As guitarists, we spend countless hours researching and investigating our dream guitars yet comparatively little time determining how best to store our prized possessions. To most of us, a new guitar is best left in its case, yet this means our pride and joy is out of sight and worse even, out of mind. With one of the best guitar stands or hangers, you can proudly display your instrument front and center of your living room, studio, or rehearsal space making it easier to pick up and play whenever the mood takes you.
Without them, we’re at the mercy of knocks, scratches, spills and, essentially, gravity. That’s not to say we can’t display our guitars without a touch of class though. Read on to find our choices of the best guitar stands and guitar hangers available today.
Best guitar stands: Our top picks
Our pick of the bunch here is the Hercules Stands GSP39WBPlus. It’s simple to install and easy to use, doing an incredibly effective job of keeping your guitar safe from harm, whilst simultaneously taking up very little room.
In a close second comes the K&M Guardian multi-guitar stand, which offers an excellent option for players who like to change their instruments frequently. It boasts rock-solid build quality, feeling very robust whilst you can also fold it up and take it with you to the studio or to your next gig.
Alternatively, the Hercules GS414B offers the benefits of free-standing storage, balancing portability with strong construction, and means – in the best way possible – your guitars are going nowhere fast.
Best guitar stands and guitar hangers: Product guide
Choosing a guitar stand or hanger isn’t something most people would want to spend too long thinking about. After all, it only has one job to do, and ideally you never want to think about it again. With that in mind, the Hercules Stands GSP39WB Plus might be the perfect choice.
The Hercules is a wall hanging, single guitar holder, with a neat locking system to keep your guitar firmly in place. We particularly liked the general non-nonsense vibe here; it’s reliable, sturdy, and isn’t about to go dropping your prized guitar any time soon.
If space is an issue, a stand capable of holding multiple guitars together might be the answer for you. Yet at the cheaper end, some multi-guitar stands look like they wouldn’t survive a strong gust of wind. Not so the K&M Guardian series, which holds up to five guitars and looks like it’d survive a bomb blast.
The Guardian uses a special non-marring plastic, which means it will resist all those scuffs and scrapes, and we liked the way it could be folded down to make it easier to transport from studio to stage.
If you’re looking for a good quality, well-made guitar stand which sits well above the standard ‘entry-level’ models, then the Hercules Stands GS414B Plus hanging stand might just be the one for you. It has an overall high quality of construction, which gives confidence it’ll look after your guitar well, while we also appreciate the amount of versatility on offer thanks to a push-button height adjustable neck.
Every part of the stand that will come into contact with your guitar is covered in either foam or rubber, meaning there will be no scrapes or scratches, and the rubberized feet also mean it’s not going to go walkies any time soon.
As we mentioned earlier, there are some guitars out there which are just plain awkward. Sure, they sound great but when it comes to putting them down for a second, the problems begin. We’re thinking Jazzmasters, or Explorers, or some of the more angular offerings from the likes of BC Rich.
Step forward, Fender Universal A-Frame. This single-guitar floor stand has plenty in the way of adjustable arms, along with a side-mounted extra arm for further support. If your taste in guitars takes you to the extremes of body shapes, this is the stand for you.
If you’re a solo recorder, it’s often the case that you’ll record a take with your guitar and then want to review it before you move on to the next part. That often means a lot of picking the guitar up, and putting it down, and picking it up again. If you’re like us, anyway. As a quick and easy way to offer a bit of security against the guitar falling, the D’Addario Guitar Dock is well worth a look.
It attaches to your desk with a clamp, offering great rigidity, while the rubberized arms at the front do a good job of keeping the guitar steady while it’s docked.
Maybe you appreciate the finer things in life. Maybe you think it’s better to spend on something expensive that will last, opposed to the cheaper, disposable option which will break in three years. If this sounds like you, then the DRS Racks Bravo7 might be the guitar stand of your dreams. Because we all dream about guitar stands, no?
The Bravo7 is as well made as it is beautiful. Crafted from sustainably-sourced bamboo, and with space for up to seven guitars, it certainly looks the part. What we like most about the Bravo7, however, is its modularity. If your collection grows above seven guitars, you simply add another layer vertically. Clearly, this is not a cheap stand, but it just might be the only one you’ll ever need to buy.
D’Addario’s Guitar Rest offers a unique take on the guitar stand and hanger formula, offering something that sits somewhere in between. Its unique design means it’ll do the job where a regular guitar hanger or stand won’t.
The Guitar Rest works by simply placing it upon a flat surface like your desk. You can then lean your guitar against it, with its non-slip rubber construction ensuring that your instrument stays exactly where it should be.
The inert rubber is specifically designed to not be damaging to your guitar’s finish, whilst on the top a handy little tub allows you to store small accessories like guitar picks. Great for the home, studio, or even placing on top of your guitar amp on stage.
Finding an elegant solution to safely store six guitars isn’t an easy thing to do. But whatever it lacks in elegance, the Hercules GS526BPlus makes up for with sturdy, reliable utility. This tall, steel-framed stand allows you to stack two rows of three guitars around its circumference, minimising the amount of space taken up by the stand and its contents.
The GS526BPlus offers the ideal way to store up to six guitars which are in heavy rotation; perfect for use on a stage by your entire band, for example. Its heavy construction gave us complete confidence the guitars would be safe and snug, while it folds down neatly too making it a handy touring travel partner.
If you’re lucky enough to own a guitar which is so vintage, rare or expensive that you daren’t even play it, the Fender Display Case might be just the ticket. Fashioned from the base of either a black or tweed hardshell case, with a plush interior and clear plexiglass front, the Fender Display Case delivers the ultimate way to show off your pride and joy. We’ve seen these fitted with aftermarket LED striplights and the effect is stunning.
Admittedly you’re not going to be hauling this around anywhere on tour, and it is an expensive way to store one single guitar, but for the right situation it’s a pretty special solution.
If you’re one of those players that can’t stop buying guitars, then the Gravity VARI-G 7 Guitar Rack is for you. Coming with space for seven instruments, it’ll span collections that have electric, acoustic, and bass guitars with ease.
It’s foldable, which means you can take your expansive collection to gigs, or to that next studio session. If you’re in a band there’s plenty of space for everyone’s instruments, making it one of the most versatile stands on this list.
A specially formulated foam for your guitars to rest on ensures no damage to finishes and with the movable dividers, you can ensure the correct spacing which is great for mixing and matching different guitar body types.
The Fender 351 Guitar Wall Hanger helps you add a little pizazz to your home studio or recording space. Shaped just like Fender’s famous 351 celluloid guitar pick, this guitar wall hanger does the job of safely storing your guitar whilst looking seriously cool.
Only the best and most durable materials have been used in the manufacture of this guitar wall hanger, as you’d expect from one of the biggest names in the business. The foam-covered hanging point ensures your guitar is safe from harm.
Best guitar stands and guitar hangers: Buying advice
Choosing the best guitar stand or hanger for you
You can trust Guitar World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing guitar products so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Picking out the best guitar stand or hanger for you is just as much of a personal choice as picking the guitar itself. Depending upon the instrument that you have, you may wish to opt for one or the other based on the shape of the guitar. Offset designs like the Jazzmaster and Explorer type guitars often don’t sit well with the majority of guitar stands, so make sure you bear your guitar’s body shape in mind when choosing.
What’s the difference between a guitar stand and guitar hanger?
There are two main types of guitar storage solutions on offer here. A guitar stand will sit on the floor, providing a very stable base for your guitar. It will take up more room than a guitar hanger, but is often easier for quick instrument swaps. A guitar hanger on the other hand will be mounted onto your wall, which means it takes up less room, however, it won’t be quite as instantly accessible as a guitar stand.
If you’re the type of guitarist who often gigs or is in the studio, then you’ll need to account for this. A wall hanger isn’t going to cut it for regular travel, so you’ll need to look at a guitar stand that’s lightweight and easily transportable. There are plenty of choices here with three, five, and even seven guitar options available. Many of these are foldable so they can go wherever you do.
If you’re looking for something for the home or home studio, then you may want to take the aesthetic into account. Lots of guitar wall hangers come with designs on their mounting point, so you can match the wooden finish to that of your home, or just pick something that stands out a little more. You’ll tend to find there’s less choice here when you’re looking at guitar stands, but there are some interesting choices out there if you look hard enough!
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