Best archtop guitar stand ?

**vinnyv1k** · 11-07-2015, 03:51 PM

What would you guys consider to be the best nitro friendly guitar stand for a big archtop like a L5 ?
I like the kind that supports both the neck and the butt of the guitar. TY

**55bar** · 11-07-2015, 04:16 PM

**losaltosjoe** · 11-07-2015, 04:58 PM

Hi Vinny,

I've been very happy with the Hercules Stands GS414B Hanging Guitar Stand. I have two, one for my L5 and one for my Les Paul.

Joe

**snoskier63** · 11-07-2015, 05:03 PM

There may be others that I am not aware of, but I use the Hercules stand for all of my archtops, and I can't say anything negative about it.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Hercules...73887992625.gc

**Max405** · 11-07-2015, 05:06 PM

Vinny, I know you don't hang them, but whatever you do, cover what touches the guitar. We kept everything that Joey ever had. Even his old gloves. I cut the fingers off and re-purposed them. They keep the marks off the nitro.

**55bar** · 11-07-2015, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by Joe DeNisco

Vinny, I know you don't hang them, but whatever you do, cover what touches the guitar. We kept everything that Joey ever had. Even his old gloves. I cut the fingers off and re-purposed them. They keep the marks off the nitro.

I was only half joking by posting a pic of a case, the last long term theatre gig I had I played a 30's L7 anytime I could I'd put it back in the case rather than on my stand.

**Marty Grass** · 11-07-2015, 05:16 PM

Originally Posted by 55bar

There are pros and cons to the case. It's definitely protected in the case. But sometimes there can be trauma getting the guitar in and out of it. Plus it is less accessible in the case for those 5 minute sessions.

**Max405** · 11-07-2015, 05:19 PM

Booboo sits on one of these until her neck dries completely. It's a stage line folding stand.
Music Stands, Guitar Stands, Products, Stageline Stands

**55bar** · 11-07-2015, 05:21 PM

Originally Posted by Marty Grass

There are pros and cons to the case. It's definitely protected in the case. But sometimes there can be trauma getting the guitar in and out of it. Plus it is less accessible in the case for those 5 minute sessions.

The only trauma for me was putting the guitar back in the case

**Max405** · 11-07-2015, 05:21 PM

It folds up and takes up very little room in the closet... Nome sayin...

**Marty Grass** · 11-07-2015, 05:23 PM

I use the Hercules stand and the wall hanger. These lock the guitar in so that you have to knock over the whole stand for the guitar to tumble, and they hold it well to the wall.

They are reputed to not affect nitrocellulose finishes. I'm not going to try to convince you of that, by I have used these for years without a single problem. There certainly are hooks that do screw up nitro. Not these, so far anyway. And I watch carefully.

**Slide** · 11-07-2015, 05:58 PM

Originally Posted by Marty Grass

There are pros and cons to the case. It's definitely protected in the case. But sometimes there can be trauma getting the guitar in and out of it. Plus it is less accessible in the case for those 5 minute sessions.

I once experienced "trauma" getting a guitar out of a tight fitting case when the lid fell down and the latch hit the face of the guitar. It left a big dent in the top. Fortunately it was an inexpensive guitar. I always keep one hand on the lid, top of the case, now.

I have been using Hercules stands for many years with no finish problems.

**Spook410** · 11-07-2015, 06:04 PM

Originally Posted by Joe DeNisco

Booboo sits on one of these until her neck dries completely. It's a stage line folding stand.
Music Stands, Guitar Stands, Products, Stageline Stands

Joe.. I have two of these. The workmanship, look, and price can't be beat. They also work as a speaker stand for a small 10" speaker box.

That being said.. I watched a couple of nights ago as one my guitars fell off. Sideways. Like slow motion. Into a coffee table and on to a wood floor. A giant 'kabonggg' since it was still plugged in with everything on. I don't know how it happened. Endpin jack not where it was supposed to be or cord wrapped in some bad way. Dunno. Thing is, given enough operator error, it can go over.

So, if someone has small children or dogs that sometimes race through the house or a cat that's looking to get back at you for cheaping out on canned food.. I recommend something that more positively grabs the guitar. As for me, I'll keep using this for now but I'm being a whole lot more careful.

Side note: Apparently the strings hit instead of wood when it glanced off the coffee table. And only tuners hit the wood floor while the body was still on carpet. Normally this would be even worse as it hit hard enough to split off a headstock. Still, as far as I can tell there was no damage at all. Nothing. Not even a new ding or three. I'm very lucky and Mr. Wu makes a sturdy guitar.

**vinnyv1k** · 11-07-2015, 06:10 PM

I don't hang guitars and don't like ground stands where the guitars hangs from the headstock. I am looking for a high end tripod type with a swivel base and a tall neck support. Nothing better than Hercules or Gator ?

**wintermoon** · 11-07-2015, 06:42 PM

I use Hercules these days @ home and have one of the old On Stage numbers w/the detachable cradle for my Friday night gig. that is the only gig that I use any kind of stand on because it's set up behind my Twin Reverb out of harms way.

otherwise no stands on gigs for me, back in the case it goes every set.
never heard of a broken headstock when a guitar was stored in a case

**campusfive** · 11-07-2015, 07:49 PM

I like the K&M Helli stands, myself. I get that no stand is fool proof, but I've never had a problem with them, and the low profile, folding design makes it sturdy enough and easy to carry. I often bring as many as three guitars to a gig, and need to keep at least two (acoustic for rhythm and electric for some of the solos) of them within reach so I can change between them during a song, and while sitting down. I've always found them to be stable, sturdy, and easy transport.

The only exception is because of the original recessed tailpiece jack on my ES-150, and that necessitates a stand with more ground clearance, so I use a Hercules. Personally, I don't dig the aesthetic of something so "technical" looking on my vintage-y band stand, and because it's so tall, it stands out more than I'd like.

**Max405** · 11-07-2015, 08:07 PM

Vin, Ask fumble fingers where he got this beauty..

**vinnyv1k** · 11-07-2015, 09:38 PM

Ya baby........that's what I am talking about.

**fws6** · 11-08-2015, 08:56 AM

Originally Posted by 55bar

that is really bad advice. Dont store a (vintage) L5 in the case unless you have a desire for rotting guards and bindings

**disco~juice** · 11-08-2015, 09:40 AM

I use the hercules stands and I'm happy with them. I had my grandma put some cloth around the hanger and the lower part of the stand. Now I won't be able to know if the stand affects the finish of the guitars!

**55bar** · 11-08-2015, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by fws6

that is really bad advice. Dont store a (vintage) L5 in the case unless you have a desire for rotting guards and bindings

My apologies! I'll keep out of things I know nothing about in the future, just to be clear though. It was meant as a joke, which I cleared up in a subsequent post.

I wasn't advising (by a picture) that the op store it in a case as he wasn't asking about storing. just that i put mine in there after practicing to stop it getting knocked by the family etc.

Didn't mean to offer bad advice.

**vinnyv1k** · 11-08-2015, 12:26 PM

I don't agree that hanging a guitar from the headstock is a good practice. I would rather buy a new pickguard every 10 years than have to do a premature neck reset. I leave my guitars in the case and yes I have had to replace one pickguard in my lifetime. The only binding issues I have had are with Guilds but never Gibsons. I believe having that constant weight on a neck joint with seasonal changes is not good over a long period of time. Also dust never sleeps. My wife has to dust the house all the time. I really like that wood stand above. That's the way to go IMO. Also I have seen a lot of headstock gouges from hanging guitars on guitar hangers. I might be completely wrong. Maybe if you hang them it will keep you neck nice and straight. I do know that if you hang them they better not get any sunlight hitting them. Add to that you guys that use humidifiers and force air heating. That to me is like steaming your neck joint. I guess best case scenario is in the case on the floor with the lid open but who has the room for that or what wife would allow it. All this is just a Vinny theory. I could be dead wrong. Opinions are like a---oles.

**Max405** · 11-08-2015, 01:08 PM

We need a real luthier to chime in here.

Vinny you raise some good points. In fact, when I asked Ronaldo when can I hang Booboo, he said, "no Joe, you no hanga the guitarra. It's a too much a stress on a the necka. You put in a da case a, datsa good..."
But that's ok when you have one or two. Hanging the guitars is an easier way for me to spread love to my 7. Plus, I just like looking at them when I'm not playing them.
i think I might build something. Like a big wood and glass case where the guitars can be supported gently from the lower bout and the somwhere near the neck joint, ala Fumblefingers's stand. No hanging. No cases. Maintain proper humidification and temperature. No dust. Plus, it will be a feature in your home. Maybe when I whittle it down to just 3..

Vinny, you need to make sure your collection is earthquake proof. I have an idea.. Store them at Joe's house!!!

Originally Posted by vinnyv1k

I don't agree that hanging a guitar from the headstock is a good practice. I would rather buy a new pickguard every 10 years than have to do a premature neck reset. I leave my guitars in the case and yes I have had to replace one pickguard in my lifetime. The only binding issues I have had are with Guilds but never Gibsons. I believe having that constant weight on a neck joint with seasonal changes is not good over a long period of time. Also dust never sleeps. My wife has to dust the house all the time. I really like that wood stand above. That's the way to go IMO. Also I have seen a lot of headstock gouges from hanging guitars on guitar hangers. I might be completely wrong. Maybe if you hang them it will keep you neck nice and straight. I do know that if you hang them they better not get any sunlight hitting them. Add to that you guys that use humidifiers and force air heating. That to me is like steaming your neck joint. I guess best case scenario is in the case on the floor with the lid open but who has the room for that or what wife would allow it. All this is just a Vinny theory. I could be dead wrong. Opinions are like a---oles.