Leaving acoustic on the wall (and not in its case)

[Heartbreaker_Esq]

I've read a number of threads on this topic here, and seen opinions range from one extreme (I've left my guitar out in the direct sunlight for 50 years, and it doesn't even lose tune) to the other (If your acoustic is out of its case for more than 7 consecutive minutes, it will literally explode). I'm looking for some level-headed advice on the topic.

Basically, I have a very small house and I keep my acoustic (Epiphone Hummingbird) on a wall hanger. I like having it on the wall, both because it's pretty and because I reach for it a lot, and like to have it handy. I have a hard case, but the only place it fits is under the bed, along with tons of other stuff. If I had to drag that stuff out every time I wanted to play a quick tune, I would play less and life would suck a little more. With that said, if there's a chance I'm doing actual harm to my instrument, I don't want to be stupid about it.

So, what say you? If I leave it on the wall most of the time, am I risking it going out of tune during temperature swings, or am I risking total destruction? I live in Florida, so there's little chance of low humidity being a problem, if that helps. And I have a budget acoustic I've had for 20 years that has done just fine, both in Florida and Colorado (although at least half of that time was in a case).

 

[Heartbreaker_Esq]

Related question: most of what I hear people worry about with acoustics is humidity (too low or too high). I don't understand how a hard case can address or prevent this. My case fits well, but it's not pressure-sealed or climate-controlled. It doesn't have its own atmosphere. It seems to me whatever humidity is in the room will also be in the case, right? Or am I missing something?

 

[RomanS]

Related question: most of what I hear people worry about with acoustics is humidity (too low or too high). I don't understand how a hard case can address or prevent this. My case fits well, but it's not pressure-sealed or climate-controlled. It doesn't have its own atmosphere. It seems to me whatever humidity is in the room will also be in the case, right? Or am I missing something?

Yes - but when it's in a case, you can use a (soundhole) humidifier...

 

[M2roadwarrior]

I’ve left two of my acoustics on stands for twenty years, they both go a little flat and require tuning every couple weeks or so, but beyond that no problem. I’m on the coast In Massachusetts fwiw

 

[raysachs]

If you have a good hard case and use something like Boveda / Dadarrio humidipaks, your case does develop a climate of its own - the fuzz in the case actually holds humidity pretty well. Gig bags won’t, but most decent hardcases will. What I do is take my guitar(s) out when I start playing for the day, leave them out until I’m done for the day, then put them back in the case for the night. Unless the humidity is CRAZY DRY, keeping it in the case for 14-16 of the 24 hours should be fine.

The other thing is to get a decent hygrometer (humidity monitor) so you know how humid your house or guitar room really is or isn’t. If it’s generally in the 40-60% range, don’t worry about it - leave them out. But if you live in a really dry climate or a really cold climate with heat running a lot in the winter, then I’d case them at the end of every day. Or you can get a room humidifier and leave them out, but that requires a fair amount of filling, keeping them clean, etc.

-Ray

 

[Jeru]

You asked.

My advice, worth exactly what you paid for it — I think you’re overthinking it. If you like keeping the guitar on the wall, keep the guitar on the wall. It’ll be fine.

And if I’m wrong and keeping your Epiphone on a wall hanger irreparably damages your guitar — by the time that happens it will be years or decades down the road and you will likely be able to afford another Epiphone. Also, by that time you will be way better at guitar because you will have spent more time playing your guitar and less time taking it in and out of its case.

 

[schmee]

I've read a number of threads on this topic here, and seen opinions range from one extreme (I've left my guitar out in the direct sunlight for 50 years, and it doesn't even lose tune) to the other (If your acoustic is out of its case for more than 7 consecutive minutes, it will literally explode). I'm looking for some level-headed advice on the topic.

Basically, I have a very small house and I keep my acoustic (Epiphone Hummingbird) on a wall hanger. I like having it on the wall, both because it's pretty and because I reach for it a lot, and like to have it handy. I have a hard case, but the only place it fits is under the bed, along with tons of other stuff. If I had to drag that stuff out every time I wanted to play a quick tune, I would play less and life would suck a little more. With that said, if there's a chance I'm doing actual harm to my instrument, I don't want to be stupid about it.

So, what say you? If I leave it on the wall most of the time, am I risking it going out of tune during temperature swings, or am I risking total destruction? I live in Florida, so there's little chance of low humidity being a problem, if that helps. And I have a budget acoustic I've had for 20 years that has done just fine, both in Florida and Colorado (although at least half of that time was in a case).

No problem.
Out of sunlight.

 

[Controller]

If your guitar is too good to hang on the wall, sell it and buy one you can hang on the wall. All my electrics and acoustic are out where I can grab one.

 

[Heartbreaker_Esq]

You asked.

My advice, worth exactly what you paid for it — I think you’re overthinking it. If you like keeping the guitar on the wall, keep the guitar on the wall. It’ll be fine.

And if I’m wrong and keeping your Epiphone on a wall hanger irreparably damages your guitar — by the time that happens it will be years or decades down the road and you will likely be able to afford another Epiphone. Also, by that time you will be way better at guitar because you will have spent more time playing your guitar and less time taking it in and out of its case.

This has been my mode for 20+ years. I didn't think about any of this stuff until I recently started seeing posts about how dumb it is to leave it out. As cheap as the Epiphone is, it's the nicest/most expensive acoustic I've ever owned, so I just wanted to make sure I wasn't underthinking it. I'm from Florida, so that's always a possibility.

 

[Sconnie]

I've lived in CO my entire life. My affordable Takamine that I purchased about 15 years ago (~$320) got a small split on the soundboard upper bout above and parallel to the neck. My local shop's tech reinforced it with a small piece of compatible wood from the inside and drop-filled the crack on the top. If your face is a few inches away you can see the tiny wiggle in the binding but that's it.

Since then it's spent maybe 48hrs total inside it's case and the crack hasn't budged, no news ones have formed, and it stays in tune very well regardless of the (relatively) extreme temp and humidity swings over the seasons.

Maybe there is something to be said about acoustic guitars acclimating to your local environment. Maybe since mine was on the less-expensive side it was built with a little less care (even though Takamine are great) and there was some stress built up from the time it was built, and it got released when acclimating to it's new home in CO. But it's not been a problem since.

There's your anecdotal evidence that you shouldn't worry about this with "affordable" level instruments.

If you had a vintage Gibson Hummingbird I wouldn't have chimed in.

Hang it up, play it, and enjoy it. I've been eyeing one of those epi Hummingbirds since they came out!

 

[Heartbreaker_Esq]

There's your anecdotal evidence that you shouldn't worry about this with "affordable" level instruments.

If you had a vintage Gibson Hummingbird I wouldn't have chimed in.

Hang it up, play it, and enjoy it. I've been eyeing one of those epi Hummingbirds since they came out!

Helpful input, thanks! And the Epiphone Hummingbird is a gem, IMO. Instantly replaced an acoustic I had played and bonded with for 20+ years, which is not easy to do.

 

[goonie]

I had an old Daion acoustic that hung on the wall for decades. Eventually retired it due to the action becoming unplayable. Though I can't say the two are related. When I bought my first 'good' acoustic, a Martin, it went on the wall too of course. One morning, during a week of heat and high humidity (70-80%) I took the Martin off the wall and discovered the action at the 12th had jumped from 5/64 to 8/64, almost overnight. It went straight into it case with a humidipak and was back to normal in a couple of days. And now that's where it lives. I guess I could keep it out when the humidity is mild but it's not worth the worry too and I have plenty of electrics to admire on the wall.

 

[goonie]

I should add, the Martin is a very lightly built 00-16, and it's possible your Epiphone is not affected by humidity. Also you don't say what the humidity range is where you live.

 

[Chud]

Dry is more the enemy than wet, which, being in FL you’re probably ok. Lol.

I have a few acoustics that stay out on stands year round. One is a 30+ year old Fender San Luis Rey that I bought new in the early 90’s. Laminated construction, probably photo finish because it’s too cheap to look as matched as it does, anything in it that could dry out in winter dried out long ago. Always in tune whenever I pick it up, and the neck/action has always been good.

Not so much with my Gibson Jumbo. That stays in its case with humidipaks year round except when it’s being played. I made the mistake of leaving it in my downstairs studio IN ITS CASE for a few weeks one winter when humidity in there can drop stupidly low, and I had to wrap the whole thing it in a hefty bag and keep it upstairs in the closed case with wet sponges for nearly the same few weeks to correct the changes to the neck.

My $.02, if you have an acoustic that isn’t finicky about being out, don’t sweat it. Keep it out and handy and play it.

 

[tacobender]

Solid tops are going to be more susceptible than laminates. There’s that too. I try to keep the nice ones in a case with a humidifier.

 

[Tmcqtele65]

I like having my guitars within reach... otherwise I would play them less.
My solution:

and:

When the humidity is between 43 and 48 I turn it on "low". When it drops below 43 I turn it on to high.
My whole collection lives in controlled humidity.

 

[kuch]

Just facts
I own 3 martins
D28
000-28 EC
000-18E Retro
Probably quite a few $$'s to replace or repair

I keep them hanging on the wall in my "music" room

I've been told by several luthiers that due to the humidity in the pacific nw, not to worry about using humidifiers

others might think differently but until I hear/read differently from a "professional", I'll continue to do the same

 

[Freeman Keller]

I've read a number of threads on this topic here, and seen opinions range from one extreme (I've left my guitar out in the direct sunlight for 50 years, and it doesn't even lose tune) to the other (If your acoustic is out of its case for more than 7 consecutive minutes, it will literally explode). I'm looking for some level-headed advice on the topic.

Basically, I have a very small house and I keep my acoustic (Epiphone Hummingbird) on a wall hanger. I like having it on the wall, both because it's pretty and because I reach for it a lot, and like to have it handy. I have a hard case, but the only place it fits is under the bed, along with tons of other stuff. If I had to drag that stuff out every time I wanted to play a quick tune, I would play less and life would suck a little more. With that said, if there's a chance I'm doing actual harm to my instrument, I don't want to be stupid about it.

So, what say you? If I leave it on the wall most of the time, am I risking it going out of tune during temperature swings, or am I risking total destruction? I live in Florida, so there's little chance of low humidity being a problem, if that helps. And I have a budget acoustic I've had for 20 years that has done just fine, both in Florida and Colorado (although at least half of that time was in a case).

Related question: most of what I hear people worry about with acoustics is humidity (too low or too high). I don't understand how a hard case can address or prevent this. My case fits well, but it's not pressure-sealed or climate-controlled. It doesn't have its own atmosphere. It seems to me whatever humidity is in the room will also be in the case, right? Or am I missing something?

Low humidity (longer periods of time below 40 percent ) is the culprit. If you are sure you are maintaining at least that RH then you are perfectly fine. In most of the country if you heat the air in your house you are drying it, thats why most problems occure in the winter. Guitars on hangers get knocked off but you can control that.

The reason I leave mine in the case is that my humidity is frequently below 40 percent and I put a simple humidifier in the case with the guitar. FWIW I live in the PNW.

Edit to add, the other reason I'm sensitive to all of this is that I'm a repair guy and I get to see what happens when people leave their guitars out - both the split tops and the broken heads.

 

[tfarny]

On the wall for me, for all of your reasons. They are made to be played.
If it were a prewar Martin maybe I would bother to consider options.

 

[Killing Floor]

It’s made to be our and played.