Where to put the guitar, ukulele, or other string instrument?

I can understand the value of a hard case to keep the guitar, mandolin, ukulele, violin, or other string instrument safe from accidents, dust, sun, and sudden humidity or temperature change.   So I know the hardshell case is probably the best place to store a guitar.

But...

There are some advantages to having the guitar or ukulele, etc. out where we can see it.  

Instruments are beautiful, if nothing else, it's a work of art.

It's easy to remember to practice.

If it's within easy reach, that 8 min for the kettle to boil can be spent playing music.

The guitar in my house right now is borrowed, so of course it stays in the case between practice sessions.  But my ukulele hangs on the wall where I can grab it quickly.  It's beautiful there and easy to pick up and play.  

What options am I missing?   How do you keep your instruments?

I keep both my guitars, my bass guitar, and my cello out where I can easily play them.

The guitar-shaped objects hang on U-hooks, screwed securely to a piece of wood that is itself mounted firmly to studs, if not to the stud itself. (I use these: https://www.menards.com/main/storage-organization/garage-outdoor-storage/wall-storage/tool-shop-reg-5-vinyl-coated-screw-in-u-shaped-tool-hook/49233/p-1555568998965-c-12657.htm - if the vinyl rubbing on your guitar is an issue, you can just hang some cloth over each prong first; I use each one to hang a hoodie, so the hook does triple-duty.)

For the cello I built a custom stand so I can walk right up to it and play, without having to find a place to sit down, take out the endpin, etc.

I recommend this approach.

Hanging them on the wall is the way to go, so you don't accidentally set things on them or knock them off something, and so they're always accessible to play.

For me, that's a seasonal choice.

In summer, my guitars are open to the house air, drinking in the humidity.

In winter, the air is dangerously dry for wooden instruments. Most are in cases with humidifiers.

Still, I keep one or two out so I can grab them for a quick strum. I've learned which ones are tougher than others and can take a bit more of the humidity swings without injury.

I keep my guitar within arms reach of my computer, and my bed, on a stand. Then I can pick it up at any moment, and play it for a moment, and put it right back down....  I just found out my (antique) guitar appraises for big $$$. I had previously thought of it as a rescue from the landfill. I'd rather play it regularly than store it in a way that creates friction to use. I transport it in a cloth bag—easy in, easy out. And as happy-go-lucky as when I thought of it as trash.

I store my inexpensive guitar in a hard case, and never play it.

I'm happy to hear these things.

Do you guys worry about sunlight or other things when choosing a spot for the guitar to live.  Or is convince most important?

r ransom wrote:I'm happy to hear these things.

Do you guys worry about sunlight or other things when choosing a spot for the guitar to live.  Or is convince most important?

This is a good point - I wouldn't hang an instrument somewhere where it would get direct sunshine.

If one did go for a case, what are some of the advantages/disadvantages of the different styles?  

When I was a kid, it seemed like there was only one type of guitar case.  Now it looks like half a dozen different styles.  

Cases can mostly be divided into the "hard" and "soft" subspecies.

The "hard" variety are typically heavier and usually need to be laid flat to be opened.

The "soft" variety often resemble guitar-shaped backpacks or bags. You can slip guitars into or from them more sneakily.

If you need more protection for your guitars, maybe because they are transported a lot, or are collectables, or you need to keep them safe from rowdy people, and you don't think having to take the case out, lay it flat, and open it will impede your guitar playing, then go with a hard case.

If you sometimes throw a guitar in the back of the car and head to your buddy's house but otherwise it mostly sits in a corner, go with the soft case.

All my instrument cases are soft, but padded. (They make soft cases that are really more like cloth bags--I avoid these.) I look for lots of handy pockets, backpack straps, and sturdy construction especially where pieces of fabric are joined together, but I don't like to spend more than about $20 or $30.

Whatever case you buy, make sure it is appropriate for your type of guitar (acoustic or electric), matches its size, and is designed to accommodate its shape.

My soft guitar bag has straps like a backpack. I throw it over my shoulder to carry it to yoga class. If I ride my bike, I wear the guitar like a backpack.

My hard guitar case has a handle, so I carry it like a briefcase. I can't carry it on my bike.

If I spend one single penny on a case, it's a hard case. Always.

Occasionally I get a soft case with an instrument. And I can pair it with a plastic shell hard case that has no lining. That works.

Sometimes I have bought old garbage guitars for the decent hard case they came with. Then I donate the junk guitar to people who are doing art projects or building funky birdhouses. My 2c.

I watch a lot of reality shows where I see guitars on a metal stands.

Anne Miller wrote:I watch a lot of reality shows where I see guitars on a metal stands.

Is that the sort of stand where it hangs from the head down?

Philip McGarvey wrote:Hanging them on the wall is the way to go, so you don't accidentally set things on them or knock them off something, and so they're always accessible to play.

This is how my husband does it. We don't have much space, though, so the less-loved guitars, bass, and other random instruments (including the rain stick I made in elementary school) live down below.

They are all out of the sunlight, but at our previous house, they all lived under the window in a guitar stand my husband got from his dad. When you have limited space and can't drill into the wall, you have to make do with imperfect solutions.

M Ljin wrote:

Anne Miller wrote:I watch a lot of reality shows where I see guitars on a metal stands.

Is that the sort of stand where it hangs from the head down?

This isn't metal though the concept is the same:



source

The basement has the most stable temperature for me, and has humidity, and I have a humidity coil in each hard case. If it is in use, anywhere above dog level, just not near a heating source.

I didn’t notice anyone chat about 22 string guitars.

Perhaps they are extraneous to this topic though. If so, my apologies.

Just in case someone has one, they seem to be happiest hung on a “ U” hook screwed into a board on a wall.

The tension of 12 tight strings on their neck has a powerful pull. Hanging by the top of their neck, so a luthier told me, helps to support the neck and keep it from eventually bowing to the pressure.

I agree completely with those chums who have commented that strong sunlight is not a friend to our instruments.