Keeping a Les Paul

[fretmedic]

What is the best way to keep a Les Paul? In the case except when playing it, or in the rack with all the other guitars ready to pick up at a moments notice.

 

I find that I am more likely to play it if I can just reach and get it than if I have to pull it out of the case when I want to play. Is it good or bad to keep it out in the open air all the time?

[sparquelito]

The conventional wisdom is to keep them in the case until it's time to play, but I have never subscribed to that theory.

 

As long as your music room or playing area has a consistent temperature regulation, and isn't too humid, your Les Paul is just fine sitting in the stand or hanging on the wall.

 

Keep it well dusted, and wiped down with Gibson Guitar Polish.

:)

[Golden]

The conventional wisdom is to keep them in the case until it's time to play,

 

Yeah thats it for sure. Its a individual circumstance, that said mine are out!

[Rabs]

Same here, all mine are on display as I like looking at them as much as I like playing them.. As long as the environmental conditions are fairly stable then it should be no issue.. One of my guitars is 14 years old and has been sitting on a stand all that time (obviously when im not playing it :)) and its perfectly fine...

 

The only thing you need to be careful of (and you probably know this) is that nitrocellulose does not like foam rubber.. Like the foamy rubber on the back of the stand and the legs.. It will burn the finish if you leave them on there too long.. Even though I know this I once for some reason forgot to cover one of the back of my stands and this happened (within a week) (and luckily it wasn't my Standard or Classic, now that would have been really upsetting)

 

Apart from that.. Yeah just dust em, maybe a bit of lemon oil to freshen your fretboard once a year.. That's it really, they are pretty tough and long lasting guitars when it comes down to it (well maybe apart from the headstocks ) we still have guitars from the 50s.. That's how long they can last if you just give them a bit of care, a whole persons lifetime.

[rct]

I always found that what to do with the cases was the biggest problem, they take up twice as much room as a guitar. So I'd keep the guitars out in big racks and...stack, pile, lean, and otherwise try to figure out what to do with all the cases. Then I ran into a guitar case stand maker at a guitar show and bought a couple of them and now just keep them in their cases in the case racks. I always want to play them, so I keep a couple on stands upstairs always at hand, and rotate them. Somewhat.

 

rct

[capmaster]

I prefer cases collecting dust over guitars doing so. That's why I keep all of them in their cases when not in use and direct access for immediate use is not required.

 

Honestly, I rather use a vacuum cleaner for case surfaces than I clean guitars using whatever. Nevertheless I breathe on them and wipe them with soft facial tissues after playing.

[Golden]

I prefer cases collecting dust over guitars doing so.

 

But thats the paradox and dilemma, if your not playing them which is the better collecting dust??

 

The case?

 

We're now assuming peoples play as we do. Some apparently do not. Some type of rare occasion like e birth day party or something.

[capmaster]

But thats the paradox and dilemma, if your not playing them which is the better collecting dust??

 

The case?

 

...

Well, I can't play dozens of axes at a time, and in the average every single one of them spends just a few minutes per day in my hands. Considering the effort it takes to keep the cases clean, I never ever would want that loads of dust to collect on my guitars.

 

The late bandmate who passed away last year had all his guitars always on display around what became his deathbed in the end. Believe me, they looked awful. For instance, the Gibson headstock fronts were rather light grey than black. He was so weak during his latest months and finally unable to play, so I never talked to him about that.

 

All in all, as long as my health allows for playing, I will be able to pull them out of their cases and put them back in again.

 

Just my two cents...

[Golden]

All in all, as long as my health allows for playing, I will be able to pull them out of their cases and put them back in again.

 

 

What is playing, like you some of us consider this a daily interaction, from there all bets are off. As is how case interaction should work, imho.

[capmaster]

Forgot to mention that I don't have to care for sudden, short-term changes of air temperature and humidity while venting, regardless if summer or winter. The guitars are kept well in their cases, and minutes later the room climate is fine again. I wouldn't want temperature and humidity shocks affecting any guitar, including solid-bodied and poly-finished. It worked well for 35 years and still does.

[Searcy]

Hang it on the wall in the room where you play, high enough where the flood water can't reach it. Never use a case unless you're heading out to a gig. If you don't gig don't buy a case.

[capmaster]

Hang it on the wall in the room where you play, high enough where the flood water can't reach it. Never use a case unless you're heading out to a gig. If you don't gig don't buy a case.

Well, rehearsals away from home can be reason enough I think.

[kidblast]

I've got over 20 guitars, (significant "investment" here) and yes, cases may be a pain in the arse, but IMHO it's the safest place for them to be to avoid issues with climate related problems, and the odd chance of accidents. Especially for any high end acoustics you may have. I play everyday, sometimes, I have more than one out depending on what's happenen round here, but at the end of the day, they're usually all back in the case, and back my gear storage closet, which is locked up tight during weekends or weeks we're not home. Maybe I'm OCD? I've been accused of this before! :unsure:

[stein]

Dust isn't the worst thing for a guitar. Then again, there is cigarette smoke....

 

Really, dusting off guitars can be as much of a pain as getting them out of the case. So it's a case of what one feels like doing.

 

So long as it's SAFE where ever it is, but that's a trade-off too.

 

Even if it is in a case, the guitar in it's case has to be somewhere safe.

 

I think it's more a lifestyle choice than a right or wrong thing.

[merciful-evans]

I have a couple of wall hangers in my studio and one in my living room.

I feel the need to have a guitar within reach at all times. Keeping one on the wall makes that possible (its out of direct sunlight).

 

I used to keep my designated 'practice' guitar there. The idea was to play the hell out of the practice guitar and save the good guitar for gigs.

This worked well for some 18 years.

 

Now:

I have several guitars and rotate what guitar is kept on the hanger downstairs. Its most often the Epi Casino Coupe, simply because it doesn't have its own case. It shares a case with my ES-339.

 

Yes I feel reluctant to keep Gibsons out too long because of the the nitro issue(I dont like nitro BTW).

 

Right now, Ive just put the Ric back away in its case & hung the Deuce up on the wall (Ive just brought it back home from my luthier).

[Pesh]

I used to keep them all locked away in their cases or bags (until playtime, of course) but then I got given a rack, so I've had them sitting on that for a few weeks now. Having them there in sight and easy grab does prompt me into picking them up more often, and alternating between them, too, rather than picking a favourite. The rack can hold 5 in it's current configuration, with the option to expand it by another 5, so when that gets more full up I'll probably end up putting the more sentimental pieces in the safe spots of their cases.

[Guest Farnsbarns]

All mine hang on the wall. All I can say is it's up to you. If every person I met said a guitar should be in it's case it wouldn't change my outlook. I like them, I like to see them and seeing them makes me play them. YMMV.

[1all's Pub]

My LPs are always in the case when they are not being played. Just too many variables with having them sitting/hanging out (dust, sunlight, accidental knock over/off, my 12yr and his buddies inability NOT to touch them, etc). It's just the safest, most logical place for them to be and where they will remain the rest of their lives when not being played.

 

That said, I do sometimes keep a cheap guitar out on a stand... for ease of access. But no way I'd leave my expensive Gibsons out like that. Not happenin'....

[Ed Zeplin]

I love having mine at hand.

[brantobrien]

I've always subscribed to the keep it in the case philosophy, but recently another player pointed out that his only heartbreak happened with an acoustic that barely got played. He kept it in the case only to one day discover that it had dried and cracked the top. If it was out and on his wall it would've been seen and cared for (and probably played more). My opinion now is changing to keep them out and use the cases for maintenance and when the guitar will leave the house. Truth is do what you're comfortable with and in a way that inspires you to play…better out than in...it just feels better.

[charlie brown]

Most guitars, need very little maintenance, beyond common sense.

Keeping the humidity within range, minor adjustments if/as needed,

and cleaning only as truly warranted. Wipe down the fingerboard,

and metal parts (especially "gold" parts), after you play, and

that's about it! Polish, only when truly needed.

 

I tend to keep several guitars out of their cases, and rotate those,

so every one get's played, on a more or less equal basis. It's always

nice to re-discover what one loved about those guitars, to make you

purchase them, in the first place! So, I do that, as often as possible!

 

Cheers,

 

CB

[SteveT2]

Mine stay on stands. I have three that I rotate between the living room and spare bedroom. One in living the other two in the spare room. Have amps in both rooms so it doesn't matter where I am as far as playing goes

[Drog]

I have my guitars in a humidity controlled room, the cases are stored in another room. I hang all my guitars on the walls. It not only allows easy access but also provides me art to look at. Guitars are beautiful pieces of art made to be played. My only problem is I am running out of wall space. lol. Guess I might have a second guitar room soon, lol.

[ajay]

Mine are in the case. I live in an old farmhouse. If I had a more modern dwelling, I may leave my LPJ handy, but it is nice taking them out and having them just like new except for play wear. I have a guitar polishing cloth, and rub down my arm rest area and the neck. I give the top and sides a quick rub down, and that's my guitar maintenance. I learned to use lemon oil on the fretboard once a year. I had an acoustic that I never worried about the fretboard on, because I always washed my hands and forearms before I played.But, one day I noticed that I could see the cowboy chords and lower barre chords plain as day, so now I'm good to my Rosewood too.

[rickc]

I'm with Charlie Brown; I rotate. Too many to have them all out at the same time in my small, rented home. In the past, when my digs were mine and bigger, I had them all out all the time; hanging on walls, standing on stands. But, if you have them out you have to take care of them. They bring out the OCD in me; I wash hands before playing, clean strings after playing, keep necks oiled and bodies polished/clean. Now I only have two or three out at a time but rotate every couple of weeks.