Do you store your acoustic in a case or out in the open on a stand?

[chet]

I leave my main guitar- a Blueridge BR-160 out on a stand in my living room 24/7. Most of the time I store my cheaper guitars in cases simply because I want them out of the way until I feel like playing them.
Does leaving it out in the open air effect it in any way? I don't notice any difference whether the weather's dry like in the winter or humid in the summertime.

[blue metalflake]

I tend to keep at least a couple of guitars out on stands as it saves the trouble of getting them out of the case.

My latest aquisition is Martin HD40TP which so far has been kept in the case. Mr Martin's little book advises its best to keep them in the case, so as to minimise effects of humidity and temperature changes.

I don't know whether this is critical in "normal" temperatues, but I don't want to risk anything on an expensive guitar.

[thatsJared]

I just bought a Taylor and it has not spent a single night outside it's case. I am not sure how much affect or if any it would have. I again do not want to risk anything on such an expensive guitar. I also humidify it every other week.

I love opening the case and getting a big wiff of that wood smell. Keeps me coming back for more!

[Stubee]

I keep my acoustics in their cases 99% of the time for two reasons:

1) So the little grandkids and others can't play 'em at will, or knock 'em over or whatever. They get to strum my Squier '51 all they want.
2) I live in MI with no room or central humidifier, and believe me, guitars can crack when it gets dry inside. I speak from experience. So they are in the case with their humidifiers.

In the summer, I sometimes leave a flattop laying on a bed or couch for a few days if the kids and others aren't around. It is nice to just "grab" one. My Fender electrics are never cased, I can always grab one of them.

[wetland10]

A nice acoustic should be kept in a case with a humidifier to keep it just right. Plus, it should be stored where the temperature is fairly consistent and not damp.

I have no idea if leaving it on a stand does anything other than make it dustier. I would make sure the stand was not near an air vent though.

Wayne

[zombywoof]

When not being played in the case. Main reasons - dogs and kids.

[Tdot]

I'm in a dry climate, so my Martin 00 stores in the case with humidifier. My dread is sometimes on the stand, mostly in the case with humidifier.

I sort of like the ritual of flipping the latches, opening the lid, and lifting the guitar out.

[ducatiman]

lowden s12 and martin 000-16 srgt both stay in cases. cat, dogs, kids, wife yeilding vacuum cleaner, ya never know. just takes 1 little slip, rather be safe.
have actual full room table-top humidifier for dry season.

ducatiman

[Dan R]

In the case. I think an acoustic guitar is too fragile as far as humidity to be left out. When I'm through playing. I wipe it down and put it in the case. This was the advice I was given by many players and techs. My two cents.

Dan R

[johnnytronics]

Case..........with soundhole humidifier in winter. Can get mucho problems otherwise. Wood is kind of alive, can crack, hump, you name it

[Califiddler]

All instruments in cases when not being played - I live in earthquake country.

[texasdave]

Originally Posted by Califiddler

All instruments in cases when not being played - I live in earthquake country.

Cases. Usually stops my youngster, although he helped himself to my Collings mandolin last week... Buddy said I should start locking the case, but I said "He throws stuff when it doesn't work."

[Big K]

Case..........with soundhole humidifier year-round due to dry climate...

[jussishow]

My Gibson J45 stays in it's case when I'm not playing it ... And my Furch Archtop and OM34SR in their gigbags (solid, good quality bags). I use both soundhole and "snake" humidifiers ...
Main reasons are:

- My apartment is kind of small ... -> it would be too easy for a clumsy, slightly oversized, "Viking" to knock a stand over ...
- I'm a bit paranoid when it comes to my "precious" guitars :-)

Better safe than sorry ...

/J

[Stefan]

I have my Martin on a stand in my living room for two reasons:

1) I play it a lot and I want to be close by whenever I get the itch.

2) It´s decorative.

[T3L3CAST3R scr33nag3r]

Originally Posted by Rec79

I have my Martin on a stand in my living room for two reasons:

1) I play it a lot and I want to be close by whenever I get the itch.

2) It´s decorative.

I'm 100% the same, except my acoustic isn't a Martin!

[chet]

I haven't been playing it too much because I recently got my cheap Epi fixed so I put the Blueridge back in the case for now. No use tempting fate.

[AndrewG]

My guitars (Gibson Advanced Jumbo and SJ200) hang from String Swing hangers. That way they are safe and accessible. Living in Southwest England about 15 miles from the sea, lack of humidity is never an issue!

[fenderix]

Originally Posted by Rec79

I have my Martin on a stand in my living room for two reasons:

1) I play it a lot and I want to be close by whenever I get the itch.

2) It´s decorative.

I keep my acoustics on stands for much the same reasons as Stefan. I don't live in an extreme climate of any sorts. Asked a luthier friend many years ago whether to keep them in their cases with a humidifier... "No reason to, woods fare good being able to breathe ...". Of course I don't open the window wide open in the winter time and keep them away from the outer walls.
No problems due to humidity (or lack of it) or temperature the last 40 years ...

[sax4blues]

I live in San Jose, CA which has a very moderate climate year round, and I have a music room downstairs on the north side of the house so the temp/humidity is very even day-n-nite. So I decided to leave the acoustic out so I will play it more often.

[dieselten]

Store my acoustics in their cases when they're not actually being played. I sometimes have three out on stands at one time when I'm practicing, but when I'm finished they all go back into their cases. Humidity here on Oz east coast not a problem, especially lately!

[geeman002]

I keep mine in a case in the winter, when the humidity is below 40%. Guitars will crack in low humidity. In the summer, when the humidity is above 40%, they are out on stands or wall hangers.

Get a room humidity guage (cheap -$20) and see what the relative humidity is in the room where you want to keep the guitars.

[Sleph]

a friend of mine has 1 of these...he plays it on the beach, in the pool as well as gigs...no moisture or humidity problems...and sounds amazing...will be my next kadoostick.

[goteleonthemt'n]

I just bought a Larrivee (an L-03). It's the first nice acoustic I've bought, so I was unsure how to store it. They send along a very thorough brochure about humidity and storage. They actually recommend storing it outside the case in a room with regulated humidity (i.e., a room humidifier and a humidity gauge). I like that better, anyway, since I play guitars more when they are on stands or hanging on the wall.

That's Jean Larrivee's two cents.

[KevinB]

My Martin (J-18) and 12-string Guild normally live on stands in my office/music room along with my electrics. However, I keep a Radio Shack hygrometer in the room and when we get cold and dry winter weather, and the humidity falls into the 30s, the acoustics go in their cases with Dampits.

I do have a whole house humidifier on my furnace, but I also use a room humidifier in that room as well.

[Alex W]

in their cases at all times when not being played

[dave42]

I always keep them in their cases.