I want to make a guitar rack to hold my basses. I have an alcove in my music room that is 680mm / 27" wide and want to keep 8 instruments in there. An off the shelf rack will hold 3 or 4. What kind of material is good for protecting the instruments? I don't think pipe lagging is going to be durable enough.
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What material to make a guitar rack from?
- Thread starter smart51
- Start date
When I wanted to make some simple stands I formed the uprights from 1/2" aluminum rod and ordered the correct sized EDPM to slip over the rods as they were assembled. It serves only to prevent contacting the rods and isn't used for actually holding instruments. That part is done by the String Swing hangers, available in bulk from String Swing. Whatever you choose to use should be non-reactive for any type of finish. For the type of rack you are thinking about I'd probably go with carpeting over the structural part of the rack. Any place the instruments contact should have padding and non-reactive covering applied.
Bob over at "I Like to Make Stuff" had a video on his DIY guitar rack, might be helpful to check that out...
For a custom made permanent rack, I'd make the frame from wood, screwed and glued together. Pad the contact points with clean padded cloth, such as the inexpensive micro-fiber polishing cloths, or even bathroom towels and washcloths. Wrap them around the wood parts and glue or staple them, like upholstery. I like cloth or carpet better than foam for the padding.
If you want to get fancy, you can buy plush upholstery cloth and the padding that goes underneath it. As used in nice guitar cases.
If you want to get fancy, you can buy plush upholstery cloth and the padding that goes underneath it. As used in nice guitar cases.
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Yeah, that's the sort of thing. I'd want to use something with a bit more padding than leather.
Some foam materials can react with finishes, so you may want to be selective when sourcing a material for padding.
Go with what they put in guitar cases or gig bags. Maybe even just cut up and old gig bag if you have one for the soft bits.
Or buy a cheap or used guitar or bass hardshell and you instantly have the tray and padding.
I made a guitar case rack with under storage from an entry rug and an old Ikea dresser.
Go with what they put in guitar cases or gig bags. Maybe even just cut up and old gig bag if you have one for the soft bits.
Or buy a cheap or used guitar or bass hardshell and you instantly have the tray and padding.
I made a guitar case rack with under storage from an entry rug and an old Ikea dresser.
A friend of mine that has a parts Stratocaster monkey on his back (has about 25 or so) uses those closet guitar type hangers sold on Amazon & keeps them hanging in the closet of his music room.
Maybe a couple closet dowel brackets and span a pole across? Not as nice/fancy looking as a rack, but certainly easy and effective.
Maybe a couple closet dowel brackets and span a pole across? Not as nice/fancy looking as a rack, but certainly easy and effective.
Guitars and basses aren't too heavy. Most materials will be durable enough. Wood can look the best in my opinion, and is probably the easiest to make one out of. I would go with some nice soft wood like pine. Design something nice, include good angles for stability, maybe a brace or two, and you're good to go. Or just look for a design online.
For padding, you can use many different things. Cloth, some kind of foam, maybe some leather.
For padding, you can use many different things. Cloth, some kind of foam, maybe some leather.
Honestly, 8 instruments in just over two feet would be way too tight for my comfort. I have a String Swing floor rack that’s a comparable size that holds six and I’m constantly whacking bass bodies against each other. For reference from String Swing:
Is the alcove full room height? If so, think double-decker to make the space-per-axe more generous (or to add actual dividers, given post #12 here.) As for what to put on contact surfaces, the family heirloom mandolin has spent the better part of 109 years in a velvet-lined case with no finish damage. Cotton padding under the face won't put you in the position of finding out 5 years down the road that whatever foam was not the right kind of foam padding after all.
I don't know how one really nails that down without a doubt other than try it and find out. Trust your supplier, I suppose, and hope they haven't found a new, more profitable foam formula that happens to damage finishes or decompose 5+ years later.
I don't know how one really nails that down without a doubt other than try it and find out. Trust your supplier, I suppose, and hope they haven't found a new, more profitable foam formula that happens to damage finishes or decompose 5+ years later.
I built one from scrap plywood and other assorted scrap wood. I think it came out pretty damn well, but it holds 7 and I think it's at least 6-8" wider than your space. Never the less, may be an idea you could use -
I went with wool felt on my rack - F3, 1/8" thick, adhesive-backed strips.
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/six-guitar-rack.1639376/
You can get it in a lot of different shapes and from different sources. I ordered from Fix Supply last time.
Felt Sheets, Strips & Rolls | Fix Supply
I agree with the others about 27" not being much space for eight instruments. While they will fit in that space, getting one in and out without bumping it into the others will be a constant hassle. Two rows of four would be great if you have the height for it.
Enjoy!
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/six-guitar-rack.1639376/
You can get it in a lot of different shapes and from different sources. I ordered from Fix Supply last time.
Felt Sheets, Strips & Rolls | Fix Supply
I agree with the others about 27" not being much space for eight instruments. While they will fit in that space, getting one in and out without bumping it into the others will be a constant hassle. Two rows of four would be great if you have the height for it.
Enjoy!
Here's my finished rack. I had the idea of using thick walled heat shrink over dowels. The stuff I got was glue lined, which sounded fine. But it stuck to the wood rather than pulling tight round it. The result is a bit more lumpy than I'd planned.
The rack will hold 6 electric basses comfortably. The acoustic bass takes up 2 slots.
The rack will hold 6 electric basses comfortably. The acoustic bass takes up 2 slots.