Wall mounts: what the neck actually rests on
Wall mounts: what the neck actually rests on
Wall mounts free the floor entirely and put instruments where they are visible, which is the best argument for them. They also concentrate all the load on one fixing, which is the argument for doing them properly.
Is hanging by the headstock safe?
For a normal solid-body or acoustic instrument, yes. The neck and headstock are carrying the string tension continuously anyway, and hanging adds a fraction of that in a direction the joint handles well.
The instruments to think twice about are unusually heavy ones, instruments with known headstock repairs, and anything with an unusual headstock shape that will not sit into a standard yoke properly.
The fixing is the whole job
A hanger is only as good as what it is screwed into. Into a stud, with the screws supplied, a hanger will hold far more than any instrument weighs. Into plasterboard alone, with the wrong fixings, it will hold for a while and then not.
Find the stud. If there is no stud where you want the hanger, use proper cavity anchors rated well above the instrument weight, and accept that the position is dictated by the wall rather than by preference.
Brick and masonry need appropriate plugs. The screws in the box are generally sized for timber.
Padding and finish
The same nitrocellulose issue as with stands applies here, and more so — the instrument rests in the same two spots continuously for years.
Where a maker states the padding is safe for nitro finishes, that is worth having. Where it does not, a soft cloth over the yoke arms is a trivial precaution.
Auto-lock and fixed yokes
Auto-locking hangers have arms that rotate closed under the weight of the neck. They are worth it in a household with children, pets or a door that slams.
Fixed yokes are simpler and perfectly adequate in a quiet room. They rely on gravity alone.
Height and spacing
Hang high enough that the lower bout clears anything below, and remember an acoustic hangs lower than an electric of the same nominal length.
Space multiple hangers so bodies do not touch when instruments swing slightly. For a row of electrics, allow generously more than the body width; for acoustics, more again.
Collapsible and folding mounts
Folding wall brackets swing flat when not in use, which suits a narrow hallway where a permanently protruding hanger would be caught by every passing shoulder. They add a hinge, so the fixing matters even more.
Where not to hang an instrument
- On an exterior wall in a cold climate — the wall is the coldest surface in the room.
- Above a radiator or heating vent.
- In direct sunlight.
- Behind a door.
- On a wall shared with a bathroom or kitchen, where humidity swings.
Practical checks before ordering
- Locate studs before choosing a position.
- Use fixings appropriate to the wall type, rated well above instrument weight.
- Check padding suitability for your finish.
- Consider auto-lock arms in a busy household.
- Allow generous spacing between multiple hangers.
Where this sits in the shop
Everything discussed above comes back to one part of the shop: Wall Mounts and Hangers, which currently holds 3 listings between $8.89 and $69.00. The whole of it is picked and packed at Yung Chin, 1776 Broadway, New York, NY, during Tue–Fri 7:30am–3pm, closed Sat–Mon — so anything written here can be checked by phoning the counter on ((212) 582-3626.
From our shelves
- Donux Guitar Wall Mount,Ukulele Hanger Hook Holder Stand Guitar Hangers Hooks for Acoustic Electric Bass Guitars and Ukulele (2 Set) — $8.89
- Worldu2019s Only Collapsible Guitar Hanger Wall Mount Bracket for Guitars & Basses — $69.00
- Neboic 3 Pack Guitar Wall Mounts – Wooden Guitar Hangers with Hooks for Acoustic, Electric, Bass, Ukulele, Banjo, Mandolin — $27.99
What we get asked about this
Do you ship outside the United States?
Not at present. We ship to US addresses only, including Alaska, Hawaii and territories the carrier serves.
Can I pick my order up at the shop?
Web orders are shipped, not held for collection. If you want to buy in person, come to 1776 Broadway, Suite 1702, New York, NY 10019, United States during opening hours (Tuesday–Friday 07:30–15:00 · Closed Saturday–Monday) and buy across the counter instead.
Read next
- Guitar stands and racks: how many instruments, and where
- Bass strings: gauge, winding and what each change does
- Straps and buttons: the one failure that drops an instrument
Ordering from Yung Chin
Orders of $49.00 or more ship free anywhere in the United States, and a flat $5.99 covers everything below that. Handling takes 1–2 business days and carrier transit is normally 3–7 business days. Unused items can go back within 30 days, and if the mistake was ours we pay the return postage.
Questions about anything above go to [email protected], answered within 1 business day, or call (212) 582-3626. Full detail is on the Shipping Policy and Refund and Returns pages.