Best Way To Store Guitars (Several Options)

Guitars are sensitive to outside factors.

They are also fragile.

And this goes for both acoustic and electric guitars.

That is why it is so important to find the best way to store guitars.

Unfortunately, it’s not as simple and just showing you a storage method and having you follow it.

The best way to store your guitar will vary from one person to the next. It depends on a lot of factors.

Keep reading to learn several good ways to store a guitar, along with the reasons to use each method. This will help you figure out which one is best in your case.

 

Best Way To Store Guitars

All guitars, be they electric or acoustic, are sensitive to outside factors. On top of that, they’re also fragile.

You don’t want to expose your guitar to extreme temperatures, temperature oscillation, moisture, or lack of moisture. And you don’t want to cause any direct physical damage due to improper placement.

As mentioned, there is no exact “best” ways to store guitars. There is only what’s best for your particular case, which depends on your living space or studio. It also depends on how many guitars you have.

In other words, there are a lot of variables at play here. You have to find the best option for your needs. We’ll explain different ways you can store your guitars and what to bear in mind with each method. This should help you figure out which way is best for you.

 

Regular Floor Guitar Stands

A conventional floor-based guitar stand is the simplest way to go. This is what you’ll want to do, if you need to store one or two guitars in your living space.

Additionally, this is the best option for guitars that you’ll want to use right away. You may have a few others stored in your closet or other places, but the ones on the floor stands are for quick snatching, be it practice or jam session.

I do not recommend using stands for more than two guitars, unless you have a lot of space. You also want to make sure you keep them away from any sources of heat, excessive cold, and moisture. For this, you will need a properly acclimated room.

 

Wall Hangers

Wall hangers are also for guitars you want  accessible right there on the spot to jam. What’s more, wall hangers allow you to display your guitars and give them somewhat of a decorative purpose as well.

Depending on how much space you have, you could store more guitars this way. Of course, some guitarist do not feel as comfortable with wall hangers, since they do not seem safe.

That said, their safety depends on you installing them correctly. That will put some people off. It’s also a little impractical to drill holes in your wall just to hang guitars, but it may not be a problem to some.

Again, pay attention not to hang your instruments too close to any sources of heat, cold, or moisture. You don’t want any long-term damage here.

 

Multi-Guitar Stands

Stands that are designed for multiple guitars can be pretty practical. They usually hold five to seven instruments and are a practical floor-based choice, if you need something for a larger guitar collection.

Most importantly, they’re incredibly stable and safe. You can also place one of these stands in a closet and keep the guitars in one place with regulated climactic conditions.

Depending on the specific type of stand you get, your guitars should be able to rest without any significant pressure on their necks. These stands also save up a lot of space, since you keep the guitars pretty close together.

 

Storing Guitars In Cases

Probably the safest ways to keep a guitar is in a case. You’ll be able to control the environment of each guitar and keep it safe from any potential direct physical damage.

However, if you have multiple guitars, this may be a bit more of an expensive option. Nonetheless, with proper practice, you’ll be able to keep your instruments extra safe and actually save up a lot of space at the same time.

If you have one guitar that you’re keeping in a case, you’ll be fine keeping it flat or vertical. But if you have more than one, I highly advise that you store them upright and leaning safely on one another in a smaller space where you’re sure that they won’t drop. Three to five guitars in a closet is just about enough for you to store them vertically.

 

Using A Closet Or Separate Room For Multiple Guitars

We’ve mentioned closets more than once. The greatest advantage of such a setup is that you are able to keep things very consistent with every guitar. This mostly comes down to outside factors, which can impact your guitars in many ways.

 

Dealing With Temperature

It is vital to keep the temperature as stable and consistent as possible. Preferably, this should be the usual room temperature, which is generally around 68° to 75° Fahrenheit.

It would be ideal to have a thermometer very close to your instruments. Although room temperature may feel right to you, a certain wall or a corner of the room may be a little too cold or too hot.

For instance, you can hang your guitar on a wall that’s facing the colder or hotter part of the building and thus affect your instrument. Temperature oscillation can also be potentially harmful in the long run.

This is why confined smaller spaces, like closets, are very useful. You can keep things very consistent and stable.

 

Dealing With Humidity

Humidity is another detrimental factors to your instruments’ safety. Be it an excess or lack of humidity, wood, and hardware can suffer a lot from it. In order to deal with this, you first need to understand whether you live in a more arid or humid area.

Ideally, you should store your guitar in a place that has about 45 to 55 percent of relative humidity. If you value your guitars, we highly advise using a hygrometer to measure what’s going on in their close proximity.

If you’re dealing with either excess or low humidity, there are options to sort things out. Specialized guitar-oriented humidifiers or dehumidifiers are a thing, and they’re pretty affordable.

Humidity can have all kinds of negative effects on your instrument, so it is something you want to get right. Keeping humidity level in the correct range helps prevent rusting guitar strings, warped wood, mold, cracked wood, and many more potential problems.

 

Reduce String Tension For Long-Term Storage

If you’re planning to keep your instrument stored away safely for extended periods of time, make sure that it is positioned safely and that you slightly reduce string tension. The strings shouldn’t be too floppy, but about one step lower than usual.

Your guitar’s neck needs to have some tension. Otherwise, it will get a convex shape. And if you keep it under full tension it will go the other way and get a concave “bow” shape.

 

How To Store A Guitar: Final Thoughts

The best way to store guitars depends on various factors, such as available space, the number of guitars, and environmental conditions. What’s crucial is to protect your guitars from extreme temperatures, moisture, and physical damage.

Additionally, maintaining stable temperature and humidity levels is essential for preserving the integrity of the instruments. The storage method that is best for you is the one that allows you to provide your instruments with the protection and care they need.