Help me refine my master plan!

Evil Undead · #1 09-29-2010, 05:59 AM

I am trying to make more room in my mini music studio (ok, it's the corner of a room...) and was thinking of hanging my basses and guitars on the wall to free up some floor space to maybe have a stool in there by my amp.

After a bit of research, it has become apparent that I can't hang my instruments, as the walls aren't strong enough, and I don't think my landlord would appreciate me pulling one down!

So, I was thinking of putting them flat against and around the walls as if they were hung, but low down and with something underneath them to take the weight. I would also attach something like a guitar hanger to the wall but with something in place in the front to make sure they didn't fall.

But what could I put underneath? I need to keep them at least 3 or 4 inches off the floor but it would have to rest on the floor to take the weight.

Any ideas? Does something like this exist already and I just haven't found it yet?

Appreciate any advice

(and sorry for rambling!)

coldfoot_luke · #2 09-29-2010, 06:05 AM

Get rid of your tripod stands and get one of these:

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.c...and?sku=457009

Simply maximize floorspace efficiency.

Arranger · #3 09-29-2010, 07:20 AM

I'm sure you can build a floor standing rack that supports them from the headstock. I'm not a fan of side mount racks because I wonder if over time that the necks would begin to bow.

On the creative level - what about hanging them from the ceiling?

THORRR · #4 09-29-2010, 07:28 AM

Both of the above are the perfect solutions without using up a lot of valuable real estate in the studio. Also you 'll avoid the instruments vibrating against the wall this way. I never heard of a rack warping or bowing necks, though, so I'd go with Luke's solution. easy - fast - inexpensive - effective.

Who could ask for more?

Evil Undead · #5 09-29-2010, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coldfoot_luke

Get rid of your tripod stands and get one of these:

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.c...and?sku=457009

Simply maximize floorspace efficiency.

I had one of those some time ago, but I didn't get on with it... I was always really paranoid that it was bad for the neck, but also that I kept knocking my instruments against each other when I took them out and put them back in (even though I was careful!)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arranger

I'm sure you can build a floor standing rack that supports them from the headstock. I'm not a fan of side mount racks because I wonder if over time that the necks would begin to bow.

On the creative level - what about hanging them from the ceiling?

Haha, not sure about hanging them from the ceiling - I hadn't thought of it to be honest! Interesting thought though.

I am quite entertained by the idea of this but it still takes up more floor space than I'd like

coldfoot_luke · #6 09-29-2010, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arranger

I'm sure you can build a floor standing rack that supports them from the headstock. I'm not a fan of side mount racks because I wonder if over time that the necks would begin to bow.

On the creative level - what about hanging them from the ceiling?

I can't imagine them bowing to the side- the fretboard/thumb side is thinner and handles the tension. The neck is thicker from the other side, and has no sideways neck tension, and resting the bass on its side won't add any extreme strain on it.

I do like the ceiling idea, it would be cool to have a hanging bass garden of sorts... but knowing my luck I would gash open my face walking into one... or knock them off the ceiling hanger... disaster...

Evil Undead · #7 09-30-2010, 01:14 AM

I think I would be at risk of that as well. I'm very clumsy.

I'm still wanting to go along the lines of putting them flat against the wall with something underneath to take the weight, and a support at the nut to stop them falling over.

But don't know what to put underneath

Big B. · #8 09-30-2010, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evil Undead

After a bit of research, it has become apparent that I can't hang my instruments, as the walls aren't strong enough, and I don't think my landlord would appreciate me pulling one down!

Did you check for studs first or just drill randomly into the wall? If you only screw into drywall or plaster there is no way it will hold an instrument up. If you can locate studs (they are usually 16, 18 or 24 inches away from each other) the wall hangers will work just fine. There has to be something in the wall that you can anchor into or the wall wouldn't be standing. I have six basses that hang from the wall and I think that properly installed, wall hangers are the safest, most attractive and most space efficient way to store instruments.

Big B. · #9 09-30-2010, 01:36 AM

Here is a picture of my setup to show how effective this is. (Yeah, and maybe to show off a little too.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...&ref=fbx_album

Evil Undead · #10 09-30-2010, 06:39 AM

Very nice instruments!

I haven't actually tried to hang them up yet. Mainly because I don't want to cause any sort of damage (the bill from my landlord would be colossal) and also because I don't know where to find studs or how to look for them...

JMac4strngr · #11 09-30-2010, 06:56 AM

A stud finder would be the way to go, and (I dont mean one of those old drunkened creepy chicks trolling the bars on friday night). Go to Your local hardware/ home improvement store and pick up a low cost stud finder. I think I saw a cheapish one a while back for around 15 bucks.

Ground Pounder · #12 09-30-2010, 10:23 AM

If you're pressed for space, you should consider taking over a closet and storing your gear in there. That way it's always put away and out of sight (and hidden), but ready to go when you want to pull it out. I did this with my bedroom closet and used hanging racks for my 4 instruments, and put casters on my small tabletop that I used for my laptop and guitarport.

M0ses · #13 09-30-2010, 10:30 AM

No wall could possibly hold up a ceiling if it can't handle a lousy ten pounds. You probably just drilled into drywall with no stud behind it. Unless you're living a plywood shack, your walls can hold up your basses.

dangorange · #14 09-30-2010, 10:37 AM

It's also very easy to patch holes in plaster and drywall, even very large ones as well as matching paint color. It's a handy skill to have.

Evil Undead · #15 09-30-2010, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMac4strngr

A stud finder would be the way to go, and (I dont mean one of those old drunkened creepy chicks trolling the bars on friday night). Go to Your local hardware/ home improvement store and pick up a low cost stud finder. I think I saw a cheapish one a while back for around 15 bucks.

I'll have a browse on ebay, see what I come up with

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ground Pounder

If you're pressed for space, you should consider taking over a closet and storing your gear in there. That way it's always put away and out of sight (and hidden), but ready to go when you want to pull it out. I did this with my bedroom closet and used hanging racks for my 4 instruments, and put casters on my small tabletop that I used for my laptop and guitarport.

I love this idea... unfortunately there are no closets in my tiny apartment

all I have is my little corner (about 5 x 5 feet!)
So I'm really just wanting to make the most of the space I have. My computer desk takes up a lot of the space so I'm going to get rid of that. The aim of all this is to be able to leave my amp and pedals set up so I can just plug and play rather than have to drag everything out 2 or 3 times a day haha!

Quote:

Originally Posted by M0ses

No wall could possibly hold up a ceiling if it can't handle a lousy ten pounds. You probably just drilled into drywall with no stud behind it. Unless you're living a plywood shack, your walls can hold up your basses.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dangorange

It's also very easy to patch holes in plaster and drywall, even very large ones as well as matching paint color. It's a handy skill to have.

You both have very good points, I guess I didn't think as far as "well, it holds up the ceiling and roof quite well so..."

But as I mentioned earlier, I haven't drilled any holes or tried to hang anything up yet. Apart from not knowing where the studs are, I don't know whether the wires, water pipes and gas pipes are located either

so I'm not sure I wanna be messing around in there really.

Damn, I wish I was more clued about DIY!

dangorange · #16 10-01-2010, 08:49 AM

I would take a strip of wood and attach all the fittings you will use to hang your basses on that. Use something like 1x3 poplar, an inexpensive hardwood. Then all you need to do is hang that, find 2 studs in the wall for it and you're good.

You can try tapping on the wall with your knuckles, moving horizontally along. You should hear a difference when you're right in front of a stud, it will sound less hollow. Not a sure fire way to find the stud, but it's worked for me when I do not have a stud finder handy.

hrodbert696 · #17 10-01-2010, 11:35 AM

+1 on the stud finder. Any wall has to have wooden studs behind it, probably spaced every 2-3 feet or so. You just have to accept that you'll be hanging the instruments where the studs are, not where you might have assumed you'd like them. When I hung our guitars on the wall in our new place, I made a hash of the first one (kept missing the wood) but the rest went up very neatly.