Expert: Joe O'Neill - 10/8/2009

Question
Hello,

My name is Will Hart.I am in the Engineering Design and Development class at Glencoe High School in Hillsboro, Oregon. For my project, I have to validate that improvements to guitar stands are necessary. Do you believe, from your experience with handling guitars and guitar stands, that there could be improvements made? For example, have you ever had damage to one of your guitars from the guitar being bumped out of the stand? Do you wish that placing the guitar in the stand could be both instant and secure?

I'd appreciate your feedback,
-Will Hart

Answer
Will - It's about time someone addressed this problem....and indeed it's always been a problem. Just last night I was setting my bass guitar into it's a-frame saddle, but the guitar sat too low in the saddle and the bottom of it rubbed onto the floor. The a-frame can be opened and closed manually and set at different distances, but it's a pain. The only nice thing is the fact that it can collapse and be easily carried without taking up significant space.

The fact is that acoustics, electrics, and basses, come in all shapes and sizes. Different neck thicknesses, different heights, and significant weight differences. I'm not sure what solutions could be designed to be a one-all answer to this. There's also the problem of the instrument sitting to close to the floor once it's been plugged in, as this often protrudes from the bottom of the instrument and rubs on the floor. I probably have five failed cables in my bag caused by this this.

Stand must be solid to avoid tipping, easily transportable, and the saddle (or device) holding bottom of instrument needs to be higher. That's just my take on it. Oh yes....it needs to be affordable, as many of us players often have multiple guitars. I have five. Seems like a good project!

Joe