DIY Guitar Vault: Building a Safe Storage Solution for Guitars

A guitar collection can easily be one of the most valuable assortments of items in a person's home. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that many guitar collectors want to protect their high-end guitars in the best way possible.

One excellent way to make sure that your favorite guitars are securely stored is to build a guitar vault. Whether it's theft, humidity, accidental bumps, or any other potential source of loss or damage, a guitar vault can be highly effective at keeping your guitar collection safe from harm. With a little thought and creativity, you can design a vault that will serve as an eye-catching way to display your guitars as well.

Whether you are storing a large collection of priceless vintage guitars or just a handful of electric guitars that are priceless to you, building a guitar vault is a great option to consider. In this article, we'll cover everything that you need to know about creating a DIY guitar vault, including the products and tools that you will need, space and storage considerations, and how to personalize your guitar vault in a way that reflects your interests and personality!

Building a Guitar Vault

There are two things that you will need before you can get started building your guitar vault: a good location and the right equipment. Let's take a look at both of these essential elements of a great guitar vault and the factors that you need to consider regarding each one:

Location

The most common location for building a guitar vault is a spare walk-in closet that you can afford to clear out. Walk-in closets make for ideal guitar vaults because they are typically just the right size for storing most guitar collections. If you need more space or don't have a spare walk-in closet to use, a small spare bedroom is another good option for converting into a guitar vault.

Just make sure that the location you choose offers enough space for your guitars as well as any other equipment or decorations that you want to include in the space. You'll also want to make sure that you have enough space to enter the vault without tripping over your collection.

However, it's also important to keep in mind that the bigger the space you are converting into a guitar vault the more work the project is likely to be. Lastly, it's useful to choose a space that does not have any windows. The reasons for this are two-fold: for one, exposing your guitars to regular sunlight can damage their wood components over time. A guitar vault that has exterior windows is also not going to be as secure when it comes to preventing theft.

Items Needed

There are a few items that you will need to build a guitar vault, including:

• Walls: The best way to make the most of the space that you have available is to store your guitars on the wall. This also makes for an attractive way to display your collection. By installing slatwall on the walls of your guitar vault, you'll be able to easily use guitar hangers and racks for a secure and attractive storage option.
• Hangers and Racks: Speaking of hangars and racks, once you've installed slatwall in your guitar vault you'll be able to easily add any number of guitar wall mounts. At String Swing, we offer a wide selection of high-quality guitar hangars and racks that are perfectly suited for mounting guitars on a custom slatwall system.
• Guitar Collection: The most obvious thing that you will need to build a guitar vault is a guitar collection! Whether you are the new owner of an expensive collection full of Les Paul guitars and guitars once owned by famous musicians or you have a collection of guitars whose sentimental history is valuable only to you, any collection that you cherish is one that is worth protecting.

Of course, there are other items that you may need as well, starting with the right tools for installing your slatwall. Security options such as door locks and instrument locks are common choices for guitar vaults as well. lastly, you'll want to start thinking about how you want to decorate your guitar vault and the decor or other items you'll need to purchase to bring your vision to life. 

Storage Considerations

The primary purpose of a guitar vault is to protect guitar collections from harm. To this end, how your guitars are stored in the vault and the design of the vault itself will have a big impact on how much protection it offers.

Here are the storage considerations that you will want to keep in mind in order to build a secure guitar vault:

Temperature and Humidity Control

Temperature extremes and high humidity are two big enemies of a guitar collection. If your guitar vault is located inside your house - as most guitar vaults are - then controlling the temperature shouldn't be too much of a challenge. The ideal temperature for storing guitars is between 66-77 °F, and this is conveniently the temperature range that most people will keep their homes at anyway.

Humidity, however, can be a little more difficult to control. The ideal humidity range for storing guitars is between 45%-55% humidity. If you live in an especially humid area, though, the humidity in your home may rise above this range. In this case, it's a good idea to purchase a quality dehumidifier and keep it running in your guitar vault.

Lighting Considerations

You need to be able to appreciate your guitar collection without having to bring a flashlight with you every time you enter the vault! Installing LED lighting is a great way to keep your collection in the limelight and ensure that you'll be able to see what you are doing. Using LED lights also means that you won't have to rely on natural lighting that can be harmful to the wood on your guitars due to its UV rays.

Security Measures

Your guitar vault should feature a sturdy door and a strong door lock in order to prevent theft. You can also secure your guitars themselves with versatile security locks that secure your instruments to the wall.

Organized and Safe Display Options

We've already discussed how slatwall and guitar hangars/racks can allow you to utilize all of the space in your vault while also storing your guitars in a way that is secure and attractive. For inspiration on how to safely and conveniently store your guitars, be sure to browse throughString Swing's industry-leading catalog of guitar storage solutions!

Personalizing Your Guitar Vault

Once your guitar vault is built, it's now time to make it your own - and there are plenty of custom options for you to choose from. Here are a few of the ways that you can go about personalizing your guitar vault:

Themes

The theme of your guitar collection will likely dictate the theme of your guitar vault. This can be vintage, modern, rustic, or any number of other thematic choices. The key is to make your guitar vault feel and look like your own.

Walls

Slatwall is the best choice for the walls of a guitar vault. Beyond this, though, you'll have the option to choose the color of your slatwall walls (white, silver, black, copper, or walnut) as well as their location and layout within the vault.

Decorative Touches

If you have the space available, there's no limit on how you can go about decorating your guitar vault or the items that you can include. This includes decor options such as artwork, vinyl records, and photographs. Even equipment and accessories such as guitar straps, a road case, and a signal amplifier can become part of your vault's decor if they are arranged and displayed in an eye-catching way.

Custom Storage Solutions

Mounting guitars on the wall is just one of the ways that you can go about storing instruments in your vault. From guitar cabinets to guitar floor racks, there are plenty of other storage options to consider - and plenty of ways to customize these storage options as well!

Building Your Guitar Vault With String Swing

At String Swing, we are passionate about helping guitar owners store their collections in a way that is convenient, secure, and attractive! From slatwall rails to guitar wall mounts and floor stands, we offer everything you will need to set up storage solutions within the guitar vault that you build.

Our guitar storage solutions are completely modular, easy to customize, and safe to use on any guitar. To get started planning out your dream guitar vault, be sure to check outString Swing's guitar storage solutions. Or, if you have any questions about finding the right products for your needs, feel free tocontact us today!