Guitars help us create musical art. When we play them during a gig, in a band, or while practicing, the sounds can transport us anywhere our imagination can conjure.
The artwork benefits of a guitar don’t stop when you’re finished strumming it. When you hang it on a wall, it becomes a statement piece for that room.
If you have a limited-edition instrument, this investment becomes part of your background ambiance.
Knowing how to hang a guitar on a wall correctly ensures that you won’t damage your instrument while creating an accessible display.
Is It OK to Hang a Guitar on the Wall or Will It Damage It?
Hanging a guitar on the wall is generally considered to be a safe storage method. It would be best if you affixed a bracket to the stud so that the surface can hold the instrument’s weight. Once installed, you can hang the guitar by the neck, allowing it to sit freely against the drywall.
Here are the tools you’ll need to hang a guitar on your wall safely and successfully.
- Wall Hanger
- Stud Finder
- Mounting Screws and Anchors
- Spirit Level
- Tape Measure
- Hammer Drill
- Screwdriver
- Hammer or Mallet
- Pencil
Once you have everything gathered, you’ll be ready to start the installation steps.
Your first task is to locate the wall stud where you intend to hang the guitar. Although some drywall installations may support lighter instruments, the weight would rip the hanger out of the sheetrock.
That outcome would damage your wall, and most likely, your instrument.
If you don’t have access to a stud finder, the knocking method may help you locate the wooden structure behind your wall.
Lightly tap on the sheetrock. You’ll hear a slightly hollow sound as you move across the wall, still knocking on it with your knuckles.
When you reach a stud, the hollowness disappears. It will sound like a solid thud instead.
Some people describe the sound as an echo when they knock on sheetrock between the studs.
If you have some of the tape, nails, or screws exposed in the drywall, you can have confidence that a stud is there.
Mark the location with your pencil. You’ll begin the installation process from that point.
Steps to Follow When Installing a Guitar on a Wall
Once you know where to install the wall hanger for your guitar, it is time to choose an appropriate product to support your instrument.
The best guitar wall hanger available today is the Hercules GSP38WBPLUS with a free auto grip system (AGS) lock and key.
You’ll receive several critical advantages for your guitar if you choose this wall hanger for your display.
- It uses a screw-in standard mounting system that connects firmly to the surface.
- You get an automatic swiveling yoke with the AGS system that rotates automatically to accommodate different styles of electric, acoustic, or bass guitars.
- The yoke on the Hercules wall hanger grips the neck of the instrument securely.
- A special foam covers the entire yoke to prevent damage from happening to your instrument while it remains on display.
- The included lock and key set ensure that your settings won’t adjust if the instrument gets bumped.
Once you have your guitar hanger available and the mark placed on your wall, it is time to complete the installation process.
1. Mark the Holes on the Wall Where You Will Mount the System.
The wall hanger comes with 2-3 holes for the bracket mounting process. After locating the stud and marking that spot with your pencil, place the guitar hanger where you intend to secure it to the wood behind the drywall.
Mark the placement of the 2-3 holes on the wall with your pencil. It helps to check your markings to see if they are level before proceeding to the next step.
2. Drill Holes for the Screws.
Take your hammer drill with a sharp bit. Match the size of the screw used to the dimensions of the tool so that you receive a supportive hole.
You’ll need to go into the surface about 1.5 inches to ensure that the anchors installed on the next step have enough room to operate.
Since you are going through sheetrock and wood to install your guitar wall hanger, a multipurpose bit is your best choice.
If your wall has tile on it for some reason, you’ll need a drill bit with a carbide bit.
Mark the place where you intend to drill with masking tape to prevent it from cracking or breaking as you work.
3. Install the Wall Anchors.
Plastic anchors will support the guitar’s weight while hanging from the Hercules equipment or your preferred wall hanger brand.
Once you have the pilot holes drilled in the wall, tap the anchor into place with your hammer or mallet.
Be gentle with this step because the materials can break. You can also inadvertently damage your wall if you swing and miss!
The anchor should sit flush to the wall’s surface when it is correctly installed.
If you cannot get it to go into the stud any further and it still sticks out, you’ll need to drill the hole deeper to accommodate the hanger’s installation.
4. Place the Bracket on the Wall.
Once the anchors are successfully installed, you can place your bracket in its intended position. You may need another set of hands to accomplish this step.
Firmly place the primary bracket against the wall’s surface. Use your drill to slowly place screws in each anchor, proceeding through the hanger so that it becomes affixed to the drywall.
Don’t tighten the screws until you have all of them partially installed.
If you tighten one before proceeding with the others, the holes of the wall hanger may misalign with the anchors you put into your wall.
After you have all of the screws installed correctly, tighten them in the order, you placed them.
5. Finish the Installation Work.
Your wall hanger may have multiple components to install after you place the bracket base on the sheetrock.
Please continue with the installation instructions provided by your product’s manufacturer until it is ready to support your instrument.
Carefully place your guitar into the wall bracket so that the instrument hangs freely from it. Do not let go of the weight until you’re confident that the guitar is secure.
When you know that it won’t go anywhere, gently release the guitar.
Step back from the installation, but don’t leave the room immediately. There would be a chance that the instrument could fall, even if the work were completed correctly.
Allow the guitar to hang for approximately five minutes.
Remove the instrument from the wall hanger, then inspect your work to see if everything is sturdy.
The anchors should be in the same place without causing any fraying around the surface edges.
If the hole is too large, you may notice the anchors starting to slide out from the guitar’s weight.
You may need to fill the void with compound putty, re-install the anchor, and complete these steps again to have a successful experience.
How Long Can My Guitar Hang on a Wall?
In theory, you can hang a guitar from a wall indefinitely. The downward weight of the instrument gets countered by the supports by the hanger.
As long as the padding doesn’t rub against the finish, you’ll have an effective way to keep your investment from being stuck on the floor.
Cheaper wall hangers may cause truss rod issues if you have a lower-end instrument that you use.
It may help keep your primary gig guitars on floor stands or rotate your collection periodically to protect your investments.
When placing your guitar in the wall hanger, be careful to avoid bumping the tuning handles.
If your installation places pressure on this part of the instrument, it may cause them to bend or snap with long-term storage.
You may want to verify how well the guitar hangs from the installation point before leaving it unsupervised.
Humidity Concerns to Manage with Wall-Based Guitar Displays
Once you have your guitars successfully installed on your wall, it is time to think about your home’s overall environment.
Most guitars require a specific humidity level and temperature to be stored safely, including metal instruments.
Since these settings can fluctuate throughout the day, even as the weather changes outside, it can be challenging to support these investments.
The only way to preserve a guitar when humidity and temperature levels are too high or low is to keep it in its case.
When you notice cracks forming in the instrument, that indicates there isn’t enough moisture available to support a wall-mount installation.
When the instrument swells enough that it gets out of tune because of the added moisture, you may need to consider an alternative arrangement.
You can solve these issues with a portable room humidifier or a whole-house humidification system. If you decide to take this route to correct the indoor environment, please be careful about having direct moisture impact the guitar.
How Many Guitars Can I Hang on My Wall?
If you have enough space on your wall, every guitar in your collection can be displayed while using this method.
The only requirements to consider are the supports available for the wall and the clearance you have for the instrument.
Some guitars, such as a dual-handle design, may not be suitable for this display method.
When you take the time to complete the installation steps in this guide correctly, you’ll love how your guitars look on your wall.
