Many people wonder if it’s safe to hang their guitar on the wall, or if hanging a guitar on the wall causes damage to the instrument. I wanted to discuss the pros and cons of hanging a guitar on the wall, and allow you to decide where you should hang your guitar by the neck or not.
So, should you hang a guitar on the wall?
Hanging a guitar on the wall is not recommended. While hanging a guitar on the wall is unlikely to cause damage in and of itself, it’s not nearly as safe as storing your guitar in its hard shell case.
That said, there are a few advantages to hanging a guitar on the wall. I want to discuss those, while also saying more about the disadvantages. And if you do decide to hang your guitar on the wall, I’ll have some tips at the end to make sure that you do so as safely as possible, and avoid causing any damage to your guitar.
Let’s jump right in to the pros and cons of hanging your guitar up on the wall!
The Advantages of Hanging a Guitar on the Wall
Even though hanging your guitar on your wall is not as safe as keeping it in its case, hanging it up does come with a few distinct advantages. Let’s look at why people might want to consider hanging their guitar up by its neck, even if it isn’t ideal for the safety of the guitar.
The first reason many people like to hang their guitar on the wall is to show it off. And there’s nothing wrong with that! If you’ve got a beautiful instrument, it does make more sense to want to put it somewhere that it’s on full display, rather than locking it up in its case. Hanging a guitar on the wall makes it a conversation piece and an attractive part of the room.
Another advantage of hanging a guitar on the wall is that it keeps the guitar in your line of sight while you’re in the room. Seeing your instrument can motivate you to practice, and inspire musical creativity. In contrast, you don’t see your instrument as often when it’s in its case. Thus, seeing your guitar more often can motivate you to play it more often.
The Disadvantages of Hanging a Guitar on the Wall
So there are some advantages to hanging your guitar up on the wall, but what about the disadvantages. Let’s explore the reasons many players prefer to keep their instrument in its case.
First of all, some guitarists believe that hanging your guitar up exposes it to more humidity issues. We all learned in science class that “warm air rises.” Hanging your guitar up off the floor may expose it to more shifts in temperature and humidity than leaving it in its case.
Secondly, your guitar is more exposed to bumps and bruises when hanging on the wall. While hanging your guitar is arguably a bit safer than having it totally exposed on a guitar stand (which can easily be knocked over) it’s still possible for the guitar to be banged and bumped while it’s on the wall. And it’s going to be much more sensitive to any damages than it would be in its case.
Third, guitar hangers can be ripped out of the wall, and your guitar can fall to the ground unexpectedly. Yes, this does happen, and I know because it happened to me! My les paul fell off the wall in the middle of the night one night, woke me up, and scared me half to death.
Simply googling “Les Paul fell off the wall” confirmed my suspicions that this had happened to others as well. This is why if you do decide to hang your guitar on the wall, it’s important to understand the best way to do so, which we’ll cover shortly. First, let’s cover another frequent question.
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.
While hanging the guitar won’t damage its neck, it can sometimes damage the finish on the neck. Certain rubber and foam-based guitar hangers can cause finish issues when they come into contact with the back of the guitar neck. This is why its crucial to choose the best guitar wall hanger for your guitar, which we’ll discuss in just a bit. But first let’s tackle the safest way to hang your guitar up if you choose to do so.
What’s the Best Way to Hang a Guitar on the Wall?
Again, I want to say that the safest way to store your instrument is in its case. But if you choose to hang it up, you ought to know the best and safest way to hang your guitar on the wall. Let’s discuss exactly that.
First of all, I’d advise against hanging heavier guitars, period. The example I gave earlier of my Les Paul crashing to the ground is a good one… Les Pauls are notoriously heavy guitars, and I do not recommend you hang them on the wall.
On a related note, if you are going to hang your guitar, the most important thing you can do is to mount your guitar hanger into the studs of your wall/house. This will decrease the chances of the hanger being ripped out of the wall due to the weight of the guitar. Never install your guitar hanger into drywall alone.
If you’re hanging a guitar without a traditional headstock, like a Jackson or a Fender for example, then you may want to make sure that your guitar won’t slide out of the hanger before you buy it. Check out the next section for my recommend guitar wall hanger.
Lastly, if you don’t think you can afford any possible damages to your guitar, I would advise getting an insurance or warranty policy on your instrument. Try to find a policy that includes no deductible, or a minimal one. Ideally it will also cover full replacement of the instrument and/or damage value loss coverage.
What’s the Best Guitar Wall Hanger?
Now that you know the risks involved with hanging your guitar, you likely realize how important it is to invest in a quality guitar hanger. You want to find a hanger that’s not only secure, but that also won’t damage the finish on the neck of your guitar.
When choosing a hanger, I’d rather see you invest in something a little more expensive if it means it’s high quality and durable. You don’t just want a cheap piece of plastic that will fall right off your wall. Personally, I recommend the String Swing Guitar Hanger. It’s made in America and features durable material and high-quality craftsmanship.
The String Swing hanger has also been tested since 1987, so both it and the company have been around a while. Go with something tried and true so you can sleep soundly knowing your guitar is hanging safely.
Summary
In general, hanging your guitar on the wall is not the best way to store it, especially if safety is your primary concern. The best thing to do is to keep your guitar in its case, preferably a nice hard shell one. This will keep it safer than any display stand or wall hanger.
Still, some people may opt to hang their guitar up on the wall for a number of reasons. It makes a nice display piece, and also can motivate you to practice more often. But if you choose to hang up your guitar by its headstock, you should also keep in mind the negatives of doing so. It may be more exposed to humidity. It’s also more likely to be bumped into or knocked around, and can even fall off the wall completely.
That’s why if you do decide to hang your guitar up, you should do it in the best possible way. You should avoid hanging heavy guitars, and make sure you install your guitar hanger into the studs of the wall rather than just plain drywall alone. This will ensure you’re hanging your guitar safely. If you really want to be safe, you can get an insurance policy to cover your guitar should any accidental damages occur. This is always a nice thing to have regardless.
Lastly, if you want to hang your guitar you should invest in a good quality guitar hanger. The Swing String is made of durable hardwood and has been around for over three decades. Going with a tried and true company and product can help you feel safer while hanging your guitar up on the wall.