-conscious approach to cabinet storage, consider repurposing old entertainment centers. Luthier Bryan Galloup suggests this clever DIY solution: “The entertainment centers we all had in the 1980s are no longer in fashion, so they are readily available for free…You can simply add some seals around the doors and install simple humidity systems and dividers. This is a great, inexpensive option, and it’s reusing something that might otherwise wind up in a landfill.”
For guitarists concerned about security and fire protection, a safe offers robust protection. Used rifle safes, often found on sites like Craigslist, can be repurposed to store several guitars in their cases, providing a secure and fire-resistant vault. For extreme discretion, some individuals have even resorted to building hidden guitar storage within their homes, such as concealed compartments behind fake walls in closets.
However, Johnston raises a critical point about overly secure or concealed storage: accessibility. “I think you’re really limiting the amount of time you will actually play your guitars if it takes you ten minutes to get one out and in tune…Whereas if your guitars are out and ready, you can just sit down, work through a couple songs, and have some fun in those ten minutes.” The most effective storage solution balances security and preservation with ease of access, encouraging frequent playing and enjoyment of your instruments.
Happy Guitars, Happy Guitarists
Regardless of your chosen method – be it a simple case, an elegant wall hanger, or a custom cabinet – remember that maintaining a stable, climate-controlled environment is paramount for guitar preservation. Aim for conditions comfortable for both you and your guitars: temperatures in the low to mid-70s Fahrenheit and relative humidity between 40–60 percent. Invest in a reliable thermometer/hygrometer to monitor these conditions, and adjust your storage approach as needed. By prioritizing proper storage, you ensure your guitars remain happy, healthy, and ready to make music for years to come, bringing joy to both you and your listeners.
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