Case Or Stand?

Log Out | Topics | Search Moderators | Edit Profile

Author Message   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 01-2005 Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 9:25 am:    If you have a late seventies axe that never leaves the house yet gets played regularly, is it best for the guitar to be on a stand or in its case when it comes to neck strain, warping etc?   Padraic Username: Padraic Registered: 08-2004 Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 4:31 pm:    Stands have safety issues (my Ibanez 2402 SG doubleneck was decapitated by my 3 year old when on a stand some years ago), and can leave unsightly marks where they contact your guitar. For me, it's a case every time for valuable/prized/loved guitars. Just my 2P By the way, the 2402 now has a new neck (thanks Geoff!)   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 02-2005 Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 4:56 pm:    There is no other answer here than "case". Period. It's a no-brainer, and for many many reasons.   Brentm Username: Brentm Registered: 03-2005 Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 8:45 pm:    I have a couple of wall hangers.. No kids... Although I do case them when I don't play them for more than 24 hours, I don't see the harm in letting them hang on the wall. I thought about all the scenarios... earthquakes, etc... I usually case them after 24 hours.. and after a few beers, even casing them is dangerous..   Pitviper Username: Pitviper Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 10:09 pm:    The word "Wallhangers" to me means cheap, who cares if they break, instruments. There is little doubt that a case is preferred to anything else. I would never, ever hang any of my guitars. The key words here have been said already...if it's loved, prized and/or valuable...don't do it.   Brentm Username: Brentm Registered: 03-2005 Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 1:18 am:    Wall hangers.. A noun. The brand is "String Sling" and they're drilled into studs of my wall. I have a couple of them. I use them to keep my guitars up and away while I play one. Sorry, didn't mean the adjective version of wallhanger.   Pitviper Username: Pitviper Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 5:57 am:    Oh I know...I was just using a fun "play-on" words thingy..I just cringe when I see classic guitars hanging for days, sometimes months or more on end. You have to assume the weight of the guitar bearing just under your headstock on your string sling can't be good for them...dunno if anyone has any horror stories, could be wrong, but there has got to be some type of damage either incurred over time, or just waiting to happen. It sure looks cool though   Ibanezfreak1960 Username: Ibanezfreak1960 Registered: 03-2004 Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 6:38 am:    It's a whole different ballgame when you have kids!   Flatbag Username: Flatbag Registered: 09-2004 Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 10:00 am:    So is there any real chance of any problems other than risk of being knocked down or unsightly marks? Like structural problems or something? I hate packing them away in cases, I find I practice and play a lot more now that I've got them out on stands, hope I'm not shortening their life expectancies in the process.   Brentm Username: Brentm Registered: 03-2005 Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 11:04 am:    To be honest... my main player guitar is the one I don't mind getting a little banged up. I bought it with a few chips, nicks and scratches... Obviously, if the headstock broke off, I'd be heart broken... as I love the guitar, but... it's still too much effort and I play it too often to case it when not in use. The only bad thing I've heard about stands (besides tipping), is that black rubber foam crap fusing to the (neck/body) guitar itself over a period of time. Obviously, the ALWAYS CASE argument holds water. Just as any 'best practice'....   Pitviper Username: Pitviper Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 5:40 pm:    Flatbag, I have a form fitting, soft cotton terri cloth cover for my stands. Mainly because both sides are metal...but it also serves as an insulator between the stand and guitar. Structual problems..doubtful..I don't see any problems other than kids, guests, sunlight, temp and dust.   Pitviper Username: Pitviper Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 5:43 pm:    Oh the only other problem I've heard of with stands are people looking thru the windows when your not there and seeing your "stuff" on display. I've had buddies lose a guitar or two over the years that way. So location, location..location.   Flatbag Username: Flatbag Registered: 09-2004 Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 9:06 pm:    Yeah that's what I thought, my main fear is the 'on display to the wrong people' thing. Not really in a position where they can be seen through a window from the street, so they should be safe. Looks like a vote for stands from me then.   Mr_roadstar Username: Mr_roadstar Registered: 06-2002 Posted on Friday, September 02, 2005 - 1:27 am:    A stand places the guitar at ground level where foot traffic can be a problem. Case storage is probably best if the case can be stowed away in a safe place. For easy access, hang guitars up off the floor and out of harm's way. Any concerns of damage from this are unfounded. Compared to the 100+ pounds of string tension pulling the headstock toward the body, the weight of the guitar is insignificant. Guitars hang in stores for long periods (sometimes years) without damage. Steve   Dave_g Username: Dave_g Registered: 01-2002 Posted on Friday, September 02, 2005 - 12:39 pm:    Steve, you make a great point, my kids were always tripping over the stands (the Legs of the stand extend beyond the guitar so the little ones were constantly knocking my guitars over. Fortunately for me the only damage I ever suffered in 15 years was a MINT (I bought it from the factory when it closed) Kramer American. My 5 year old kid put a 1" gash into one of the nicest candy apple red metal flake finishes I ever saw-the guitar was a neck thru and did not sustain any structural damage, and the kid is now 6 foot tall and in high school. I have all my guitars cased, but the ones that are in the current rotation are on wall hooks far from harms way....   Billy_porter Username: Billy_porter Registered: 03-2005 Posted on Friday, September 02, 2005 - 4:01 pm:    I keep my Blazer on a stand. It doesn't matter if it gets knocked over, it'll just add a bit more character. My Gibson LP lives in its case as we all know what happens when they get knocked over. My next guitar will be a strat and I'll not worry if it gets knocked over either. Me Fender ( and his copiers) knew what he was doing when he designed it to lie flat.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 02-2005 Posted on Friday, September 02, 2005 - 7:07 pm:    The constant change of temperature and humidity will severely affect an "uncased" guitar. Over time. No way around it. Finish cracks, binding failures, neck warpage etc. via temperature/humidity changes. Leave your guitar in it's case... and they sell guitar humidifiers to make sure it's at the proper humidity inside the case as well.   Mr_roadstar Username: Mr_roadstar Registered: 06-2002 Posted on Friday, September 02, 2005 - 7:30 pm:    I agree to a point. If the guitar is in a controlled environment (indoors), it's not going to be subjected to extremes of temperature and humidity. It depends a lot on your location. I've seen more damage done by those case humidifiers than not. Acoustics rot if their not kept dry. Hardware corrodes too. Steve   Pitviper Username: Pitviper Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Saturday, September 03, 2005 - 5:46 pm:    Yeah but those are other peoples guitars Roadstar...   Mr_roadstar Username: Mr_roadstar Registered: 06-2002 Posted on Sunday, September 04, 2005 - 7:19 pm:    I missed the joke.   Pitviper Username: Pitviper Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Sunday, September 04, 2005 - 8:32 pm:    Well you said "Guitars hang in stores for long periods (sometimes years) without damage" Thus: "Yeah but those are other peoples guitars Roadstar" Really the only reason they hang in stores is for easy axcess and for display to customers..if not...they would all be in cases no doubt. As far as no damage...I think the jurys still out on that one. I'll back off the sarcasm so as not to offend ya.   Snowjays Username: Snowjays Registered: 09-2004 Posted on Monday, September 05, 2005 - 12:41 am:    Sometimes the worst place for a guitar is to be stored in it case. Usually the case is stored in the closet, and that is one place where temperature variations are the greatest. We've seen what sort of damage can occur to plastics through heat. Guitars have been damaged in my place on stands more often than most, and when the guitar is being packed/unpacked from the case. Wall hangers are the best option. They have minimum contact with the guitar but over time do cause a bit of wear on the neck side (underside) of the headstock. Placement is all important. Never have the rack mounted to the exterior wall of your house because of heat/cold, and have good curtains to block out any sunlight. The larger the room the more even the humidity(depending where you live), and if you are expecting lengthy rain peroids, then you would consider packing them away for a few days.   Mr_roadstar Username: Mr_roadstar Registered: 06-2002 Posted on Monday, September 05, 2005 - 3:05 pm:    Before losing my studio space, I had ALL of MY guitars hanging on the wall. Steve   Markmann Username: Markmann Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Tuesday, September 06, 2005 - 7:57 am:    I've had my two main players sitting on stands for 20 years (no kids) and have had no problems. One is an acoustic and the other is a solid body electric, both are in the 40 year old range. I have three reasons for leaving them out: 1. I play more when I see the guitar sitting there on the stand and anything that's condusive to playing is a good thing. Also, if I have a good musical thought I can simply grab the guitar and play. 2. It's a hastle taking guitars in and out of the case constantly... if I had the space I'd keep them all out. 3. Guitars are a joy to look at and I treat them like art. They look cool sitting on a stand or hanging on a wall.   Fg100 Username: Fg100 Registered: 03-2004 Posted on Tuesday, September 06, 2005 - 7:59 am:    I left mine in their cases inside the closet for the summer... I went away for a month. When I came back, I unpacked and though there was no damage I could feel the humidity ... on the strings in particular. When I paked them the weather was dry...   Billy_porter Username: Billy_porter Registered: 03-2005 Posted on Tuesday, September 06, 2005 - 2:47 pm:    I agree with Markmann but there is a downside……………… Before the kids came along I kept mine on stands and hanging in the small bedroom ready to play at anytime. Now I have no spare rooms so I keep my Blazer on the stand and my Gibson LP in its case and my acoustic on top of the wardrobe. I've never had any problems with humidity even in good old rainy blighty But the Ibanez now gets played by my 12year old son who sweats all over the strings leaving residue on them and it’s now impossible to get good intonation without putting new strings on (this ends at Xmas when he gets his own – probably a Squire Strat). The good news is that I now play the Gibson daily and have fallen back in love with Les Pauls. No myriad of switch options and twemelo. Just 2 sounds (don’t count both Pus on) and the amp - brill   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 01-2005 Posted on Tuesday, September 06, 2005 - 4:34 pm:    Alright, alright! I've been stowing it, baggin' it, displaying it then stowing it again! I'm so confused, I think I'll just wear it 24/7 ;^/   Strings Username: Strings Registered: 01-2005 Posted on Tuesday, September 06, 2005 - 4:38 pm:    Oh, and BP, what is a Gibson LP?!   Pitviper Username: Pitviper Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Tuesday, September 06, 2005 - 4:42 pm:    lol...don't be confused...I think the overall thought here is this...actually any way you want to keep your guitars is up to you.,all ways described here, if done with a little care and foresight should be just fine. Too much of any one thing might lead to problems down the road, so in the end...store/use/play your guitars the way you want to and in the mannor that makes you happy.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 02-2005 Posted on Tuesday, September 06, 2005 - 5:51 pm:    Folks... the problem is the closet storage.... not the case. Probably, to get the definitive answer to this question in this thread is to ask the folks who make them. They must know the best way to go. The case seems best for lots of reasons, just don't store it in a closet, or a refigerator etc. etc. It's not the case that's a problem It's where you store it once it's in the case. I'm gonna search the net for "proper guitar storage" or sumpin' like dat. If I find it, I will cut and paste it here.   Bobzilla Username: Bobzilla Registered: 02-2005 Posted on Tuesday, September 06, 2005 - 5:57 pm:    Here's what I found on the net........ cut and pasted............. Environmental Concerns and Storage Your guitar, electric or acoustic, is made of wood. Wood is a porous substance that is is easily affected by temperature and humidity. The best humidity for your guitar is approximately 45-55 percent and the best temperature is between 72-77 degrees Fahrenheit. A drastic change in temperature or exposure to cold can cause small cracks in the finish. As humidity increases, the moisture content of wood increases, causing it to swell. This may warp the neck of your guitar and effect tuning. Don't worry a gradual increase in humidity won’t generally do permanent damage to your guitar. In fact even if the neck is severely effected, there is still hope. A thin metal rod runs up the next of most modern era guitars. A professional repairman can adjust the "thrust rod" until the neck is sound. The best place to store your guitar is in its case. If you feel your guitar is at risk due to temperature or humidity related danger. We suggest two products: A common household humidifier to maintain constant humidity if necessary or a "damp it", pictured below. A "damp it" releases moisture into the body of an acoustic guitar. Heat dries out a guitar. This occurs especially when a guitar is exposed to home baseboard heating during winter months . A "damp it" will replenish the lost water content due to heat exposure. Notice line one of paragraph two.   Brentm Username: Brentm Registered: 03-2005 Posted on Tuesday, September 06, 2005 - 7:58 pm:    My "thrust rod" does not need an adjustment, it is just fine thank you! I love speel chekers.

Add Your Message Here Post: -Color- Black Red Green Blue Yellow Purple Orange Cyan Gray White -Font- Arial Courier Symbol Times Verdana -Size- Smallest (-2) Small (-1) Normal Large (+1) Largest (+2) Enter Item number: Username: Posting Information: This is a private posting area. Only registered users and moderators may post messages here. Password: Options: Post as "Anonymous" Enable HTML code in message Automatically activate URLs in message Action: