Building your own guitar stand will not only save you costly repairs by preventing a fall, it will also keep your instrument tuned and ready to rock when its not in the case. These plans will allow you to build your own stand.
Acoustic Guitar Stand
This free-standing guitar stand is small and portable, and it sports a drawer that keeps all your necessary gear handy. To download the plans, click on the image. If you need help, view LoveToKnow's Guide for Adobe Printables.
A Stand That Reduces Tension
There are many styles of guitar stands available, but some may extend the life of your strings. When a guitar hangs or rests on the neck, it could cause the neck to stretch and twist, which may affect string tension. This could cause your guitar to require excessive tuning or replacing of guitar strings and possibly degrade the guitar's neck.
This acoustic guitar stand uses the wide acoustic body to support and balance the entire guitar. While entrapping the body of the guitar on the foam wrapped pipes to prevent falls, the base tilts the center of gravity up to balance the neck and reduce stress on the overall instrument.
Stand Making Tips
Do it yourself is never an exact science since drill presses and machine tools don't fill the average garage, which means every cut or hole won't be perfectly square. A little trimming will almost always be necessary to get a proper fit but remember to 'just be patient' when making adjustments, this will prevent your small difference from becoming a huge redo.
- Using a compass for the 9 1/4" radius may prove difficult since a clear mark for the center point could be floating in space away from the board. Instead use a large 18" bowl or tire rim to line up the two 2" circles and trace a radius for your initial boards A and B. Clamp cut boards A together and B together when sanding and you will always end up with a mirror image of the first board even if you sand more, or less, than you intend to.
- Never cut PVC pipe with a hacksaw. The jagged edge and uneven surface makes coupling with any material impossible so use a ratcheting PVC tubing cutter. It self aligns with the pipe to give you an even edge and hand ratchets through the pipe creating a stable cut without wasting material on either side.
- Since PVC pipes and wooden boards are dissimilar materials, it may be better to use an all purpose adhesive instead of wood glue. Liquid nails adheres to almost any material, expands and contracts to prevent cracking, and is available at most home improvement stores.
- Lamp weights and HDPE plastic could be found at your local donation station, such as Goodwill or the Salvation Army. There might be some disassembly required to get your part from the gem found, but your savings, and lending hand, will pay off in the end.
- Plywood is mentioned because of its easy-to-find nature, but it is not mandatory. The small footprint of this stand can be made from many types of reused or recycled wooden shelves. Just make sure the shelves you find aren't laminated particle board, which doesn't stand up to abuse and is unrepairable after it starts to crumble.
Other Style Options
No matter how a passion for music is supported, guitars look their best when the stand that displays them is built with the hands performing the melody. If you wish to shop around for different guitar stand inspiration the following selections may interest you.
- CraftedWorkshop from Instructables has a simple template that you can build from a single piece of wood, or maybe try Flark's more concrete electric guitar option if you want a modern look that will stay put and stand out.
- Leenart on Makezine designed a simple cross-fit stand that needs no hardware or glue which makes hitting the road simple.
- Fine Woodworking's simple stool/stand by member Buffettfan05 uses a piece of Oregon myrtle to support the guitar and the bottom for a nice dual purpose piece. A stool base that is in need of repair could be up-cycled for this inspirational and environmentally friendly combination.
Safety First
When cutting use safety glasses, sanding use dust masks, and finishing, wear gloves to always protect against any visual, respiratory, or skin hazards that could cause discomfort or more permanent damage to your health. Nobody wants to visit the emergency room before, during, or after a project is completed and common sense plays a vital role in your safety, so if you feel iffy about the fit of a clamp or the stability of a saw horse just stop, and take the time to make it right.
