If you’ve got a nice guitar, you gotta treat her right!
“You’ll be glad every night
That you treated her right.”
And many years later…
George Thorogood agreed.
Too many of the repairs that come into my workshop are a result of people not storing their guitars properly. Acoustic guitars, in particular, are susceptible to this type of damage, though electric guitars can suffer too.
One of my clients brought in an acoustic guitar that had been leaning against a wall for so long that the guitar had bowed in the middle and the neck had sunk into the body of the guitar. Another guitar that came into my workshop had been hung on the wall – by string – sideways. The neck had also sunk into the body and the body of the guitar had also begun to cave inwards. I managed to save the electric but the acoustic guitar became a display piece!
So, here’s a little story about how to store a guitar right:
Stop doing these things – right now
- Never lean your guitar against a wall, table or anything else. It can easily slide off, damaging the guitar.
- Don’t leave your guitar out of tune. The tension of normal tuning is what the guitar was designed for. A step or two either way in pitch is fine but too much or no tension can damage your guitar.
- Never leave your guitar in the car and avoid direct sunlight. Guitars and heat and sun don’t mix well! Guitars should ideally be kept in a temperature range of 18-26 oC.
- Don’t ignore humidity. Too much or too little humidity can damage your guitar. Generally, humidity for a guitar should be between 45%-55%. You can purchase a humidifier to help maintain the right environment for your guitar.
Use a guitar stand
There’s a heap of stands to choose from, with some stands made specifically for electric guitars or acoustic guitars. There are also stands that can cater to both, of course.
Get the right stand for your guitar – the stand needs to support your guitar with good contact and stability while keeping the guitar straight. Make sure all contact points are soft to avoid damage to the guitar. Keep an eye on the contact points as occasionally some rubbers or plastics may affect the finish of the guitar.
Install a wall hook
Don’t panic – the guitar headstock is more than capable of holding the guitar’s weight. Just make sure you pick a good spot for the hook. Don’t mount it near where air-conditioning or a heater can directly affect it or in direct sunlight.
Again, make sure all contact points are soft to avoid damage to the guitar and keep an eye on the contact points as occasionally some rubbers or plastics may affect the finish of the guitar
What about guitar cases?
Both hard-shell cases and softer gig bags are available to carry and store your guitar, and obviously a hard-shell guitar case will provide the best protection from bumps as well as varying climate conditions.
I'm Paul, Hunter Valley-based guitar lover, player and fixer. I can get your guitar setups and small repairs just right at an affordable cost. 
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