Storing Guitars on the Wall

AudioAUnderdog · 11-19-2009, 10:57 AM

I just finished revamping my room (it had basically been the same since I was six) and I'm thinking about buying some wall hangers for my guitars and putting a few of them on display. My only concern is how that will effect the life of the strings. Obviously, leaving them up there will cause the strings to get dusty and go dead quicker. Would wiping the strings down everyday keep the strings as fresh as they'd be if the guitar were stored in a case? For those of you who keep your guitars up on the wall, what do you do?

**tenwatt** · 11-19-2009, 11:04 AM

I play my guitars daily. That probably knocks some of the dust down. It's rare that I wipe them down after playing and I only clean them when I change the strings (maybe monthly) or if I see an obvious need for cleaning (smudges, dust, etc.). I've never seen that leaving them out has any adverse effect. I've stored my PRS and my SG like this for about 15 years and I've never had a problem with them.

**The wirerat** · 11-19-2009, 12:06 PM

My dad stores his six and twelve string like that, and never had an issue as far as string life goes. Obviously, the more you play, the less the dust and crap gets on the strings, but I would tend to think it wouldn't cause much of an issue.

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 11-19-2009, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The wirerat

My dad stores his six and twelve string like that, and never had an issue as far as string life goes. Obviously, the more you play, the less the dust and crap gets on the strings, but I would tend to think it wouldn't cause much of an issue.

I have a 9 guitar stand like that. Never had an issue with string life. Fear of earthquakes on the other hand...

jeepnstein · 11-19-2009, 02:37 PM

I've seen some guitars stored like that literally for years on end in a local music store. No problem except they get dirty after a decade or so. I'm thinking maybe a couple of them might be priced a wee bit on the high side.

alexanderthegr8 · 11-19-2009, 02:53 PM

The thing I didn't like about the wallhanger style, was that I put them in an improper place and it ripped a pretty little hole in my wall.

gwDiesel · 11-19-2009, 03:04 PM

made my own, got 4 of them up on the wall.. better looking than any art you can buy!

Cam42 · 11-19-2009, 03:26 PM

I'd do this, but my friend had his up, and his mom knocked it down, breaking one of the tone knobs off.

1/2-Fast Player · 11-20-2009, 12:50 PM

My only worry might be the humidity, or lack thereof, in the room. Storing the guitars in too dry a room can cause some serious damage. If you keep your guitars in a case, it's easy to add a small humidifier if necessary.

Before you hang your guitars, you might want to watch a hygrometer in the room for a few days and be sure the humidity is in the range of 40% to 60%. You can get an inexpensive electronic hygrometer at WalMart for just a few bucks. I keep one in the room where my guitars live, and I have one in each guitar's case as well.

AudioAUnderdog · 11-20-2009, 03:50 PM

I live in Houston, it never gets below 40% humidity inside or out.

And there's not even a remote change of an earthquake, so no worries there. Actually, they'll be safer up on the wall since flooding is the only real threat we have.

Well thanks for the replies everyone. I think I'm definately going to hang at least a few on the wall without worrying about it. I'll just dust them off as needed, and since I play them all the time I don't think that they'll get very dirty even without dusting.

**beanbag** · 11-20-2009, 06:46 PM

watch out when you hang guitars on the wall. I can't speak to the construction of electrics or steel-strings, but on classical guitars, the joint where the headstock and neck meet happens to be the weakest point. if you hang a guitar from there, you're adding stress and pressure to the weakest spot. you might want to take that into consideration.

**Rainer.** · 11-20-2009, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beanbag

watch out when you hang guitars on the wall. I can't speak to the construction of electrics or steel-strings, but on classical guitars, the joint where the headstock and neck meet happens to be the weakest point. if you hang a guitar from there, you're adding stress and pressure to the weakest spot. you might want to take that into consideration.

Generally not the case with most steel stringers and electrics.

**MtlMom** · 11-20-2009, 07:34 PM

Pianos ideally should be placed against an interior wall rather than an exterior wall because of temperature changes and humidity, and the effect on the wood. I would imagine this would be good advice for guitars as well. Just a thought.

mulletman · 11-20-2009, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rainer.

Generally not the case with most steel stringers and electrics.

However... that weak spot is definitely present with many Gibson products. The SG's and especially Flying V's are famous for cracking there....

I've been hanging my guitars on the wall for more than a year. I'm loving it.... accessible, out of the way, and look cool too.

**Rainer.** · 11-20-2009, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Phantom Mullet

However... that weak spot is definitely present with many Gibson products. The SG's and especially Flying V's are famous for cracking there....

Usually because of dropping or other violent trauma, not generally from hanging.

I've had to send my Les Paul to the shop for a crack right there, too, from a nasty drop.