Should guitars be stored flat?

Laying guitar flat is not a good way to store your guitar – it's prone to accidents like stepping or dropping items on your guitar. You are recommended to store your guitar on a stand or case.

Is it okay to store a guitar flat?

Storing guitars upright vs flat theoretically makes no difference to the guitar itself – providing the case fits and supports the guitar inside properly. If a case is lying flat and the body of the guitar inside has space under it, this will place upward pressure on the neck that can cause warping over time.

How should guitars be stored?

When storing several guitars, the cases should look like suits on a rack rather than a giant deck of cards. If standing them up isn't an option, store your guitars (in their cases) on their sides, with the upper side pointing up. 2 - Keep the string tension on the neck, but loosen the strings one or two half steps.

Can you store guitars horizontally?

Cases Closed

As obvious as this might seem, if you have multiple guitars, don't stack them one on top of another in their cases. Instead, store them vertically, side-by-side, positioned in such a way that they won't be prone to topple over like dominoes.

Is it better to keep guitar in case?

Store your guitars in cases or gig bags to keep dust and other airborne contaminants — like household cooking smoke — off their vitals, and for protection from falls or other accidents. Even if your guitars are in cases check them every few months to be sure there's no warping or other weather related damage at play.

Best 6 tips to store guitars or other stringed instruments

Is it OK to leave guitar out of case?

Unless you're humidifying your guitar with a case humidifier, or have small kids or pets running around that may knock it over, it's perfectly fine to leave a guitar on a stand instead of keeping it in a case when you're not playing it.

What is the best way to store an acoustic guitar?

Acoustic guitars are susceptible to humidity and temperature. They should be stored in locations with a humidity of 45% to 55%, and must never be stored in dry or very hot/humid locations. Avoid storing them in locations where the temperature fluctuates, such as in direct sunlight or near the A/C.

Does hanging guitar damage neck?

Does Hanging a Guitar Damage the Neck? Hanging a guitar up on the wall by its headstock does not cause any damage to the neck of the instrument. In fact, the downward pressure from the weight of the guitar is a lot less strong than the pull of your strings in the opposite direction.

Why do guitars crack?

Lack-of-humidity cracks typically run along the grain of the wood. As wood shrinks in low humidity environments, it eventually reaches a point where the wood can stretch no further and, well, it cracks.

How long does it take for humidity to affect guitar?

Depending on the deviation from ideal RH, permanent damage could take months or years to occur. If instead the guitar is hung from a wall near a heating vent, then 2 - 4 months of a cold winter could cause permanent damage. Woods used for acoustic guitar backs and sides are usually cured at about 50% relative humidity.

How do you store a guitar for a long period of time?

Make sure that if you're planning on storing your guitar for a long period of time, store your guitar in a hard shell case. While most guitars are sealed with either a nitrocellulose or a polyurethane finish, the wood can still absorb moisture from the surrounding environment.

Is it OK to hang an acoustic guitar?

Part of your question is purely mechanical—will the guitar suffer at all from hanging by its headstock? The answer is no. It's generally accepted as a safe way to hang a guitar because the downward exertion from the weight of the guitar isn't nearly as strong as the pull of the strings in the opposite direction.

Does a guitar case protect from humidity?

There are two main kinds of guitar cases: gig bags and hard cases. Gig bags are light to carry and provide a good amount of protection. They do not, however, protect against temperature changes very well. Hard cases, on the other hand, provide excellent protection against temperature, humidity, and physical damage.

What temperature should guitars be kept at?

Guitars are made mostly of wood and that wood can be affected by temperature and humidity. Extreme temperatures and changes in humidity will cause the wood to shift and change, sometimes dramatically, which affects the sound and shape. Ideal temperature is 66-77 °F (19-25 °C). Ideal humidity is 40-50 percent.

Do solid body guitars need humidifiers?

The Simple Answer. In most cases, no. Electric guitars usually do not need humidifiers. This is because - unlike acoustic guitars - most electric guitars have what's called a solid body, meaning it's a solid chunk of wood that's too thick to be susceptible to the same problems we run into with acoustic guitars.

Should you Untune guitar after playing?

The Short Answer: Keep your guitar tuned up to pitch, especially if you play it regularly. There's really no reason to detune a guitar that you play regularly and, in fact, it would be pretty inconvenient if you had to completely retune it every time you wanted to pick it up and play.

How do I rehydrate my guitar?

When you are playing the guitar, keep the lid closed on the guitar case. That will help keep the humid air in the case from escaping. If you suspect your guitar is severely dehydrated, consider bringing it into the bathroom with you as you shower for a week. The steam from the shower will help rehydrate the guitar.

Can you over humidify a guitar?

But you can have too much of a good thing: When a guitar is over humidified, it swells up and loses volume and tone. (Think of a tub of lard with strings.) High humidity can also cause finish discoloration and even allow mold to grow inside the guitar.

At what humidity do guitars crack?

Acoustic guitar dehydration

The most common cause of a crack in the top or back of an acoustic guitar is dehydration. Dehydration begins at about 35% humidity, and the lower it goes, the more dangerous it can be.

Is it better to hang a guitar or use a stand?

Which is better, a wall mount or a floor stand for your guitar? Guitar wall hangers are great for neat presentation, protection from getting knocked over, and saving space. Guitar floor stands are great for certain space considerations, price, and when drilling into a wall isn't an option.

Are wall hangers bad for guitars?

It's perfectly fine to hang guitars on the wall. But only if the hangers have been fastened to the wall studs and when the room humidity levels are kept in the recommended range. You also want to make sure to put them in a place they will not get knocked off the wall.

Are guitar humidifiers necessary?

A little care can save your instrument from fret buzz, top sinking, warping and cracking. One—of many—common questions that new acoustic guitar owners ask is, “Do I need a humidifier to keep my guitar safe?” Basically, the answer is yes, you do.

How do I stop my guitar from warping?

The best way to store your guitar to prevent warping or bending of the neck is to keep the guitar in a hardshell case lying flat on it's back with no pressure on the neck. Inside the case humidification may be indicated in dry conditions.

Will leaving a guitar in the cold ruin it?

In such a situation, you shouldn't keep it inside a car under cold environmental conditions. If you do, the temperature will ruin your guitar. It will impact your guitar strings and lose them up as well as the glue that keeps the various wooden parts together.