Although it is no grand piano or large record player, storing a guitar long term can still be a difficult task. You need to make sure that your guitar remains protected, as well as in the right conditions, to prevent long-term and irreversible damage. With our expert help, you should be able to do just that.
To store a guitar long term,
- Remove all detachable parts.
- Dust and clean guitar.
- Secure in a guitar case.
- Wrap in bubble wrap for additional protection.
- Secure in a cardboard box.
- Hire a purpose-built storage unit.
1. Remove Detachable Parts
First things first, remove all detachable parts from the guitar. This might include a guitar strap, bridge cover, tuner or other accessories. You should wrap each individual part in bubble wrap, and then store in a labelled and secure cardboard box or sealable bag near the guitar.
2. Dust and Clean Guitar
Next, give your guitar a good clean. Although this step is not essential, it stops old dust and dirt from entering your new home — and potentially causing long-term damage to your instrument.
How you clean your guitar is dependent on the material it is made from but, for the most part, you can remove most dirt and grime from the fret and fingerboards with a (very) fine steel wool cleaner and soft microfibre cloth. For full guidance on how to clean each part of your guitar, check out this helpful video from PMTV below.
3. Secure in a Guitar Case
Your clean guitar can now go in a guitar case. This case should (ideally) be a hard case that has been custom-made for your specific guitar. For obvious reasons, these cases are the best as they have been designed to store your guitar with a snug and secure fit.
If you don’t have a guitar case and are unable to get one before it needs to be stored, you should be able to wrap the guitar in packing paper and bubble wrap, and secure it with tape. We recommend that, before you do this, you loosen the strings on your guitar. Taut strings can create pressure, and this could cause them to snap during the move.
4. Wrap in Bubble Wrap
For additional protection, you can wrap the guitar case in bubble wrap (and the guitar if you don’t have a case and you haven’t yet). That being said, if you do have your guitar in a hard case, the snug fit should prevent all contact damage.
5. Secure in a Cardboard Box
This step is essential if your guitar is without a case: put it in a secure, corrugated cardboard box and fill the gaps with protective materials.
If your guitar is in a case, you can put it in a cardboard box for additional protection – or just for ease when you move. As before, to prevent the guitar from moving around in the box, we’d advise that you fill all gaps with protective materials.
6. Hire a Purpose-Built
Last, but certainly not least, make sure that your guitar is stored in a suitable space. Although how you pack a guitar is important, where and how you store it is perhaps the most important step to keep it in prime condition. We’d advise that you keep your guitar in a purpose-built storage unit, which has been designed to ensure all items are kept in optimum condition.
We’ve written a full guide on what to look for in a storage unit, but one that is reliable will tend to be purpose-built, well reviewed, manned 24/7, climate controlled and insured. This will ensure that your guitar remains in the same excellent condition the whole time it is in storage.
To learn more about our purpose-built storage facilities, or our removals service, take a look at out our website or contact Nathan. At Falconers we use meticulous moving techniques, passed down and perfected through generations for over 132 years, to ensure your guitar and other valuables are moved and kept in perfect condition. Rest assured that your move will be completed with expert precision.
