Guitar Wall Hanger on the cheap!

[natw42]

Hey all,
My wife is pregnant for the first time and our son is due in about 6 weeks

So I've started thinking in advance of how to baby proof my house for when he starts crawling. In regards to my instruments, I want to get em off the ground!
I already have 2 string swing wall hangers for my acoustic guitar and oud, but I kinda didn't want to spend 10-15 bucks each to get my 2 basses off of the standard stands and up in the air.

So I'm gonna try this homemade version out - it looks easy as hell and costs next to nothing. I'll post pics with the results in a few days!

[Hollywars]

It looks easy, but isn't really smart. The hanger part can do bad thing to finishes, but you can always cover that with something. The screw length is just way too short for me not to be paranoid about a bass falling.

[HaMMerHeD]

That looks like it should do the trick. I think I need to get mine off the floor too, as I have fairly limited floor space where I practice.

Maybe use longer wall anchors, though.

[FunkMetalBass]

Go to the hardware store and look for tool hangers. They have them for about $5 and are extremely sturdy. It wont fit 6+ string basses, though.

[bamba22]

I think you have a guide on ehow...
But spent this $15 bucks and keep you basses save!!!
maybe the thing you will make will fall off...
I think you need to go on the safe side.

[natw42]

Originally Posted by Hollywars

It looks easy, but isn't really smart. The hanger part can do bad thing to finishes, but you can always cover that with something. The screw length is just way too short for me not to be paranoid about a bass falling.

Good advice - I was planning on covering the hanger. And instead of using normal drywall screws, I would actually be using strong anchors meant for plaster - my house is 90+years old. I'm not too worried - I mounted bookshelves onto a wall in the same room using anchors.

Originally Posted by FunkMetalBass

Go to the hardware store and look for tool hangers. They have them for about $5 and are extremely sturdy. It wont fit 6+ string basses, though.

It's funny you say that...I actually decided to re-purpose one my string swing hangers for my 6-string bass and use the home made ones for my 4-string and for my oud (which feels like it weighs less than a pound)



Thanks for the feedback all - I'll post pics when its all done.

[Jim C]

All you need is a good picture hook (3 hole type that will hold a 50 lb painting and has a generous tang) and a good cable tie (preferably with a metal part at the hook and not just plastic) GB makes them

Loop the cable tie together to make a circle and slip over end tuning peg, hang on picture hook, did this with a dozen Fenders when the kids were young, costs less than $10 and easy to spackle holes

[M0ses]

Originally Posted by Jim C

All you need is a good picture hook (3 hole type that will hold a 50 lb painting and has a generous tang) and a good cable tie (preferably with a metal part at the hook and not just plastic) GB makes them

Loop the cable tie together to make a circle and slip over end tuning peg, hang on picture hook, did this with a dozen Fenders when the kids were young, costs less than $10 and easy to spackle holes

I would not feel good about putting that kind of pressure on a tuning peg. At all.

[Pilgrim]

That's exactly the style of U-hook I used to hang all the basses in the photo below....I mounted 1x4 oak strips on the wall with 3" sheet rock screws directly into the wall studs, then measured carefully along the strips and drilled for the screw-in U-hooks.

Think about distance from the ceiling as well as distance between the guitar bodies - it's easy to get a hook too close to the ceiling (note how close the Fender-style headstocks come) or hooks too close together so the bodies collide when hanging them.



Here's a closer shot:

[miacomet]

+1 on the hardware store. A lot of tool hangers are foam padded and the screw-in is pretty beefy. Find a stud and its off to the races. Worked so well...and cheap...got more for the guitarists in our practice space.
Congratulations btw.

[MNAirHead]

Babies? Why not store in the hard cases or lock a door?

[Pilgrim]

Originally Posted by MNAirHead

Babies? Why not store in the hard cases or lock a door?

Because hanging them on the wall is much prettier and give you quick access to them!

[duff beer]

Originally Posted by Hollywars

It looks easy, but isn't really smart. The hanger part can do bad thing to finishes, but you can always cover that with something. The screw length is just way too short for me not to be paranoid about a bass falling.

It is easy and smart. A bass weighs a few pounds...as long as you screw that hanger into a stud (they are not not hard to find), it will support well in excess of 100 pounds.

[noisedoctor]

Originally Posted by MNAirHead

Babies? Why not store in the hard cases or lock a door?

I'm thinking child protective services wouldn't be fond of storing your babies in a hard case... sorry, couldn't resist.

[RobertPaulson]

That's almost exactly how I did mine, only I used a 1x4 with a 1x2 on top of it. Pulls it out from the wall a bit. Using a strip of wood makes it a lot easier because you can get it into the studs and then organize the hooks however you want.

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

That's exactly the style of U-hook I used to hang all the basses in the photo below....I mounted 1x4 oak strips on the wall with 3" sheet rock screws directly into the wall studs, then measured carefully along the strips and drilled for the screw-in U-hooks.

Think about distance from the ceiling as well as distance between the guitar bodies - it's easy to get a hook too close to the ceiling (note how close the Fender-style headstocks come) or hooks too close together so the bodies collide when hanging them.

[noisedoctor]

so, total noob question here... I like the look of hanging my new guitar on the wall (daily beckoning me to play it). And, I obviously see all music stores hang them by the neck. But, is there any long-term downside to storing the guitar via hanging on its neck? Gravity doesn't cause undue long-term wear on the body? Just curious whether I should invest in a traditional stand or go ahead and wall-mount the guitar I just bought. sorry if this has been covered, couldn't find anything definitive via searching the archives.

[stflbn]

Only real danger IMHO of hanging them on the wall by the neck is the potential of someone seeing them from the street and making your instruments a target for theft.


.

[Thor]

I put the good stuff away for a while. Like 15 years or so.

I did invest in a beater acoustic, 89 buck nylon string Yamaha. Your kids will want to
imitate what you are doing so it is nice to have an instrument they can bang on,
and later play. An axe you can throw in the back of the car or take to the beach
and you don't need to be concerned about it, it is there to get scarred. Worked
really well for me until one day ...
My Jazz Bass is Evaporating... Now What?

The above story is sad but true. I should have taken NJL's
advice on the SX.

I hope you all can learn a lesson or two from that episode.

[Thor]

Originally Posted by stflbn

Only real danger IMHO of hanging them on the wall by the neck is the potential of someone seeing them from the street and making your instruments a target for theft.


.

I would agree, that's one reason I don't do it.

Then there's Bass Hog.

[natw42]

Bass Hog?

sounds scary
What's that?

Never posted pics...I'll see if I can take some this weekend.
They turned out fine... FWIW i decided to use the homemade ones for my acoustic guitar and oud and use the 2 string swing ones I had for my basses.