How to store guitars?

[Chaser]

Hi!

Just like to enquire if there is a right way of keeping a guitar to prevent any neck warping or other damages from happening.

Presently, I have a guitar stand for my bass but its the one with the neck support. Should I face it inwards or outwards (like the shop displays) ?

Something tells me that if it were faced outwards, the weight of the neck and some of the body weight would work together with the tension of the strings to cause the neck to bow. Presently, I have it facing the other way, means that the back of the bass is facing me. Would this be the correct way of preventing neck warping? Or should I get a stand without the neck support?

I also have a hardcase for this but I suspect that it was contributing to the neck warp as the angled headstock took most of the weight of the bass when it was placed in the case rather than the neck braces found inside. My bass is barely a month old but severe neck warping resulted as confirmed by the guy whom I paid to do my setup.

So how do you guys keep your guitars? In the case or using a stand?

Cheers!

 

[rottenramone]

..

er... i just lean my bass against a small coffee table. and one on top of the other.

 

[man_kidal]

Just dont lean the neck anywhere like as in dont let it take the weight of the body.

 

[mikemann]

Personally, I feel that keeping a guitar in a hardcase is the best possible solution. All that neck leaning against this or that, front or back issue, I think is pretty hogwash.

The problem comes when, you got a git with a "weak neck" symdrome.

These normally could be plagued by gits manufactured in the first numbers of production or new production line, new models first version possible.

During the early days where productions shift to a new country of lower cost, the factory staffs are inexperience, so the reputation could be bad initially (eg. early korean made stuffs). Nowsaday korean productions are getting pretty good reputation and value increasing.

Another possibility is that it was made for a different climate. Do you know when certain wood absorb moisture, it's mass and properties could change a lot. (US and Singapore climate is worlds apart)

All these assumptions I make base on my own experience, as my studio guitars (2yrs in use) have been leaning this way and that, abused sometime, but the neck remain stable. I have real cheap ones to mid types, various age, brand and types.

The thing about using silica gel is debatable too, as you are not allowing the wood to stabalize with our enviornment. I think better let it stabalize first, then do a final setup.

Bad tuning and over tension will lead to a warp neck too, so always tune to one setting and stick to it, use an electronic tuner.

I guess you are just unlucky.

 

[Chaser]

Re: ..

er... i just lean my bass against a small coffee table. and one on top of the other.

On top of each other? That means that your first bass that is against the table is the one bearing the most weight...

 

[Chaser]

Just dont lean the neck anywhere like as in dont let it take the weight of the body.

So I guess what you mean would to be to buy a guitar stand that does not have any neck support?

 

[Chaser]

Personally, I feel that keeping a guitar in a hardcase is the best possible solution. All that neck leaning against this or that, front or back issue, I think is pretty hogwash.

The problem comes when, you got a git with a "weak neck" symdrome.

These normally could be plagued by gits manufactured in the first numbers of production or new production line, new models first version possible.

During the early days where productions shift to a new country of lower cost, the factory staffs are inexperience, so the reputation could be bad initially (eg. early korean made stuffs). Nowsaday korean productions are getting pretty good reputation and value increasing.

Another possibility is that it was made for a different climate. Do you know when certain wood absorb moisture, it's mass and properties could change a lot. (US and Singapore climate is worlds apart)

All these assumptions I make base on my own experience, as my studio guitars (2yrs in use) have been leaning this way and that, abused sometime, but the neck remain stable. I have real cheap ones to mid types, various age, brand and types.

The thing about using silica gel is debatable too, as you are not allowing the wood to stabalize with our enviornment. I think better let it stabalize first, then do a final setup.

Bad tuning and over tension will lead to a warp neck too, so always tune to one setting and stick to it, use an electronic tuner.

I guess you are just unlucky.

Hi mikemann,

Just to clarify a little bit further on the bass and my setup, I'm using a DGCF tuning which is 2 whole steps down from the normal EADG. But I did compensate for the slack by using thicker strings such as the 0.55. Not too sure if this is contributing to the 'weak neck' which you are talking about.

To my knowledge, this bass also not a initial production run model but rather it is a final production run of which it now goes out of. Perhaps its due more to the weather and climate issues.

The case which I have got wasn't exactly a good fit and like I've mentioned, it puts the weight of the bass on the headstock, rather than the neck braces...Which is a shame becuase I did invest a substantial amount of money into the case and now proabably have to let it go at a loss...

My old bass, I just leaned it against the wall, back facing me. Do you think I should just ditch the damn case and lean it against the wall like that do?

Cheers!

 

[stars]

Personally, I feel that keeping a guitar in a hardcase is the best possible solution. All that neck leaning against this or that, front or back issue, I think is pretty hogwash.

The problem comes when, you got a git with a "weak neck" symdrome.

These normally could be plagued by gits manufactured in the first numbers of production or new production line, new models first version possible.

During the early days where productions shift to a new country of lower cost, the factory staffs are inexperience, so the reputation could be bad initially (eg. early korean made stuffs). Nowsaday korean productions are getting pretty good reputation and value increasing.

Another possibility is that it was made for a different climate. Do you know when certain wood absorb moisture, it's mass and properties could change a lot. (US and Singapore climate is worlds apart)

All these assumptions I make base on my own experience, as my studio guitars (2yrs in use) have been leaning this way and that, abused sometime, but the neck remain stable. I have real cheap ones to mid types, various age, brand and types.

The thing about using silica gel is debatable too, as you are not allowing the wood to stabalize with our enviornment. I think better let it stabalize first, then do a final setup.

Bad tuning and over tension will lead to a warp neck too, so always tune to one setting and stick to it, use an electronic tuner.

I guess you are just unlucky.

Hi mikemann,

Just to clarify a little bit further on the bass and my setup, I'm using a DGCF tuning which is 2 whole steps down from the normal EADG. But I did compensate for the slack by using thicker strings such as the 0.55. Not too sure if this is contributing to the 'weak neck' which you are talking about.

To my knowledge, this bass also not a initial production run model but rather it is a final production run of which it now goes out of. Perhaps its due more to the weather and climate issues.

The case which I have got wasn't exactly a good fit and like I've mentioned, it puts the weight of the bass on the headstock, rather than the neck braces...Which is a shame becuase I did invest a substantial amount of money into the case and now proabably have to let it go at a loss...

My old bass, I just leaned it against the wall, back facing me. Do you think I should just ditch the damn case and lean it against the wall like that do?

Cheers!

hmmz

if u use this tuning ... it would mean that there is lesser tension ... unlikely to cause the neck to warp so easy ? cos bass strings are pretty heavy ...hmmz i dun really know much about guitar neck preservation but what i do know after consulting several shop owners is tt the all time best strategy is to

1) hang your bass on a wall drilled screwed in rack
2) use a backless stand ( the V shap open up one ... nothing to rest neck on)
3) a stand with a neck rester...

ever notice how swee lee / city music all keep their showroom guitars ? on racks !! Luthermusic was supposed to have brought in some guitar rack holders the last time i asked ...

 

[Chaser]

Personally, I feel that keeping a guitar in a hardcase is the best possible solution. All that neck leaning against this or that, front or back issue, I think is pretty hogwash.

The problem comes when, you got a git with a "weak neck" symdrome.

These normally could be plagued by gits manufactured in the first numbers of production or new production line, new models first version possible.

During the early days where productions shift to a new country of lower cost, the factory staffs are inexperience, so the reputation could be bad initially (eg. early korean made stuffs). Nowsaday korean productions are getting pretty good reputation and value increasing.

Another possibility is that it was made for a different climate. Do you know when certain wood absorb moisture, it's mass and properties could change a lot. (US and Singapore climate is worlds apart)

All these assumptions I make base on my own experience, as my studio guitars (2yrs in use) have been leaning this way and that, abused sometime, but the neck remain stable. I have real cheap ones to mid types, various age, brand and types.

The thing about using silica gel is debatable too, as you are not allowing the wood to stabalize with our enviornment. I think better let it stabalize first, then do a final setup.

Bad tuning and over tension will lead to a warp neck too, so always tune to one setting and stick to it, use an electronic tuner.

I guess you are just unlucky.

Hi mikemann,

Just to clarify a little bit further on the bass and my setup, I'm using a DGCF tuning which is 2 whole steps down from the normal EADG. But I did compensate for the slack by using thicker strings such as the 0.55. Not too sure if this is contributing to the 'weak neck' which you are talking about.

To my knowledge, this bass also not a initial production run model but rather it is a final production run of which it now goes out of. Perhaps its due more to the weather and climate issues.

The case which I have got wasn't exactly a good fit and like I've mentioned, it puts the weight of the bass on the headstock, rather than the neck braces...Which is a shame becuase I did invest a substantial amount of money into the case and now proabably have to let it go at a loss...

My old bass, I just leaned it against the wall, back facing me. Do you think I should just ditch the damn case and lean it against the wall like that do?

Cheers!

hmmz

if u use this tuning ... it would mean that there is lesser tension ... unlikely to cause the neck to warp so easy ? cos bass strings are pretty heavy ...hmmz i dun really know much about guitar neck preservation but what i do know after consulting several shop owners is tt the all time best strategy is to

1) hang your bass on a wall drilled screwed in rack
2) use a backless stand ( the V shap open up one ... nothing to rest neck on)
3) a stand with a neck rester...

ever notice how swee lee / city music all keep their showroom guitars ? on racks !! Luthermusic was supposed to have brought in some guitar rack holders the last time i asked ...

I think I ought to go out there and buy one of those backless stands which you mentioned, I guess as long as the neck has to support some weight then its not really good...

Those racks are there those that do not need drilling into the wall? Like it has its own stand?

Cheers!

 

[Chan]

Hey chaser,

I keep my guitars on this kind of rack:

http://www.guitarstorage.com/details.htm

Neck warping is a serious but common problem, and it isn't too hard to fix yourself if you're familiar with truss rod adjustment and the warpage isn't too severe. A million and one reasons why necks can warp, but hear this one out, it's more common in singapore.

If you have been shuffling your guitar between indoors and outdoors (cold air-con to hot summer air) pretty often, that could have been causing warpage, in which case if you're spending money to get another stand/case, the warpage will STILL continue nontheless. Better for your guitar to be in an environment that's not too cold/hot (like the living room?) so that it'll adjust itself accordingly.

BTW, a stand with neck support for your guitar is always a good thing, unless your neck is REALLY thin and weak, highly unlikely for a bass guitar.[/url]

 

[mikemann]

Seems like a lot of guys don't understand what I mean. I meant that a guitar on a stand, rack or case, is OK irregardless of which part of the neck is supported. Like Chan said in the last sentence.

OK, I see that problem somewhat already. By dropping 2 step on the strings, you could be putting the neck on too less tension.

Yes, it may sound ridiculous, but too less tension and too much tension could be bad for the neck.

Because, when a neck is built in conjunction with the truss rod, it's design to operate within a range of tension what we call tolerance.

As wood used to be a 'live' object, even after 'death' it will retain certain properties, unlike man made stuff like composite carbon fibre. So these things we cannot really say one.

 

[teleholic]

hmmm..just wondering...will the necks on my guitars warp if they are kept in hardcases and softbags in a room where there is airconditioning say 10 out of 24 hrs a day? room is pretty cool w/o aircon...

 

[audio]

...

 

[teleholic]

yes u have a problem?

 

[Chaser]

Hey chaser,

I keep my guitars on this kind of rack:

http://www.guitarstorage.com/details.htm

Neck warping is a serious but common problem, and it isn't too hard to fix yourself if you're familiar with truss rod adjustment and the warpage isn't too severe. A million and one reasons why necks can warp, but hear this one out, it's more common in singapore.

If you have been shuffling your guitar between indoors and outdoors (cold air-con to hot summer air) pretty often, that could have been causing warpage, in which case if you're spending money to get another stand/case, the warpage will STILL continue nontheless. Better for your guitar to be in an environment that's not too cold/hot (like the living room?) so that it'll adjust itself accordingly.

BTW, a stand with neck support for your guitar is always a good thing, unless your neck is REALLY thin and weak, highly unlikely for a bass guitar.[/url]

Hi Chan,

That is a cool looking rack, almost built like a guitar itself.

I don't have air conditioning for my room so it shouldn't be one of the causes for warpage to occur. But I think the difference in climatic condition of the bass' native country could have contributed to the effect.

Haha, I don't have the confidence as yet to fiddle around with the truss rod everytime that happens. So far I have only adjusted it on my older bass before as I know that I shouldn't be reduced to tears should anything untoward happen to it. For this one I'll bring it to a tech if it were to do with the neck.

Thanks for replying!

 

[Chaser]

Seems like a lot of guys don't understand what I mean. I meant that a guitar on a stand, rack or case, is OK irregardless of which part of the neck is supported..

Hi mikemann,

I can also understand what you mean by the 'range of tension' thing which you have mentioned. By subjecting it to too little tension, it may also warp becuase it was designed for normal tuning in mind.

I think to discuss all the possibilities for neck warp, it can be too mind boggling to do so but if the guitar has an inherent weak neck there is nothing much we can do right?

Thanks for the reply, I'm glad I have gotten some clarification around here.

 

[Chaser]

hmmm..just wondering...will the necks on my guitars warp if they are kept in hardcases and softbags in a room where there is airconditioning say 10 out of 24 hrs a day? room is pretty cool w/o aircon...

Hi Jem007,

In the guitar shops there is air conditioning on all the time even after opening hours so this means that the temperature is quite constant throughout the day. But I understand that some of them keep a dehumidifier turned on when they leave. At least I know Guitar77 does that.

I think to reduce the possibility of neck warping is to reduce the temperature gradient between the two extremes. If your room is still pretty cool after the air con is turned off then I guess its fine but there is still quite some difference in humidity between an air conditioned place and one without.

Cheers!

 

[audio]

use incase tourbag. u need not worry about aniting after dat. this bag is easy to carry around.
www.goincase.com

 

[Chaser]

Hi where can I find an incase dealer here? Thanks!

 

[audio]

Apple Centre @ Funan