Guitar: How and Where to Store It??

19 Apr 14 - 08:42 AM (#3620281)
Subject: Folklore: Guitar: How and Where to Store It??
From: GUEST,saulgoldie

Wifey and I have agreed to have public space in our new abode, in which we decide together in harmony (or at least well suppressed simmering hostility) decide how to arrange the space, and our own rooms in which we can do pretty much what we want to as long as it does not endanger the house.

I have five guitars with hard cases. With some validation from the Cats--I am sure there is an Youtube video out there showing this--I have realized that having an instrument--a guitar, that is--out on a stand makes it much more likely that it will be played. She does not mind if I keep one out so that we can both enjoy music. I opted to keep it in the case, because I was pretty sure that the kitties would discover the new scratching toy. However, they have begun "enjoying" the case of anything left in public.

"My room" is too small to store the guitars. Besides, that would introduce another factor into the end desired result of my picking it up for some impromptu noodling. I started to suggest hanging a guitar up on the wall where they could not get it but I could. That was vetoed.

So my question is: "How should I deal with her (dead) body?" (Just kidding....Or am I? Yes, I am...I think.)

Anyone else have this situation or (polite) suggestions as to how to resolve this without resorting to separate homes?

Saul

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19 Apr 14 - 09:13 AM (#3620283)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Guitar: How and Where to Store It??
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker

Buy one new guitar, but invite the wife to choose the shape and the favourite colour
she'd enjoy as a wall hanging ornamental decoration,
at times when you are not playing it.

Hint - 99% of all my guitars are plain black or red; except for the glittery purple one....

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19 Apr 14 - 09:27 AM (#3620285)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Guitar: How and Where to Store It??
From: GUEST,gillymor

My instruments are plastered all over the walls and I can't think of a better way to keep them. Easy access, safe storage, conversation starters, goodwill ambassadors and from experience I've found keeping them out in the open (conditioned)air is better for their finish than keeping them in cases for long periods. Of course, my SO and I have separate abodes and she actually likes the ambience they give the place. Good luck.

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19 Apr 14 - 10:27 AM (#3620292)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Guitar: How and Where to Store It??
From: GUEST,leeneia

You say your wife vetoed the idea of hanging them on the wall. I bet she did that, not for any good reason, but because she doesn't want a change in her environment. Some people are like cats in that way. (have you ever noticed that a cat hates it when people re-arrange the furniture.

Now providing these things:

1. that the wall you want to use is an inside wall,
2. that it doesn't have a heat register on it blasting dry air
3. that direct sun won't be shining on your guitars

Do this:

tell you wife you are getting the shakes from guitar withdrawal, and hang one guitar on the wall. Then gradually keep adding guitars, closely observing her reactions.

I bet in time you will have all five of them up there, beautiful objects ready to be played.

You might consider adding other, smaller objects d'art among them. That I leave to you.

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19 Apr 14 - 10:31 AM (#3620293)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Guitar: How and Where to Store It??
From: GUEST,leeneia

I forget to tell you something:

Don't just play 'guy' songs. Play songs that make her happy once in a while.

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19 Apr 14 - 10:32 AM (#3620294)
Subject: RE: Folklore: Guitar: How and Where to Store It??
From: Jack Campin

If you fix them to the wall by their backs with Gorilla Glue there's no danger they'll get loose and cause any damage, and the strings will resonate nicely with real musical instruments like the harmonica or fiddle.

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19 Apr 14 - 12:22 PM (#3620315)
Subject: RE: Guitar: How and Where to Store It??
From: Backwoodsman

In their cases. Many years ago, a Gibson ES 335 with the headstock not-so-neatly separated from the rest of the guitar persuaded me that leaving instruments around the place on stands is folly.

It takes ten seconds to open a few latches and lift a guitar out of its case, and the same to put it back in there. Are you really so incredibly busy that you can't spare twenty seconds to keep your instruments safe?

IMHO. YMMV (and, if so, they're not my guitars so why would I care?). :-)

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19 Apr 14 - 01:37 PM (#3620338)
Subject: RE: Guitar: How and Where to Store It??
From: Vic Smith

I don't know about storing guitars but I have been told that the best place to store banjos in on builders' skips.

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20 Apr 14 - 10:24 AM (#3620542)
Subject: RE: Guitar: How and Where to Store It??
From: VirginiaTam

I must be weird 8~). I love having my instruments hanging on the wall, right next to sofa. I think they are pretty and given my RA, much easier for me to snag one down and have a little play than if I had them packed up in cases in the back of a bunch of other junk in the spare room.

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20 Apr 14 - 03:15 PM (#3620622)
Subject: RE: Guitar: How and Where to Store It??
From: Midchuck

Agreeing with most of the other posters: IMO, the best place to store a high-value guitar is in a hard case, closed and latched, with a humidifier or dehumidifier, as indicated by the local climate at the time of year, in a corner or somewhere where it's not likely to get knocked around or dropped.

The best place to store a relatively low-value guitar that you want to have instantly available if you have a few spare minutes to play it is on the wall, high enough to be above reach of visiting toddlers or cats peeing or sharpening their claws, on a wall-mount hanger.

If your spouse "vetos" that second option, then a discussion between spouses is needed as to who has veto power over what, and why. That, I can't help you with. And I doubt anyone else here can either.

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21 Apr 14 - 09:17 AM (#3620812)
Subject: RE: Guitar: How and Where to Store It??
From: GUEST,leeneia

A case may be the best place to store a guitar as an object, but then most of us forget to play it because it's out of sight.

I keep mine on its stand, and I put a twist of wire around the headstock to keep it tipping over, because the headstock is the heavy end.

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21 Apr 14 - 01:09 PM (#3620857)
Subject: RE: Guitar: How and Where to Store It??
From: Backwoodsman

Leeneia, is it:-

a) solid wood (as distinct from laminate back and sides, and/or top)?
b) if the answer to a) is "Yes", is it left on it's stand in a properly humidified, heated (or cooled) room?

If the answer to b) is no, the guitar faces greater danger than merely being knocked off its stand. Under- or over- humidification is the worst enemy of solid-wood instruments.

I have seven instruments (3 Martins, a Lowden, a Fylde and two Fenders), and all live in their cases because, not only are they safer from accidental damage, but more importantly it is much easier to control RH in the cases.

My instruments all get played - it takes ten seconds to open a case and lift a guitar out, and the same to put it back and close the case. Not really a big problem, is it?

But........your guitar, your choice, your loss if it all goes tits-up! :-)

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