Rack Your Axe: a Low Cost Guitar Stand for Rock Band

 The Rock Band product was developed by musician/engineers.  Neither group known for their sensitivity to room decor. Thus the consumer is left without a protected place to store the delicate musical instrument.   You do not have to put your guitar on the floor in the tangled cables and crushed cheetos. This storage system holds two, four, maybe more, guitars, costs less than a buck, keeps the kit together and beats The Man out of $30, ( price of after market accessory stand). The strap button on the bottom of the guitar sits in a 1/2” hole you drill in the drum kit base while the neck is held in a loop of shock cord.  Cheap and cheerful.  I can't sing or play, but groupies flock to my guitar stand.

Step 1: Take It Apart

Disassemble the drum kit by twisting and pulling the metal tubes out of their plastic sockets.

Step 2: Drill Pilot Holes

 Drill small diameter pilot holes in each plastic foot. Turn them over and drill from the bottom side. Allow enough clearance to keep the 1/2''dia drill from hitting a web in step 3.
It is said that you can never have too many guitars. Go ahead and drill holes in all four locations in anticipation of your share of the gate.

Step 3: OPTION a a Drilled Hole

Turn the foot right side up and drill the pilot hole out to 1/2''dia.
Note: If you make the hole 9/16''dia it will also accommodate the slightly larger strap button of a Guitar Hero instrument.

Step 4: OPTION B Bottle Cap

OPTION:     Skip all this measure and drill bother and simply fasten a plastic bottle cap with a sheet metal screw at the hole location. You might choose a slightly different location, just stay clear of the webs and don't drive a screw into the tube socket. If the bottle cap is deep enough, the screw head won't be able to scuff up the button.

Step 5: The Fixed End of the Shock Cord

The strap is 1/8''dia shock cord. Buy a couple feet. The drawstring from your shorts might do.  Drill a hole just large enough to pass the shock cord in the web under the left and right drums located as shown in the photo.

Step 6: Cut the Slot

The strap is fastened by a captured bead.  Cut slots in the bridges between red and yellow drums and green and blue drums located as shown in the photo. The slot is just wide enough to pass the diameter of the shock cord ( 1/8'' ), and deep enough to keep the bead, about 3/16''. I used a skinny rat tail file to cut the slots.

Step 7: Assembly

Assemble the shock cord. Tie a knot in one end of the shock cord and thread it through the drilled hole in the web. Thread it through a pony bead and put a loose knot in the other end. I suppose it'll work without the bead, but I think it's a classy touch.

Reassemble the kit.

Place guitar strap button in the hole in the foot.   With the neck behind the drums, route the shock cord around the neck , over the bridge between the drums and put the bead behind the slot. Adjust the position of the bead's knot to keep a little tension.  Leave a tail to help you find the bead to unfasten your guitar when your soul cries out for expression.