Aren’t we want to take care of our guitars? We do, right? But, in between performance or practice sessions, guitars remain idle for a considerable time. That time, usually, we store it in a case or a closet. Many of us don’t know how to store guitar properly or don’t put much importance on storing guitars. Hence guitars often get damaged and become unplayable. Legendary guitarists protect their guitars, and they showcase them for decades; those guitars remain not only as relics but still sound anew!
What’s the secret? They store guitars as they should be. So, how to properly store a guitar?
So, in this post, I will provide all the details and step-by-step guides on how to store a guitar; read through, and by the end, you will learn how to store a guitar properly.
How To Store Guitar?
Guitar storage can be a bit tricky. The slightest ignorance may lead to permanent damage. So, how to store a guitar properly and avert damage? So, here are 5 simple and easy–to–follow tips to help you store guitars the right way:
- Store the guitar in a quality hardshell case. Hardshell cases provide maximum protection among all storage options.
- Clean the guitar before storing it. Oil and dirt from our fingers accumulate over time while we play the guitar, and it’s never a good idea to store the guitar with dirt on it.
- Ensure the guitar is stored in a clean place, away from dust or other pollutants, so that you can protect it.
- Store it at a safe humidity level. Extreme humidity can lead the guitar to damage like fret buzz and cracking. So, it is better to purchase the best humidifier for the Guitar Room.
- Take it out periodically and play it. Even if you are planning to store it for the long term, often bring it out and will keep it sounding at its best.
Guitar Storage Ideas
1. Guitar Case:
Cases are the best and the easiest way to store guitars, and I always recommend using the best hard case. Choosing a soft case or bag would keep the dust away, but bumps and dings can still damage the guitar, especially if we travel with a guitar. Therefore, a hard case is the safest option.
Moreover, they are strong enough to protect the guitar from bumps and dings. Hard shell cases also protect your guitar from humidity or temperature, so your guitar remains safe.
2. Floor Stands or Racks:
Floor stands or racks are the easy, most available, and cheap solution to our storing guitar problem. There’s a lot of variety available, metal or wooden frames, tripod-stand, racks, etc. Moreover, floor racks or frames are the best choices for storing multiple guitars simultaneously, like three to five guitars easily.
On top of it, it allows you to move the guitars quickly, is compact in shape, doesn’t take up a lot of space, and is portable. Besides, it’s a convenient storing method for regular users, just take the guitar from the rack or the stand and put it back without any trouble.
3. Storage cabinet:
This is one of the fanciest and most expensive ways to store a guitar. Storage cabinets may cost a little, but the best part of a storage cabinet is that it saves our guitar from dirt, humidity, and temperature swings, which are what we want while storing a guitar.
Moreover, it works like a case for the guitar and is suitable for long-term storage options. Besides, this kind of cabinet has a lot of variety, and you can choose according to your need.
Caution: Avoid stacking or laying flat the guitar cases, as the guitars can be damaged when storing multiple guitars. It’s best to keep them vertically; put them on their sides if you can’t.
4. Wall Mount:
Some of us like to put the guitar on the wall, which gives easy access to the guitar, and installing a hook on the wall or buying a wall hanger can be the best choice. Going for a wall hook would be wise if it’s about storing a single guitar. On the other hand, a wall hanger can serve best in the case of multiple guitars.
But for this storing solution, we need to focus on some details. Ensure that all guitar contact points are soft for the wall hook to prevent damage. Conversely, for the wall hanger, you need to be very cautious while installing it, like attaching the screws ideally so it can hold the guitar.
5. Install A Strong Shelf:
If you want a shelf for guitar cases, installing a heavy-duty shelf is the way to go. It means you don’t store bare guitars in this; you store guitars with the cases. It’s an effective way to store the guitars for so long without causing any damage.
While choosing a strong shelf, ensure that it has enough length to accommodate the guitars and is labeled as heavy-duty. Also, follow the manufacturer’s instructions when installing the shelving unit on the wall.
Caution: Avoid stacking or flattening the guitar cases, as the guitars can be damaged. The best way to place them horizontally is to lay them out in rows on their sides.
Among these five best storage options, the guitar case is my pick, as it is so effective at preventing dust and damage, and the guitar stored in it provides optimum performance even after long-term storage
How To Store An Electric Guitar?
The time and effort you spend maintaining your electric guitar will pay off in the long run. As a bonus, it extends the life of the guitar. So, knowing how to store a guitar, especially an electric guitar, is essential. Follow these below steps to store an electric guitar properly.
Step 1: First and foremost, invest in a good guitar case. A hardshell case will provide maximum protection and save the guitar from getting damaged.
Step 2: Properly Clean the fretboard as well as the strings before putting the guitar into the case.
Step 3: Don’t let the guitar sit in extreme temperatures or humid conditions. Guitar’s neck can become misaligned due to high temperatures. On the other hand, a moisture-filled atmosphere may damage the wood.
Step 4: Check the strings’ tension before storing them in a guitar case. Lose string tension will result in severe neck damage to the guitar.
Step 5: Even when the guitar is stored in a hard case, keep it away from dust. Dust can affect both the guitar’s tone and aesthetics.
If you want to know more about how to store an electric guitar read this article.
How To Store Guitars In Cases?
Storing a guitar in a guitar case is one of the most effective ways to protect it, as it protects the guitar from damage. Here are some tips for storing the guitar in a guitar case.
- Ensure that the guitar case is stored upright at all times.
- If you can’t keep the guitar upright, keep the guitar case in a lateral position. Make sure the neck or headstock is not in contact with the ground.
- While storing multiple guitars, ensure you don’t stack one above another.
- Keep it away from the outside wall so that climate change or temperature has less or no impact on your guitar.
- If your guitar has vibrato, carefully detach it before storing it.
- If you’re storing the guitar in a cold climate, using a guitar humidifier effectively balances the humidity level.
How To Store Guitars In A Small Room?
Sometimes we just don’t have enough space to store our guitars. What to do, then? Here are some ideas on how to store guitars in a small room:
1. Store the guitar vertically. Consider wall mounting, so it doesn’t take up any floor space; it is safer and more cost-effective. You can install a wall hook or purchase a wall hanger.
2. Customizing the closet is also an effective way. So many guitarists don’t feel comfortable hanging their guitars. By modifying its shelves, you can easily convert a basic wardrobe cabinet into a guitar cabinet. But how to do it? Just buy some cork sheets and cut them according to the cabinet size. Put it inside the cabin with adhesive as padding.
3. Store the guitar case under the bed. Alternatively, consider stacking the guitar case under the bed. Store your guitar only if you don’t have any other choice. Ensure the guitar is wrapped in a guitar case and the stacking is clean and dry.
How To Store Guitar For Long Term?
One of the best ways to store a guitar for the long term is to store the guitar in a quality hardshell case like (Cordoba HumiCase Protege Thin Body Classical/Flamenco Humidified Guitar Case or another hard guitar case name). It won’t let dust enter the subject; most importantly, temperature and humidity changes won’t affect the guitar. But remember to put the case vertically, so the guitar remains in an upright position.
A storage cabinet is another effective way to store a guitar for the long term. Mostly, they come with glasses so the guitar would be extra secure from dust or bumps and dings. On top of it, it’ll protect the guitar from temperature change or humidity issues.
How To Hang Up A Guitar?
Hanging a guitar on the wall can save space and make it easily accessible. It has an additional advantage; it looks like a guitar display in the room and might encourage you to practice. Follow the below procedure to hang up a guitar on the wall:
Step 1: Select the spot on the wall to mount. Place the guitar in an area without being knocked or exposed to direct sunlight. Also, make sure the guitar has plenty of room around it.
Step 2: Choose a height and position that works for you. Measure the length of the guitar with measurement tape and mark the spot of each screw according to your wall hook or hanger. Also, keep it at a height so that it’s easily accessible.
Step 3: It’s time to drill the holes. The ideal approach is to use a tiny drill bit, as the holes or the screws aren’t too big typically. Now just follow the screw marks and drill according to your screw size.
Step 4: Attach the hook or the hanger to the wall. Place a screw in every one of the holes you’ve drilled, and drive the screws properly with a screwdriver. Lastly, give it a try by putting a guitar on it and ensure the setup is strong enough to hold the guitar.
How To Store Guitar: Things To Consider
1. Make sure the humidity level remains between 45-55%. If the humidity is high, it may cause the guitar to warp, while if the humidity is low, it may crack. So, what to do? Just get yourself a humidity monitor, and you’re good to go. I recommend using this product name of a humidity monitor, which always provides me with the exact result.
- Keeping your guitar in its case is a good idea if you live in a high-humidity area. But remember to take it out of the case and blow dry the inside for about 10 to 15 minutes. You can also keep silica pads inside the case to absorb moisture. But don’t forget to change them after a few months.
- Using a humidifier is always the best choice if you live in an area with low humidity.
2. Always protect the guitar from the heat and light of direct sunlight. Direct sunlight can be damaging to the guitar. So, don’t let the sunshine on your guitar. Besides, if you have a window in the room and sunlight comes through it, use a curtain to protect the guitar from sunlight.
3. Use a guitar case to prevent damage. A bump or knock can easily damage the guitar, and a guitar case protects the guitar from such mishaps. Moreover, dust and dirt can affect the guitar’s performance, and a guitar case will effectively protect your guitar.
How To Store Guitar: Conclusion
Properly storing the guitar ensures it’ll have a long life without any damage, and that’s what we want, isn’t it? Even though guitars are mostly made of wood and metal components, they can be sensitive to dust, temperature, or humidity changes. I hope by now you know how to store a guitar properly. Thank you for your time.