Hanging guitar stands bad for necks?

[CanserDYI]

I actually think a few people misunderstood OP's question. He's not asking if hanging your guitar is bad, he's asking if the ones that have a pad or a base that hold the bottom and the throat of the neck at the same time are going to cause the heel to sag, like a piece of wood propped up against the wall too long, like he said in his post.

No I don't think it's going to cause any issues.

 

[Rev2010]

I actually think a few people misunderstood OP's question. He's not asking if hanging your guitar is bad, he's asking if the ones that have a pad or a base that hold the bottom and the throat of the neck at the same time are going to cause the heel to sag, like a piece of wood propped up against the wall too long, like he said in his post.

Well then that makes the question even more outlandish. The "resting" at the bottom isn't actually applying any real pressure. The pressure is still at the base of the headstock. A hanging guitar stand like we all use is *not* the same as resting a guitar (or a piece of wood) against a wall at an angle. When resting against a wall the vast majority of the weight is being placed on the bottom of the guitar/floor. The rest of the weight is going to be against the headstock/neck since it's leaning against the wall. The affect that you get leaning it against a wall does not apply to a hanging stand.

 

[Jamiecrain]

Ok so the general consensus is that it *shouldn't* make a difference.

So it occurred to me to do a little experiment. I will hang half of the guitars back to front, and see if the action lowers in about a week.

Stay tuned...

(sorry about the pun).

 

[Grindspine]

It is likely that, no, the stand is not the issue.

However, if you stored them in a case with a humidifier, then put them in a stand in low humidity air, that would definitely cause neck tension to change.

Get a hygrometer to keep an eye on your humidity. This should show if the problem was the stand or environmental.

 

[Jamiecrain]

Well then that makes the question even more outlandish. The "resting" at the bottom isn't actually applying any real pressure.

Not quite true. I've put a pressure scale between the guitar and the padded legs and there is up to 500g of lateral pressure. Doesn't sound much but that pressure over time *might* be an issue. We'll see what the experiment reveals.

 

[aesthyrian]

yep every guitar in every guitar store is being damaged by hanging..

Come on. Just play the damn thing or keep it in the case.

 

[MetalDestroyer]

the internet is a wild, wacky place full of wild, wacky people with wild, wacky ideas

leaving your AC on too high will have more of an effect

 

[Rev2010]

Not quite true. I've put a pressure scale between the guitar and the padded legs and there is up to 500g of lateral pressure. Doesn't sound much but that pressure over time *might* be an issue. We'll see what the experiment reveals.

First, how thick is the pressure scale? Because by inserting it between the guitar and stand legs you are increasing the angle thereby increasing the pressure. Second, 500 grams is about 18 ounces, so just a hair over one pound of pressure. If you think that's enough to warp a guitar neck with a steel or carbon fiber truss rod ... well then I don't know what to tell you lol. The pressure from the string pull is many many multiples stronger than that

 

[c7spheres]

Everyone says it's ok but I don't like hanging electric guitars. Acoustics are fine. I won't grab an electric by the neck, only by the body, and only grab an acoustic by the neck, not the body, but that's because doing this used to affect cheap wood guitars usually with a 1-piece neck. Those warp just because. - I think the real issue is cheap guitar builders using damp wood still or cuttin it wrong grainwise or something like that, but it you think about it, take a 2x4 of same length which is way more brittle and weak than a maple neck and it won't break either. Then there's a truss rod in there too. I still won't grab or hang en electric by the neck though. It's just to risky in my paranoid mind. : )

 

[Sermo Lupi]

Everyone says it's ok but I don't like hanging electric guitars. Acoustics are fine. I won't grab an electric by the neck, only by the body, and only grab an acoustic by the neck, not the body, but that's because doing this used to affect cheap wood guitars usually with a 1-piece neck. Those warp just because. - I think the real issue is cheap guitar builders using damp wood still or cuttin it wrong grainwise or something like that, but it you think about it, take a 2x4 of same length which is way more brittle and weak than a maple neck and it won't break either. Then there's a truss rod in there too. I still won't grab or hang en electric by the neck though. It's just to risky in my paranoid mind. : )

I thought about doing this, but I can't afford those fancy Nigel Tufnel guitars that sustain just by looking at them.

 

[Mortargag]

This

That's what I was gonna say and saw you already pointed out the obvious. I mean come on, every guitar store hangs their guitars and some sit there for years before being purchased, So obviously it doesn't harm the neck.

@Jamiecrain - you might be noticing more fluctuation in tuning and such just because of more direct exposure to the temperature changes in your house and the humidity in the house. Shouldn't be causing any significant bowing though.

 

[Danukenator]

We need a company to avertise that their necks can stand up to fat Americans. And show a dude from indiana standing on it.

 

[Alberto7]

My PIA hung on a wall at a guitar store for 2 years until I bought it last August. Since then, it's been sitting on a Hercules stand (this one http://herculesstands.com/internati...trument/guitar/single-stands-(1)/gs412b-plus/ ) every single day in my living room, and the action hasn't moved at all.