If your freerange guitar cases are cluttering up your space, they’re likely to take a couple of falls and possibly damage your guitar (or wall, or toe, or cat). It’s time to move the thousands you’ve invested in your guitars and cases out of the corner of your living room. C’mon, have some respect. Even if you have a modest collection of three or four guitars, proper guitar case storage (and tools for them) is the right move.
Not All Cases Are Created Equal
First off, check out your cases. Are you using soft gig bags or hard cases? A hard case will protect your guitar from damage much better than a soft case. Damage from getting knocked over (poor kitty), humidity, or temperature changes will occur faster with a soft case than a hard case.
This doesn’t mean that hard cases are perfect, but they do a better job. Beyond storing your guitars in a hard case, keep an eye on humidity inside the case with a hygrometer. If the humidity is high in your case but not the room, then you’re probably storing them without wiping them down after a sweaty rock session. Now that you’ve got the best cases to store your axes, let’s talk about where to store them.
Where to Store Your Guitar Cases
Storing your guitar cases near a heat source, against a cold outside wall, or a poorly ventilated or insulated room that gets humid will age your guitar and possibly damage it beyond the point of playability. Store guitars in their cases on a central wall and away from heat.
If you’re not sure what the humidity level in your house typically is, pick up a digital humidity reader for just a few bucks. You’ll be glad you did, if for nothing else but peace of mind. If the level is high, say above 50%, your strings will rust faster and your precious guitar will warp, swell, or even crack.
Too little humidity can be just as fatal for your guitars, especially acoustic guitars. In climates that fluctuate dramatically or in very dry climates, you’ll want to use a guitar humidifier. It’s pretty low maintenance. Just add water, hang it in the soundhole of your guitar, and the water vapor will slowly be released inside.
The Best Ways to Store Your Guitar Cases
Okay, you’ve got the best cases and the best conditions, now let’s talk about how you’re storing these bad boys. How to store your guitar cases will depend on how much you want to invest, how much room you have, and whether or not you need your case storage to be portable.
Guitar Floor Racks
This is probably the most common guitar storage option and you’ve likely seen them around. They can be made of wood or metal, with or without wheels, foldable or static. This is likely to be the easiest and one of the cheapest ways to store your guitars in their cases. It’s simple, it’s secure–what’s not to like? This is also a great option if you’ll need to move your collection to another room or pack it up to take on the road.
Racks can get pretty fancy, too, if that’s your thing. A solid wood two-tier case for a larger collection will be enough storage to keep them all in one place and within reach.
Guitar Case Wall Rack
To clear up some floor space, you could invest in a mounted wall rack. With your guitars off of the floor, you can store amps, distortion pedals, and other gear underneath. You’ll want to make sure that you have the right hardware and that you’re choosing the right spot on the wall to keep your rack secure. The only downside is you won’t be able to move it around like a floor rack.
Guitar Cabinet
If you really have some space to spare, you could invest in a guitar case storage cabinet. Plus, it’s a case around your cases, the ultimate protection for your guitar collection. Humidity and temperature fluctuations be damned! It could also offer a nice aesthetic to an otherwise gear-filled studio–not that that’s a bad thing. Of course, a cabinet will also offer storage for other equipment, like headphones. Once again, the downside is immobility. Sure, you could relocate your cabinet, but it won’t be as easy as a floor rack.
Build Your Own Guitar Rack
Building your own guitar rack is pretty simple and probably the cheapest option, as long as you have the tools handy. A few boards and some wooden dowels and, bam! You have yourself a perfectly fine floor rack. There are plenty of guitar case storage rack plans online to guide you. Hell, it could even make for a great team-building exercise with your bandmates. Or a great story of how your band broke up…
Long Term
If you’ll be on the road for a while or if you have a few guitars that aren’t a regular part of your rotation, there are some precautions to take for storing them. How to store your guitars long term will depend on how long this term actually is. For example, you’ll want to loosen the strings anwhere from half a step to a whole step. For longer durations, add even more slack while still keeping the nut, saddle, and bridge pins in place. You’ll also want to put the truss rod in a neutral position.
Best Options for Guitar Storage Without a Case
Even after everything we’ve mentioned, and you’re still hellbent on storing your guitars without a case, here are the best ways to store them.
Wall Hangers
Wall hangers are a great way to show off your prized possessions. Besides the flashiness, it actually keeps them pretty handy for guitars that get a lot of use. There are some really good-looking options out there, too, that go beyond the simple black metal hooks. Wooden wall hangers with a small shelf built in are a great spot for your guitar picks. Some also come with an extra hook for your headphones.
Like with wall-mounted racks, you’ll want to be certain that they’re in a spot that can hold some weight. Pro tip: a digital stud-finder is pretty cheap and will save you from ripping holes in your wall and, more importantly, damaging your guitar.
Tripod Stands
Ah, the classic tripod stand. Every beginner probably started with their first guitar perched on a tripod stand; but it’s also great for that one guitar you pick up the most. Have a few guitars you need within reach? Go for a double or triple tripod stand, as long as you have the floor space to keep them out of the way.
Standing Multi Guitar Rack
Just like the guitar case floor rack, a standing multi guitar rack will keep several guitars all standing in a row, ready for action. Store three, five, even seven guitars on a floor rack that’s lined with foam that will protect the finish.
Bottom Line
Your guitars are probably pretty important to you, so you’ll want them to last a long time, even the ones that didn’t cost a whole lot. The guitar storage you choose will depend on how many you have in your collection, how long you’ll need to store them, and how much space you have. Going for what looks cool is tempting, but just make sure that the storage you choose will keep your guitars in good shape.