My Multiple Guitar Stand

This is a multiple guitar stand that i recently built. It holds 2 acoustic guitars, a ukulele, and up to 5 electric guitars at the same time. It is made completely out of wood, and foam pipe insulation. I (at the moment) only have 2 acoustic guitars, 3 electrics, and a uke. One of my electric guitars it not shown here.  

Step 1: Materials Needed

MATERIALS
-foam pipe insulation ( both 2 inch inside diameter, and one inch inside diameter)
-one 2x4
-one 2x3
-one 2x2
-one 36 inch long wooden dowell (1 in. wide)
-numerous screws or nails

TOOLS
-scissors
-a sander
-a drill and bits or a hammer
-a wood saw
-a sharpie/pencil
-a tape measure

OPTIONAL
-primer
-spray paint
-clamps
-a multitool is awesome to have

Step 2: Cutting the Wood

You will need two 20 inch 2x4s.
You will need one 40 inch 2x4.
You will need two 28 inch 2x3s.
You will need one 43 inch 2x2.
You will need one 46 inch 2x2. (not shown)
You will need nine 4 inch pieces of 1 inch thick dowell.

All of the pictures below are just when the wood it stacked the way it is going to eventually be screwed down. None of the pictures are of the wood already screwed together.

Step 3: Sanding It Down

Take the sander and sand down every piece of wood that you have cut. Sand down all of the edges, and any splinters that there are. Remember, just as an early reminder for the next step, pre drill a hole in every piece of wood that you will be putting a screw through. This is so that the wood will not split when you screw it down.

Step 4: The Base of the Stand

Take the three 2x4 pieces, and put them all vertically on the ground. Line up the two 20 inch pieces, and put the 40 inch one in between, also standing vertical. Put the long 2x4 about 4-5 inches up from the back of the 20 inch pieces, and screw it down. Make sure everything is square. If it is not, take out the screws and try again. Then take the 43 inch piece of 2x2 and screw it down about one inch in from the other end of the vertical 20 inch 2x2. Set your guitar on it, to make sure that the body supporters are close enough to hold the guitars body.

Step 5: The Main Support

Take the two 28 inch 2x3s and pre-drill holes in them where you are going to screw them down. Screw them in at the back (behind the vertical 40 inch 2x4) of the 20 inch 2x4s on either side. Put two or three screws in here so it will stand strong.

Step 6: The Neck Support

Take the 46 inch piece of 2x2, and mark accordingly where you need the neck supporters to be. This depends on how many guitars you have, and how much spacing you want in between them. It took my father and me forever to do this. Sorry for the inconvenience. When you are done, screw the 2x2 into the two standing 2x3s. Make sure the dowell pieces face outward.

Step 7: Last Sanding

Sand down the entire project once it is put together. Take any rough areas, splinters, and stamped logos out of the wood. Also make sure there are no sharp corners.

Step 8: Test It Out

Cover the pars of the stand that support the guitars with a rag or a towell, and set a guitar on it to make sure it is going to fit your needs. If not, adjust the placement of the up-right 2x3s and the wood that supports the guitar's body.  

Step 9: Priming

Priming and painting is optional. You don't have to do it, but I chose to. You are going to have to go somewhere where there is sufficent space to work. I used a garage, but only because it was windy outside. I would go into a driveway or your backyard to do this. Cover your workspace with newspaper, or plastic. Decide whaat color you want to paint the guitar stand, and buy a primer that will look good underneath the paint. I painted mine a brown, rock-like color, so I used red primer. Cover the entire project with primer, but make sure yo don't apply it too thick. Also make sure the area is well  ventilated. If you start to feel lightheaded, take a break and air out the room.

Step 10: Painting Your Guitar Stand

I chose a textured spray paint that looks like rock when it drys. It was a light brown color. Make sure that the primer is dry, and if it is not, let it dry before you begin painting. Lay out newspaper, and put the guitar stand on top of it. Paint over the primer. Spray the paint on in any pattern that you desire. I ended up needing 3 cans of paint.

Step 11: Let It Dry

Let the stand sit in the sun for a few hours, to make sure it is all dry.

Step 12: Cut the Foam Insulation

Now you will need to cut the foam insulation to size. You will need one 43 inch piece of the 2 inch diameter foam, and one 40 inch piece of the 2 inch diameter foam. You will also need nine 4 inch sections of the smaller diameter foam, to cover the neck pegs. In the pictures, I just layed it out next to where it will be stapled down. Cut the small pieces that are shown in the last picture.

Step 13: Apply the Padding

You don't want  your guitars to get scratched, so why wouldn't you put on padding? Take the 2 inch diameter foam padding and wrap it around the two guitar support beams on the bottom, and put in in between all of the dowells on the neck supporter. Then take the smaller foam insulation and slide it over the pegs. You can use a staple gun or small screws to secure the foam padding. The larger foam insulation that I used already had adhesives on it. For the small pieces, I used a spray on adhesive.  

Step 14: Final Check.....

Ask yourself these questions when the guitar stand is finished.

Does the guitar fit in it correctly?
Does it look good?
Will it support the weight of multiple guitars?
Does it take up too much or too little space?
Are the guitars safe from scratches or dents?
Are there any sharp corners?
Are there any splinters?

If there is a problem with the stand, try your best to go back and fix it. The exact dimensions can be modified to fit more or less guitars, if it be needed.

Step 15: Use It!

Place the guitars in vertically, as shown in the photo. You can put this stand anywhere, and it is a great alternative to single guitar stands. This stand takes up less space than 3 single guitar stands do, and that is great considering it can hold many more guitars.

Comments

[jarebear124]

Could you make it more portable with some hinges or something? If so, how?

[tag78]

Does that type of foam insulation have any adverse effects on guitar finishes? Some of those soft, rubber/foam materials will cause problems where they contact the guitar.

[laney123]

Nice looking stand! My question is how much did it cost to get ALL PARTS?

[Livliv]

Nice butterscotch tele!!!

[bassmike]

hey how far away are each of the pieces of dowell would you know the measurements by chance and great build

[Stevie Zee]

Great build and great Instructable! Thanks very much. Built one of my own last night, modified a couple of inches here and there, but otherwise used yours for the majority of the planning.
I'm working on a version that has a top rail that has adjustable (and lockable!) pegs that can slide in either direction to maximize space as your guitar collection changes.

[freeza36]

Awesome man!

[v93kv]

can't wait to get started -- great job on this freeza36! Could you possibly give me the approx. spacing you used for both the electric and the acoustic pegs?

[freeza36]

thanks. from center to center: the electric pegs are 4.5 inches - the aciustic are 5.5 inches

[freeza36]

Just figured I should name the guitars that I have.
-Dean Evo Xm
-Fender Squier Affinity Series Telecaster
-Fender Silverburst Starcaster (not shown)
-Lanikai Lu-11 Ukulele
-Grenada Steel String Acoustic
-Takamine GS 330s Steel String Acoustic

[canucksgirl]

Congratulations on being featured in the Instructables Emailer. Great Job! :D

[freeza36]

thanks!

[lordzamiel]

I know what my next project is! Great job =D

[Aron313]

Nice stand!!!! :)

[NatureGeek24]

Very nice! Great starting point that can be customized so many ways.

[Higgs Boson]

This is very cool! It looks like you could modify it for other instruments.

[freeza36]

yeah you could. Bass guitars would fit anyway, and the uke spot was actually a complete accident

[firepup104]

nice tele

[freeza36]

its actually a squier tele. Not the real thing but thanks

[canucksgirl]

Good Job freeza36! :)