Keeping guitars at home

[Aarfy]

Howdy y’all - it’s been a hot minute and I’ve been a hot mess - I hope you are all well!

I now have (less than some but more than I probably should) 6 guitars - I keep them out of cases in a rack or stand in a humidity controlled room that I keep attention on to ensure it’s ~45 humidity

If doing this, does the “keep guitars in their case” really needed ? I play all on rotation and pretty much one or two every day - the thought of having to open and close cases that often just rubs me the wrong way - any advice appreciated!

C

 

[fronobulax]

This comes up a lot, although not as much as "which strings?".

The first concern is humidity and the recommendation is to keep them in the cases unless you are confident that you can keep the humidity in the 40% - 50% range.

The second concern is safety vs. convenience. If you have pets, small children, clumsy companions, visitors you don't want touching your guitars or untrustworthy stands then cases.

Otherwise whatever works for you.

You have already answered your question because you don't like having to open or close cases. You are just making sure there is not a compelling reason to do something different. The case only people generally will have one or more compelling anecdotes about damage because an instrument was not in a case or the stand failed but only you can decide whether those risks are likely enough to protect against.

 

[fronobulax]

P.S. - In cases here but there is a cat, humidity concerns, not enough space for stands and general security concerns driving my choice.

 

[Guildedagain]

having to open and close cases that often just rubs me the wrong way

Here's some real advice, to not get rubbed the wrong way.

Close those damn latches down when cases are open, especially when laying across a chair in tighter spaces, like your overstuffed guitar room.

If you've ever had a latch injury, who hasn't, stupid vicious latches... my last one was when I grazed a latch with a bare leg, sliced it open real nice, still have a 2" scar visible for the time being, halfway down my left thigh on the outside.

Don't leave those sticking out.

If significant other had been injured, I probably would have had to sell that guitar because stupidity should always be painful.

Besides that I absolutely never ever leave any acoustic guitar out of it's case any longer than playing it.

PS watch out for vicious lid latch damage when pulling the guitar out of the case, a latch will try to scratch the guitar's top every time, or the headstock, they usually take turns.

 

[Cougar]

Around here at this time of year, the ambient humidity is perfect for guitars. I still keep 'em in cases in 5-guitar racks though, mainly from habit. Plus, if I took them out of their cases, that would double the space requirement! Where would I put all the cases? Not a big deal to me to take 'em out of their cases -- like opening a present!

 

[GGJaguar]

I'm a case guy. I learned to get into the habit of putting the guitars into rotation so I always have one on a guitar stand next to my desk until it's the next guitar's turn to get some action. All the others remain safely cased in the meantime.

 

[AcornHouse]

Another case guy. In addition to any humidity or protection issues that have been mentioned or dealt with, there is one fact of life that we can’t get away from, no matter how fastidious or pet free: dust. Unless you enter the room exclusively in PPE garb (see above GGJaguar profile pic!) and have no carpeting and cloth covered furniture, you will be generating dust which is easy to wipe off the outside (sending it airborne again), but hard to clean out of the inside of a guitar. (Just ask any scientific company how much it takes to maintain a ”clean room”.)
In a case, its the outside of the case that will accumulate it, not the inside of your guitar.

 

[davismanLV]

My guitars stay out in a humidity/temp controlled atrium. Cases are empty and in the closet. If I had to pull a case, open a case, stow the case and then reverse the process every time to play them, they'd never get played. So I do what works for me. They're fine just like they are. Many here cringe when I say this, but I'm good at making people cringe. This works for me.

 

[PreacherBob]

My guitars stay out in a humidity/temp controlled atrium. Cases are empty and in the closet. If I had to pull a case, open a case, stow the case and then reverse the process every time to play them, they'd never get played. So I do what works for me. They're fine just like they are. Many here cringe when I say this, but I'm good at making people cringe. This works for me.

Tom I SPY that amazing D65S hiding back there…They say you can’t hear a picture, but I can hear that maple back singing now🫢

 

[Guildedagain]

I think the reason DM does it is so he won't forget what guitars he has, but that works for me, I like forgetting.

Absence can make the heart grow fonder, at least with people anyway ;[]

 

[Guildedagain]

Around here at this time of year, the ambient humidity is perfect for guitars. I still keep 'em in cases in 5-guitar racks though, mainly from habit. Plus, if I took them out of their cases, that would double the space requirement! Where would I put all the cases? Not a big deal to me to take 'em out of their cases -- like opening a present!

It is shockingly high this morning, 44% in the house, nearly 20% higher than normal.

The ultimate cure for fret sprout, when you have this many guitars you don't go trimming them all.

 

[RBSinTo]

Howdy y’all - it’s been a hot minute and I’ve been a hot mess - I hope you are all well!

I now have (less than some but more than I probably should) 6 guitars - I keep them out of cases in a rack or stand in a humidity controlled room that I keep attention on to ensure it’s ~45 humidity

If doing this, does the “keep guitars in their case” really needed ? I play all on rotation and pretty much one or two every day - the thought of having to open and close cases that often just rubs me the wrong way - any advice appreciated!

C

Aarfy,
All that rubbing the wrong way will lead to severe chafing.
Try Talcum powder or if it gets really bad, Penaten Cream.
Hope this helps.
RBSinTo

 

[GAD]

This comes up a lot, although not as much as "which strings?".

The first concern is humidity and the recommendation is to keep them in the cases unless you are confident that you can keep the humidity in the 40% - 50% range.

The second concern is safety vs. convenience. If you have pets, small children, clumsy companions, visitors you don't want touching your guitars or untrustworthy stands then cases.

Otherwise whatever works for you.

You have already answered your question because you don't like having to open or close cases. You are just making sure there is not a compelling reason to do something different. The case only people generally will have one or more compelling anecdotes about damage because an instrument was not in a case or the stand failed but only you can decide whether those risks are likely enough to protect against.

This is the answer.

 

[Westerly Wood]

Where I live, it’s dry. Almost always. My 2 Guilds never are in their cases. They are either here:

Or there:

I keep a lifeguard soundhole humidifier in them unless playing. I wet the sponge 1x/week. Never failed.

 

[richardp69]

I kee^ roughly 15 of my most used guitars out and hanging on the wall. All the rest stay in their cases and most of them tuned down one whole ste^

 

[fronobulax]

Where I live, it’s dry. Almost always. My 2 Guilds never are in their cases. They are either here:

The similarity of upholstery colors and rugs reminds me of this and thus is a visual comparison of why you leave guitars out, or not

 

[West R Lee]

I've left mine out of the case, PROVIDED humidity is above 45%, and I've done it for about 45 years. I've never had an issue. And now that we're old and retired and empty nesters, I don't worry about them at all. I'll qualify that by saying that when house humidity reaches the lower 40% range, I case them and humidify them. I also hang my guitars well out of reach for when the grandkids are here. Personally, seeing them each day inspires me to play them.


West

 

[adorshki]

t I'm good at making people cringe. This works for me.

And I'm not just cringing, I'm curled up in a fetal ball.
But then, you don't sleepwalk anymore, right?

 

[davismanLV]

And I'm not just cringing, I'm curled up in a fetal ball.
But then, you don't sleepwalk anywmore, right?

Not since that one time on Ambien!! The only time I ever screwed up, but in my defense it was drug induced and Tom Jacobs is AMAZING!!!

(not that I can't be messed up without drugs, it could happen.)

 

[adorshki]

(not that I can't be messed up without drugs, it could happen.)

So we've heard.