LP Case Storage

[adam79]

Hey, I've been keeping my LP on a guitar stand instead of the case. I've kept it like this for my entire 2 years of ownership.

I've never had a problem until I went to play it the other day. I hadn't used it for a couple weeks and the neck is now twisted, w a concave bow.

There's been a heatwave here the past couple weeks, which is clearly the culprit, but my question is this...

Is it still better to keep the guitar in the case during the summer, or will the case make the conditions even hotter, and hence worse, for the guitar? I have no other options for storage.

Thanks.

 

[Nintari]

There is a reason the makers tell you to keep their guitars in their cases (Martin literally says so right inside the booklet that comes with the guitar). It's because it protects your investment in a multitude of ways. Yes, I like stands too. But outside of my cheapie guitars, I pretty much gave them up. Better to spend that extra sixty seconds and not be sorry down the road. Also, I actually enjoy wiping them down and caring for them etc.

 

[cybermgk]

Picture of neck would be nice

Is it really a twisted neck?

A bow in the neck is not unusual when climate the guitar is in changes dramatically. A big change in temp, or humidity often requires a truss rod adjustment and setup.

 

[cybermgk]

There is a reason the makers tell you to keep their guitars in their cases (Martin literally says so right inside the booklet that comes with the guitar). It's because it protects your investment in a multitude of ways. Yes, I like stands too. But outside of my cheapie guitars, I pretty much gave them up. Better to spend that extra sixty seconds and not be sorry down the road. Also, I actually enjoy wiping them down and caring for them etc.

Almost all of the top shops, with the most expensive guitars still store their stock on wall hangers. The reason a Martin recommends storing in a case, is because for most people, that is the easiest place for them to control climate, more to the point the humidity level.

However some of us, and those Boutique shops etc, can do that on a home or store level. I can keep the house at a friendly Humidity range for my guitars, year round.

 

[Dogbreath]

Two words, air conditioning.

 

[judson]

i took all mine out of cases and bought a few more stands, more practical for me, walk by and grab whatever works for you, you see all the choices....it really is a pleasure now and more playing time for them all....keep the air a correct temp and humidity...not a problem

 

[grady31]

I use a case . I live in the country were dust is constantly floating in the air .

 

[tigerflame]

I always keep my stuff in cases.

 

[adam79]

Picture of neck would be nice

Is it really a twisted neck?

A bow in the neck is not unusual when climate the guitar is in changes dramatically. A big change in temp, or humidity often requires a truss rod adjustment and setup.

It had to be from the heatwave...I went to adjust the neck today (it's been a week) and the twist was gone; it readjusted itself.

It still needs a minor adjustment, but that's to be expected, right? I'm going to bring it in for a full setup and then start using the case.

I said it was twisted because only the wound string side warped, which gave the impression of being twisted.

Unfortunately, around the clock AC isn't an option.

Thanks for all the replies.

 

[NotScott]

All of my guitars are on wall hangars. None of them ever see the inside of a case unless they are being transported. I have done this for decades in the hot and humid state of Florida with high end, Gibsons, Fenders, Gretsch, Martins, Dobros and others and have never had any neck issues or other catastrophes I read about on the Internet.

Worry less, play more.

 

[Gibsonrocknroll]

As you can see in the video Jimmy Page has his prized Les Paul in a case. End of discussion.

 

[nadzab]

All of my guitars are on wall hangars. None of them ever see the inside of a case unless they are being transported. I have done this for decades in the hot and humid state of Florida with high end, Gibsons, Fenders, Gretsch, Martins, Dobros and others and have never had any neck issues or other catastrophes I read about on the Internet.

Worry less, play more.

Amen.

 

[Tollie]

All of my guitars are on wall hangars. None of them ever see the inside of a case unless they are being transported. I have done this for decades in the hot and humid state of Florida with high end, Gibsons, Fenders, Gretsch, Martins, Dobros and others and have never had any neck issues or other catastrophes I read about on the Internet.

Worry less, play more.

I do the very same thing. My guitars are like art that I can play. I do like to see the collection up on the wall in full glory.

https://flic.kr/p/2nypqDG
In the summer I run the air conditioning (as needed) and in the winter I run a humidifier (around the clock).

 

[tigerflame]

You can hang your guitars, you just have to make sure your hangers are mounted on studs because if they're not, you're in for a big disappointment when your guitars fall.

 

[John_P]

A case is never better for storage than its fit.

No matter how good it looks, a "well made" quality hard case is no good for storage if the guitar gets squeezed. If the neck gets bent over the neck pocket support, you'll get a hump in the neck, that becomes a moving target for continuous neck adjustments aka rubber neck syndrome.

These days it appears like people spend more time trading and shipping guitars than actually playing them and then the main concern is to protect gear from shipping damage (e.g broken head stock). For this purpose tighter is better, which is not necessarily true for storage.

Not only the neck could get squeezed, but also the bridge (especially if you put a towel under the guitar to compensate neck angle) and the PU-selector tip could break (the reason some models used to get shipped with the switch tip in the neck pocket).

Adjusting a case is a bit tricky, especially when the neck support is fixed and non-adjustable. The reason the fit may not be perfect is neck angle variation plus the fact that cases are handmade with tolerances.

Having guitars hanging on the wall or in a stand means they are exposed to dust, UV-light and swings in temperature and humidity. You (and anyone visiting your home) can easily spot and grab your desirable objects.

I have no clue what method manufacturers use to ensure that a guitar is paired with a case that actually fits...at the end of the day the owner has to figure out what's going on inside that case once the latches are closed tight.

 

[Juan Wayne]

As you can see in the video Jimmy Page has his prized Les Paul in a case. End of discussion.

He also played it a lot while brutally fucked on heroin.

I love the guy, but I wouldn't end any discussion just because of something he said.

 

[Christosterone]

All of mine are in cases stuffed in every closet and under ever bed of my house…

im a [les paul] hoarder…though I only have 2 cats…

but if society didn’t judge me, I’d have a cat for every guitar too

-chris

 

[gball]

I used to keep 'em all on stands. I stopped because they got dusty, required more maintenance (truss rod adjustments, oiling fretboards, etc) and the strings went south a lot quicker. Now, they all stay in their cases.

 

[Gibsonrocknroll]

He also played it a lot while brutally fucked on heroin.

I love the guy, but I wouldn't end any discussion just because of something he said.

It was a joke.

 

[Overture]

Mine stay on a stand, in a temperature and humidity controlled room. They all still need slight adjustments from time to time but that’s normal. Cases have been stored downstairs and empty for years.