Slatwall Guitar Display - DIY

Many of you have seen the Slatwall product in your local music store. It comes in a wide variety of finishes and materials. Some home stores carry a cheap version that's designed to hang tools and such. It can be had for about $45 a 4 x 8 sheet. Companies like Diamond Life Gear sell a beefed up version for guitars but it's pricey...about $40 per 8' strip...the metal variety is close to $80 per 8' strip. Their guitar hangers are $10 a piece. Add shipping to any combination and it gets expensive real quick.

So, as I'm prone to doing, I decided to design and make my own using 3/4" ply and some 3/8" OSB. Most of which was scrap from previous DIY projects.

I found the Hamilton swivel hangers at $6.65 each on Amazon. They also have a longer version for acoustics...same price. They look just like the ones Diamond sells for $10. They're rated at 40 lbs per hanger.

This side view shows the layout. The top is 3/4" ply with an OSB spacer behind it. The bottom is 3/4" ply. I made mine in 8' lengths.

http://www.crenshawweb.com/slat/side view.jpg

Here is the top piece with the spacer screwed to it from the back.

http://www.crenshawweb.com/slat/slat01.jpg

I left the top row of old hangers in place to help steady the new slats. You can see from the layout of the old hangers that I had six in a row...times 2 rows only gave me 12 hangers on the entire wall.

I marked the slat so all the mounting holes would land between studs. I also countersunk everything so they wouldn't block the sliding hangers.

http://www.crenshawweb.com/slat/slat02.jpg

Instead of screws into the studs, I used these anchors. They're about $22 for 30 at Lowes. 1/4" bolts included. Each is rated at 265 lbs in 1/2" drywall.

http://www.crenshawweb.com/slat/slat03.jpg

I lifted it into place with a couple of 3.50" blocks to act as spacers off the ceiling and marked all the holes with a 1/4" bit. I then took it down and drilled them out to 1/2" for the anchors.

http://www.crenshawweb.com/slat/slat04.jpg

With the top slat bolted in place, I cut some pieces of .090" pickguard material to use as spacers. I clamped the lower slat in place and marked the holes and drilled them out for anchors same as with the top slat.

http://www.crenshawweb.com/slat/slat05.jpg

http://www.crenshawweb.com/slat/slat06.jpg

With everything tightened down, the same space that held 6 guitars can now hold 16.

http://www.crenshawweb.com/slat/slat07.jpg

Fully weighted, there's not even a hint of a twist or bow. Both slats are still tight to the wall. Total cost about $130 and only took a few hours to cut, mark and hang. If I were to make a second row, it would only take about an hour now that I have the process worked out.

http://www.crenshawweb.com/slat/slat08.jpg

If you keep building more guitars, you're gonna need a bigger wall!

Are you opening up a guitar store? Looks like GC. Nice work again, Mark.

If you keep building more guitars, you're gonna need a bigger wall!

Are you opening up a guitar store? Looks like GC. Nice work again, Mark.

Thanks Mark.

My building days have come to a halt for a while...at least until this heat backs off some. Just trying to get them up off the floor and out of reach of the vacuum and kitties. :roll:

Let's see a full view of all of the guitars :razz:

I have a bunch of acoustic guitars in addition to a bunch of electrics. They stay in their cases in a humidified closet, but if I could put this up in my room I would humidify the room and be happy to have easy access to all of my guitars. Thanks for sharing.

One question, are the hangers ok for laquer finishes?

One question, are the hangers ok for laquer finishes?

Hamilton makes a full line of stands and hangers. I would think they're fine for all finishes but I don't know for certain. It's easy enough to replace the padding if need be. I'll have to do some digging and see what I can find on the material they use.

Let's see a full view of all of the guitars :razz:


Folks who are familiar with my build threads have seen all of these before. They're all build projects except for the blue and white striped Lead II...though I have heavily modified it. :twisted:

http://www.crenshawweb.com/slat/slat09.jpg

Yowsers - What a glamour shot. All very fine. So are all of you guitars that were in progress completed now? Hey where's the Lone Star Tele?

So are all of you guitars that were in progress completed now? Hey where's the Lone Star Tele?

No, I still have 7 builds in various states of completion. I would love to get them wrapped up. Lately I've been focusing on playing more than building. Hopefully a break in the heat and a renewed build spirit will coincide with each other. :wink:

The Texas Tele is there...8th from the left. Most of the design is hidden.

http://www.crenshawweb.com/slat/slat10.jpg

Nicely done!

Have you tried a Les Paul build yet? You obviously have the required skills :razz:. Nice hanger plan btw.

That is a really classy design. I love it!

mmmmm, I like this idea; multiple hangers means multiple guitars, and too many guitars is never enough, eh?

OMG Thats quite the group shot there Mark. Maybe time to thin the herd ?

Good hanger set up btw ............. M

Looks really great. Nice job.

Looks great Mark .

Nicely done!

That is a really classy design. I love it!

Looks really great. Nice job.

Looks great Mark .

Thanks folks!

Have you tried a Les Paul build yet? You obviously have the required skills :razz:. Nice hanger plan btw.

Thanks Greg.

I've thought about it and I have LP templates. It just hasn't been on my radar. I'm sure I'll give it a go some day.

OMG Thats quite the group shot there Mark. Maybe time to thin the herd ?

Good hanger set up btw ............. M

Thanks Mac! The only reason I can think of to sell some would be to get cash to build more. So, it wouldn't really solve the problem. :razz:

I do have 16 wall hangers and 7 & 5 position Rock Stands that need new homes. :wink:

Actually, the red and blue Strats and the black Telel are "under contract" shall we say. But we all know how that goes...nothing's final until the cash is in hand.

mmmmm, I like this idea; multiple hangers means multiple guitars, and too many guitars is never enough, eh?

True. And the only way most of us can afford to collect guitars is to build them ourselves. Though none of mine have any real market value, they're fun to have around and play.

True. And the only way most of us can afford to collect guitars is to build them ourselves. Though none of mine have any real market value, they're fun to have around and play.

I would have to contradict your latter assertion Mark. Most if not all of your guitars have to have a value at the least equal to a std tele. These are custom made guitars and as such are unique. Nobody here has any doubts regarding your craftsmanship and attention to detail.
Any of the carve top flame maple have to be heading up towards the 2K mark in the open market , if not more.

Just my humble opinion , I doubt if many would differ.

Cheers, Mac

I would have to contradict your latter assertion Mark. Most if not all of your guitars have to have a value at the least equal to a std tele. These are custom made guitars and as such are unique. Nobody here has any doubts regarding your craftsmanship and attention to detail.

Just my humble opinion , I doubt if many would differ.

Cheers, Mac

Thanks Mac. Very kind of you to say. I guess I should have stated that differently. What I meant was no real market value as collectable guitars.

You undersell yourself Mark. Lets ask the crowd ...............

I would have to contradict your latter assertion Mark. Most if not all of your guitars have to have a value at the least equal to a std tele. These are custom made guitars and as such are unique. Nobody here has any doubts regarding your craftsmanship and attention to detail.
Any of the carve top flame maple have to be heading up towards the 2K mark in the open market , if not more.

Just my humble opinion , I doubt if many would differ.

Cheers, Mac

+1

This crowd of ONE says big market value. That Texas Tele is a dream! I deeply admire it and all its brothers on that rack! I'd like to be able to hand it to Stevie Ray (God rest his soul) and stand back and listen!
Rex

I'm sorry, but I've got to agree with Guitarnut here - those things arn't worth a damn. I'd be willing to help you out though, I'll pay the shipping and you can send me the 8 or so on the left. :wink:

well now I've discovered yet ANOTHER thing that I need to do: make one of these.

Very impressive body of work.

BTW, if you're hanging such a long piece across the wall, then I wouldn't risk any kind of drywall toggles but would instead screw directly into the studs; even if they're at an inconvenient spacing or placement the design you have there will account for that and allow a screw to go in wherever you need it. It's kind of like the idea behind hanging wall cabinets on cleats.

I'm sorry, but I've got to agree with Guitarnut here - those things arn't worth a damn. I'd be willing to help you out though, I'll pay the shipping and you can send me the 8 or so on the left. :wink:

Always with the jokes. Uh, wait. It's a joke, right :?:

:lol::lol::lol::lol:

You undersell yourself Mark. Lets ask the crowd ...............

+1

This crowd of ONE says big market value. That Texas Tele is a dream! I deeply admire it and all its brothers on that rack! I'd like to be able to hand it to Stevie Ray (God rest his soul) and stand back and listen!
Rex

Now this just makes my day.

Thanks guys!!!

well now I've discovered yet ANOTHER thing that I need to do: make one of these.

I'm a bad influence... :twisted::twisted::twisted:

Way cool. If I owned my house, I'd be doing that.

Well done good design,Guitarnut

Great idea, and well-executed project, Mark. Thanks for sharing it with us!

Very impressive body of work.

BTW, if you're hanging such a long piece across the wall, then I wouldn't risk any kind of drywall toggles but would instead screw directly into the studs; even if they're at an inconvenient spacing or placement the design you have there will account for that and allow a screw to go in wherever you need it. It's kind of like the idea behind hanging wall cabinets on cleats.

Thanks!

Couldn't hurt to sink some 3" drywall screws into the studs but I'm really hoping to avoid that. The old hangers were a major chore to get loose. Stripped screw heads and broken screws...a real pain.

With 14 anchors between the 2 slats, and the majority of the load transferring back against the wall, I don't think it's going anywhere.

Way cool. If I owned my house, I'd be doing that.

Well done good design,Guitarnut

Great idea, and well-executed project, Mark. Thanks for sharing it with us!

Thanks guys! Happy to share my adventures with the forum.

...Though none of mine have any real market value, they're fun to have around and play.

I'd disagree with that. Your builds are exquisite, and I am sure any real players don't care whose name is on a fine quality made guitar. You just don't want to sell those gems.

I'd disagree with that. Your builds are exquisite, and I am sure any real players don't care whose name is on a fine quality made guitar. You just don't want to sell those gems.

Thanks Mark! First off, I hope your recovery is coming along.

This is more of a hobby than a business for sure. Once you start doing it for money, it becomes an obligation. I have enough of those already. :shock:

Great job on the display, GN!
Guitars aren't bad, either....;)