Close call with Les Paul

menamestom

I was just downstairs and my wife said from upstairs 'that things coming out of the wall'

I normally ignore such strange statements from other rooms, but decided to go up and see what the fuss is about.  I'd last been upstairs to hang my Tokai Les Paul up on the guitar hanger that's only ever had a classical guitar on it (because I only put it up a few weeks ago).

Anyway, she's stood there, holding the guitar, with the hanger just about to pop out of the wall!  I'm pretty sure if she had not noticed the movement I'd be looking at a guitar in 2 pieces.

It's one of those string swings, I'd used the plaster plugs but the house is old and the plaster obviously crusty, so I'll re install well into the brick.  I did stand there and look at the guitar hanging there for a minute thinking that I'd not tested it at LP weight before (even though for an LP it's not that heavy).

Anyway, all's well that ends well.  That would have really ruined my day if it had dropped.

Fretwired

Two words: hard case.

lustycourtier

Guitars are to be played, not looked at on the wall. Case or hands.

Brize

All of my guitars are out, either on the wall or on stands. If they're kept in cases they don't get played as much.

DrBob

Brize;662024" said:

All of my guitars are out, either on the wall or on stands. If they're kept in cases they don't get played as much.

Same for me. That said the ones with Gibbo type headstocks tend to stay cased especially the 335, makes me nervous when it's out on a stand watching the 7 & 9 yr old dervishes whirl past it.. Never worry about the Fenders though..

citizen68

I've my strat, Tele & RG on the wall but the LP stays in its case!

Maynehead

Looks like all those years of marriage has finally paid dividends!

lloyd

Guitars are so much better on the wall, look cool and much more accessible.

I've had my guitars hung on walls since I started playing, no issues in nearly 20 years, just need installing properly.

thomasross20

Yep I keep all mine in cases.

FelineGuitars

Decent rawl plugs and longer screws!

matt1973

I have to say, when I stop playing the guitar goes back in its case...

lustycourtier

Do you people who hang them on walls gig much? Maybe my 'case or hands' logic comes from gigging 3 or 4 times a week so dont play as much in the house as I would otherwise.

terada

Really glad the disaster was averted!

I completely disagree with the idea that guitars are to either be in hands or cases. For me, if my guitars aren't handy, they ain't getting picked up. And if you like the look of them too, why not appreciate them as decor? Whats better than something that makes you want to pick it up every time you walk past?

Had 5 off mine on the wall for couple of years now, absolutely no problems. I rotate which guitars are on the hangers based on what hasn't had playtime in a while/mood etc. Teles don't go on them as the headstocks are too narrow to hang securely.

They are all fixed to brick wall with decent length screws. I suppose this would make you really nervous @DrBob? (although if I had kids, I think I'd be exactly the same as you! :-)

FelineGuitars

You wouldn't mount your flatscreen TV on a couple of flimsy screws And the same principle applies to your guitars.

lloyd

FelineGuitars said:

You wouldn't mount your flatscreen TV on a couple of flimsy screws And the same principle applies to your guitars.

Exactly, get them up properly and secure and they aren't going anywhere. They can be forgotten in the case and I think they look nice on the wall. I get why people wouldn't have them on the wall though, kids, cats, dogs, clumsy partners etc would make me nervous.

imalone

lustycourtier said:

Do you people who hang them on walls gig much? Maybe my 'case or hands' logic comes from gigging 3 or 4 times a week so dont play as much in the house as I would otherwise.

Could well be it, for you in a case is accessible. Mine would be on stands if I had room as they rarely go out.

octatonic

I have all my guitars hung on the wall using string swing hangers.

They have never let me down but I used 100mm screws.

If I had kids then I wouldn't hang them up though.

menamestom

FelineGuitars said:

You wouldn't mount your flatscreen TV on a couple of flimsy screws And the same principle applies to your guitars.

It's not that the screws are flimsy and the raw plugs the stand ships with are good, the problem is the house is 90 years old.

Some areas of plaster are solid, in fact most still are but some areas are loose.  It seemed solid enough when I put it in but I made the mistake of not going through the plaster into the brick with extra long screws and plugs.  I have the same trouble with curtain rails etc, so end up needing to go right into brick.  I never had a problem in my previous house which was newish.

xmrchi

lustycourtier;662052" said:

Do you people who hang them on walls gig much? Maybe my 'case or hands' logic comes from gigging 3 or 4 times a week so dont play as much in the house as I would otherwise.

I wouldn't call it logic ? Guitars look great, just because they're gigged does not mean they need to hide away or be played? Mine are gigged and displayed, I love looking at my guitars and bass,

menamestom

lustycourtier said:

Guitars are to be played, not looked at on the wall. Case or hands.

Surely they are far more accessible on the wall though than in a case?  You simply walk past and grab the guitar rather than sliding a case out from under the bed or wherever.  I play far more guitar with them on the wall.  I have 3 hung up in the bedroom (Well actually, 2 now.....) 

menamestom

terada said:

Really glad the disaster was averted!

I completely disagree with the idea that guitars are to either be in hands or cases. For me, if my guitars aren't handy, they ain't getting picked up. And if you like the look of them too, why not appreciate them as decor? Whats better than something that makes you want to pick it up every time you walk past?

Had 5 off mine on the wall for couple of years now, absolutely no problems. I rotate which guitars are on the hangers based on what hasn't had playtime in a while/mood etc. Teles don't go on them as the headstocks are too narrow to hang securely.

They are all fixed to brick wall with decent length screws. I suppose this would make you really nervous @DrBob? (although if I had kids, I think I'd be exactly the same as you! :-)

Looking at yours I do think 3 screws is a better idea, the string swings only have 2!