guitar hanging from headstock on guitar stand

[KarenB]

I've been wondering about this. There are many guitar stands where my guitar would hang from the headstock, without having arms at the bottom of the stand to hold my guitar. How come the headstock doesn't loosen or have other problems? Thanks.

[Kyle76]

The headstock is not a weak point of the guitar. It’s designed to withstand the pressure of the strings. It can easily handle the weight of the guitar body.

[DenverSteve]

Originally Posted by Kyle76

The headstock is not a weak point of the guitar. It’s designed to withstand the pressure of the strings. It can easily handle the weight of the guitar body.

As long as you hang out mostly on Earth, this is correct. However, the stand is still one of the most vulnerable places to leave a guitar due to environmental hazards. You know, kids, pets, drunks, vacuums........

[RustyAxe]

Originally Posted by Antaren

I've been wondering about this. There are many guitar stands where my guitar would hang from the headstock, without having arms at the bottom of the stand to hold my guitar. How come the headstock doesn't loosen or have other problems? Thanks.

There is so little weight hanging as not to matter. Ever weigh your guitar? The ONLY stands I use on stage are hanging stands ... Ultimate S100. At home the guitars live in their cases at all times, except for a beater that's always out and available for when the muse strikes.

[fazool]

Originally Posted by Antaren

I've been wondering about this. There are many guitar stands where my guitar would hang from the headstock, without having arms at the bottom of the stand to hold my guitar. How come the headstock doesn't loosen or have other problems? Thanks.

Because the weight from the guitar is about 4 pounds and the string tension the opposite direction is about 200 pounds.

[auggie242]

For decades, mine have been hanging from stands (24/7) except when they're on my lap. I've never seen that cause any issues.

[fazool]

Originally Posted by Kyle76

The headstock is not a weak point of the guitar. It’s designed to withstand the pressure of the strings. It can easily handle the weight of the guitar body.

In addition these forces are acting in opposite directions.

The string force is actually compressing the neck with, say, 200 pounds.

The weight of the body is pulling the neck with, say, 4-5 pounds.

so the compression forces on the headstock are reduced from 200 to, say, 195 pounds but are still compressive.

Anyway it's trivial because its so tiny compared to the strength of the guitar.

[Nymuso]

I suspect most of the guitars owned by those on this forum spent a good deal of time hanging on a wall in some store, and many are still hanging on walls in dens, living rooms and man caves. It don't hurt the geetar none.

[KarenB]

Thanks for the info. Sounds like having arms on the bottom isn't any safer, at least to the headstock.

[vindibona1]

Originally Posted by Kyle76

The headstock is not a weak point of the guitar. It’s designed to withstand the pressure of the strings. It can easily handle the weight of the guitar body.

Not only that, but the weight of the guitar helps counter the tension on the strings, albeit only slightly.

I ONLY use hanging stands. They're easy to use and IMO harder to knock over [think- the toy clown riding a unicyle on a string with counterweights hanging down].

I have this stand.
>>>>>>>https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/GtrStdHang Weighs only 2 lbs. Costs only $20. Folds small (22"). My daughter has the Ultimate 100 stand and I like mine better because it has the leg reinforcements which make the thing stable. Easy to take on gigs as I can hold my guitar case and stand in one hand. I can't really think of any negatives. Even though it's cheap and light it for sure meets my needs in all areas.

[FrankHudson]

Originally Posted by DenverSteve

As long as you hang out mostly on Earth, this is correct. However, the stand is still one of the most vulnerable places to leave a guitar due to environmental hazards. You know, kids, pets, drunks, vacuums........

You may think they're well-trained, but it's safest to not allow intoxicated puppies to do any housework whatsoever.

[RustyAxe]

Originally Posted by vindibona1

My daughter has the Ultimate 100 stand and I like mine better because it has the leg reinforcements which make the thing stable.

As long as you click the little red knob into place the S100 is perfectly stable, as it is designed to be.

[frankmcr]

Walk into any guitar store & you'll see not only acoustic guitars hanging by the headstock, but Les Pauls & other relatively heavy electrics, even big-ticket vintage jobs. It's not a problem.

[Misifus]

The only problem I’ve encountered with hanging my guitars like that is neck stretch. A couple of my short scale models are getting close to 25.4”.

[Jeff Scott]

Originally Posted by Misifus

The only problem I’ve encountered with hanging my guitars like that is neck stretch. A couple of my short scale models are getting close to 25.4”.

Careful, the OP may take that seriously.