PVC Guitar Stand for Guitar Hero and Rock Band

The Guitar Hero and Rock Band series have given us plenty of music, but they have also given us something else... many plastic guitars in different styles, shapes, and colors. After a while, moving those guitars around all the time gets frustrating and they are always falling over.

After looking through some of the PVC guitar stands here on Instructables I decided to come up with one that had proportions that would fit the game guitars. The best part is that if you have the tools you can make this stand for only around $15.

Before proceeding, a few pieces of advice. First, I recommend dry fitting the entire stand BEFORE gluing it together. PVC cement drys very quickly and if you make a mistake it leaves little time to adjust the parts. Second, when you are ready to glue the stand together make sure you do it in a well ventilated area because the PVC primer and cement give off very strong fumes. Make sure you read all warnings before beginning!

Step 1: Parts List

Here is what you will need to build this stand:

• 2 - 10' sections of 1/2" PVC pipe
• 6 - 1/2" PVC 90-degree connectors
• 14 - 1/2" PVC end caps (smooth, not threaded)
• 16 - 1/2" PVC T-connectors
• PVC primer and cement
• Some way to cut PVC (hacksaw, miter saw, PVC cutter, etc.)
• Tape measure or ruler
• Marker

You should be able to pick up all these items at your local home improvement store. The PVC cement/primer can usually be bought as a set at most home improvement stores. The PVC connectors can be bought individually or in contractor's bags, which will save you a little bit of money.

Step 2: Cut PVC Pipes

Use the tape measure, marker, and cutter to cut the PVC pipes into the following lengths:

• 2 - 30" lengths
• 2 - 18" lengths
• 10 - 4 1/2" lengths
• 2 - 4" lengths
• 4 - 2 1/4" lengths
• 2 - 1 3/4" lengths
• 15 - 1 1/2" lengths

Step 3: Assemble Base

Parts used in this step (for each side):

• 10 - 1 1/2" pieces
• 4 - 90-degree connectors
• 4 - end caps
• 6 - T-connectors
• 2 - 4" piece
• 2 - 30" pieces

Using the 1 1/2" pieces as connectors, assemble the feet for the base as shown. Keep in mind that you are making TWO halves, and each one will be a mirror image of the other (see picture 2). Use the 2 30" pieces to connect the two halves together and the base is done (see picture 3).

Step 4: Make Uprights

Parts needed for this step:

• 2 - 18" pieces
• 2 - 90-degree connectors

Simply attach one connector to the top of each upright.

Step 5: Make Neck Holders

Parts needed for this step:

• 10 - 4 1/2" pieces
• 10 - T-connectors
• 10 - end caps
• 5 - 1 1/2" pieces

Assemble each piece as shown (picture 1). Once you have 10 pieces, pair them up and connect each piece of the pair to the other using a 1 1/2" piece (picture 2). You should have 5 holders when you are finished (picture 3).

Step 6: Assemble Top Bar

Parts needed for this step:

• 4 - 2 1/4" pieces
• 2 - 1 3/4" pieces

Take each of the neck holders and connect them with another one with a 2 1/4" piece (picture 1). When you are finished you should have a row of neck holders(picture 2). I found it easiest to lay the neck holders on a flat surface when connecting them all. This insures that all the holders are aligned. Finally, connect the neck holders to the uprights on each end with a 1 3/4" piece (picture 3).

Step 7: Final Assembly

This is the easy part. Simply connect the top bar to the base.

Now the fun part: add your guitars! As you can see, this design holds a wide array of guitars. The neck holders make convenient places to store your cords or straps.

You can modify this design to hold fewer/more guitars. You just need to adjust the measurements and buy more/fewer T-connectors and end caps. If you are going to make this any bigger, I would recommend cutting the long bottom pieces in the middle and adding another foot for for support (about where the middle guitar is in the second picture). The PVC tends to sag over time even though the guitars don't weigh much.

Lastly, have fun! Customize your stand and post your results here!

Comments

[skipernicus]

I made this! It works pretty well, but mine needed one improvement: I added pipe insulation foam on the bottom pipes to keep the guitars from slipping around.

Thanks for this instructable!

[conor1148]

i have a stand like this for my three real guitars, it makes life so much easier since regular stands that only hold one guitar take up so much space

[scott!]

I prefer wall hanging because it takes virtually no space, and you canstill view al your guitars easily :D

[nc2014fan]

Great instructions!!! I tweaked mine a bit so it could hang on the wall. Added some paint and clear coat and bam!!! Check out the pics

[scott!]

Wait? Can't you only play with 2 guitars at a time? Why do you need 5?

[btravis72]

I love how you made it look like flames coming up from the bottom. Great job!

[jgrills]

I built a wood stand that will hold 10 guitars:

http://docsrockbandmods.netforums.us/the-great-axe-stand-holds-10-guitars-vt597.html

[pirate_monkey]

Just built this today. Took me two days - one to cut and assemble, then one to re-cut and assemble with glue.

I had to re-cut pieces as my T and L connectors were obviously of larger dimensions, but I think this looks pretty good. Heaps neater than stacking my 3 (probably soon to be 4) guitars against the couch!

Thanks btravis72
my guitar stand

[btravis72]

Looks great! Glad to help. I think you'll find it is much easier to move them out of the way when company comes over, too.

[Canadarocker]

Once I move into my new place I might build this, lol Rockband and Guitar Hero makes a small mess

[Big Bubba]

cool, 4/5 (i only play guitar hero, but if i had a whole bunch of guitars, i'd make one :D)

[soflyforawhiteguy]

would this same invention work for a real guitar...commment on my page if you want to reply plz

[GorillazMiko]

Nice idea! I was planning on making something like this, but was just too lazy to. And I don't have much PVC and I know I'm not going to buy any. Great Instructable, I added it to my Guitar Hero Mods group. +5/5 stars. (added to favorites)

[Bulletbill]

great instructable! this really, really helped

[Weissensteinburg]

Very innovative! You should send this over to them...if there's enough of a demand, they might come out with a series of stands.

[RetroTechno]

Good idea! PVC pipe is second only to duct tape as the most useful stuff ever. Do you think this thing would be sturdy enough to hold actual electric guitars? (You Guitar Hero types remember what those are, right? :-)

[btravis72]

There are other Instructables here on the site that do just that! Here is the one I used as inspiration for my scaled-down version.

[purduecer]

A curiosity question: If Guitar Hero/Rock Band require at most 2 guitars...why make a stand that holds 5 or more? Cool idea though, congrats :-)

[btravis72]

Well, three reasons. First, like Noodle93 says, when the games come out sometimes they aren't interchangeable with other versions, so you are forced to buy new guitars. Second, some versions of these games only shipped with a corded guitar. If you buy a wireless controller later you now have two guitars for that game. Third, and this is the main reason I made this stand, is when other people come over to play and bring their guitars. It helps keep the game room uncluttered when you have a bunch of kids taking turns playing these games. :)

[Noodle93]

Because he's been forced to use all different controllers from all the different games.