Is it OK to leave a guitar on a stand for a looooonnnnnnggg time?

**Longways to Go** · 08-20-2021, 09:04 AM

I have a couple of guitars that "live" on their stands. I worry a bit about my ES-175, as it is heavy and the stand puts most of the weight on the neck -- like a wall hanger. I don't want to harm the guitar, but I do like having it out all of the time. Am I stupidly endangering my beloved guitar?

The stand is like this

Hercules Stands GS414B PLUS Single Guitar Stand with Auto Grip System and Free HA700 Strap/Headphone Hook | Sweetwater

**sgosnell** · 08-20-2021, 09:35 AM

As long as the parts of the stand that contact the guitar won't harm the finish, I see no problem with it. The neck is surely strong enough to hold the guitar, being pulled straight along the neck. I keep guitars on wall hangers all the time, and have never had a problem other than dust collecting on them, and that's easily removed.

**Tal_175** · 08-20-2021, 09:47 AM

Just for context, the force exerted on the structure by 010"-.046" strings: 80-90kg (180-200 lbs). The tension also increases drastically as gauges increase. Electric guitars typically weigh between 7-13 pounds.

**marcwhy** · 08-20-2021, 09:57 AM

Originally Posted by sgosnell

As long as the parts of the stand that contact the guitar won't harm the finish, I see no problem with it. .

Right! Some finishes interact poorly with some (rubber/plastic) materials, and then you have a mess! To be safe, maybe place a polishing cloth in between?

[And if the guitars just sit there and don't get played, you may have too many!!]

**sgosnell** · 08-20-2021, 10:38 AM

If the guitar is hanging from the headstock, the string tension is counteracted, not added.

**Donplaysguitar** · 08-20-2021, 10:53 AM

Case please, avoid (most) accidents and you'll sleep easier.

And those cheapie plastic stands harm the nitro finish.

Just say "no".

**citizenk74** · 08-20-2021, 10:56 AM

My #1 (PRS CU24) has been on one Hercules stand or another for at least a decade. There are no adverse signs on the guitar or stand. Of course I play it daily, and wipe it down. Likewise, my '04 ES-175 lived on a Hercules stand while I was gigging with it and had the room. I see no harm.

**Tal_175** · 08-20-2021, 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by sgosnell

If the guitar is hanging from the headstock, the string tension is counteracted, not added.

Yes it's certainly not added. When I posted it, I couldn't convince myself that it'd be subtracted regardless of the headstock design and the way the guitar is hanging due to the guitars center of gravity and shape.

**Doctor Jeff** · 08-20-2021, 11:22 AM

Dave Rogers has his priceless guitar collection hanging on the wall of his shop. A couple are on stands on the floor as well. All climate controlled, of course.

Wonder what Joe Bonamassa does?

**QAman** · 08-20-2021, 11:36 AM

As others have pointed out, you may eventually have an interaction/ demarcation where the stand contacts the neck. For that reason, I wrap the interfaces of all my stands with felt to avoid any interaction.

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**Crm114** · 08-20-2021, 11:52 AM

Never
store your guitars in their cases

**bluejaybill** · 08-20-2021, 11:55 AM

In the case for me, where temp and humidity changes are experienced more evenly.

Plus my dog can't knock it over.

**Longways to Go** · 08-20-2021, 12:03 PM

I like a guitar on the stand so I can pick it up to play on a whim.
I have guitars in cases that sit around waiting for me to think about them.
I guess it's a laziness.

**jazzkritter** · 08-20-2021, 01:29 PM

Wall hangers can be paranoid inducing. Mine are in our bedroom, and are directly in my eyesight from my pillow spot. Im never sure if they’re mad at me for not playing enough, laughing at my shaky hands, upset they are getting dusty again (‘jk clean us!’) or maybe just ‘oh no, its him again’.

I only use Hercules mounts/stands, 10 plus years, never an issue.

**frankhond** · 08-20-2021, 01:33 PM

All my guitars are on wall hangers. This means they are easily accessible… and limits the guitar count because we only have so many walls.

**wintermoon** · 08-20-2021, 06:35 PM

There was a problem w Hercules stands some yrs back but they've since corrected it. They're all I use.

**AllanAllen** · 08-20-2021, 06:41 PM

Originally Posted by Doctor Jeff

Wonder what Joe Bonamassa does?

Heard an interview with him talking about taking his 59 les Paul to an outdoor gig and it started to rain. He finished the show with the 59 in the rain. He said the vintage guitars are part of the show so he didn't feel right running off stage to protect it.

Or that's how I remember it at least

**Amberville** · 08-20-2021, 06:47 PM

Originally Posted by marcwhy

Right! Some finishes interact poorly with some (rubber/plastic) materials, and then you have a mess! To be safe, maybe place a polishing cloth in between?

[And if the guitars just sit there and don't get played, you may have too many!!]

My american original strat has a nice ridge shape burned into the lacquer from a cheapo Thomann stand. It now has a soft beanie on the offending piece of serrated rubber.

**sgosnell** · 08-20-2021, 07:02 PM

Hanging from the headstock certainly doesn't reduce the string tension by the weight of the guitar, only to a small extent, but doesn't add to it. I really don't think there is any appreciable difference.

**vinnyv1k** · 08-20-2021, 09:41 PM

I live in Ca. Earthquake country. Case Queens.

**Stefan Eff** · 08-21-2021, 02:04 AM

No.
Very good chance to achieve a chemical reaction with nitro lacquer and you‘ll maybe get discolorations on areas where the guitar is in contact with the stand. The only durable place for a guitar to rest is in it’s case.

**Marty Grass** · 08-21-2021, 08:15 AM

I've used Hercules stands and wall hangers for more than a decade. A friend of mine who has over 100 guitars has done the same before me and recommended that. I've never had a problem.

I anchor them to the wall with very heavy duty fasteners. They will never come loose.

If I put the guitars in their cases, it's good news and bad news. The good news is that when I finally open the case, it's like getting a new guitar. The bad news is I generally grab what's convenient, so I don't open cases very often. Also, I like to look at the beauty of them, sort of like art.

**deacon Mark** · 08-21-2021, 04:05 PM

Guy bought a guitar new Gibson L5 40 years ago. He dropped dead 15 days after he bought it and it stay in the case the whole time. Never removed. Wow came out from under the bed in mint condition looked beautiful. After 40 years they thought maybe better see if the guitar was worth much and if it was playable.

Not a true story but could be.

**Alter** · 08-21-2021, 05:52 PM

I once left my 70s 335 in the original case for months, maybe more (I was through a period of playing archtops). It developed the green mold kind of stuff on the metal parts, bridge, frets and pickups...

So cases can harm guitars too, especially if left unopened for long..

On stands I just use a guitar cloth where the guitar touches the stand, problem solved. But make sure you use fabric that doesn't stain, cause if it can.. it will...

**Amberville** · 08-21-2021, 06:48 PM

Originally Posted by Alter

I once left my 70s 335 in the original case for months, maybe more (I was through a period of playing archtops). It developed the green mold kind of stuff on the metal parts, bridge, frets and pickups...

So cases can harm guitars too, especially if left unopened for long..

On stands I just use a guitar cloth where the guitar touches the stand, problem solved. But make sure you use fabric that doesn't stain, cause if it can.. it will...

Which reminds me, I have a 335 with dark staining on the lower bout binding from the dark grey case lining.

I also left it in its case for a long period and it developed the fret mould you mentioned.