Non marking guitar stand material

[adrian_k]

Bit of a long shot but ... I have a very old 3-guitar stand that the cushioning material is falling off.

I’d like to replace it but I think I’ve read somewhere you have to be careful what you use as some products will mark the guitar finish. Anyone have any experience of this?
Cheers
A

[Wonks]

I've bought stands with it, but I don't know what it is they use.

[adrian_k]

Hmmm... I remember reading somewhere that neoprene tube is either good for this or terrible - I can't remember which!

{edit} Hang on, a bit more searching and I found a stand that says it uses neoprene so probaby ok... https://griffin-stands.com/product/multi-guitar-stand/

[Wonks]

Some empirical testing? Doesn't Colin know?

[adrian_k]

He probably does, but also see edit above..

[Wonks]

A web search about neoprene seems to indicate that it's not great with nitro finishes.

[Wonks]

From what I've found so far, vinyl is bad for nitro, especially as it ages and degrades, but it's really the chlorine in it that does the damage. Neoprene can also contain other chlorine-releasing chemicals involved in its production, though most of these these will evaporate over time.

I think neoprene is safe with poly and linseed oil based finishes, it's just nitro that's the issue over the long-term. I don't think a couple of hours on a stand will result in a Salvador Dali guitar, but probably not wise to leave a nitro guitar on a stand for weeks on end.

Cotton or guitar case lining material wrapped round neoprene should be fine.

[shufflebeat]

Do you have a knitting club nearby?

[ManFromGlass]

I left a cable draped over a custom wood box I had made to hold some mic pres. I moved the cable a short while after and the bloody cable interacted with the finish. Fortunately it was a small mark but lesson learned.
I did a repair to a guitar holder using that clear packing tape. I wrapped it around the deteriorating original rubber. It’s ugly but so far no marks on my acoustic or electric instruments.
Nice idea about using a knitted wool something over the rubber.

[adrian_k]

Thanks guys. Wonks your search skills are better than mine I struggled to turn up anything really useful.

Ok better get knitting, once I’ve learned how.

[Sam Spoons]

My '75 Les Paul has a nitro finish I believe, my PVC tube padded guitar hangers do bugger the finish but my guitar stands (Ultimate and generic multi guitar stands with what looks like neoprene foam pads) don't seen to be affecting it (I'll check tomorrow, it's been sitting on a multi stand for a few months now).

[Wonks]

My '75 Les Paul has a nitro finish I believe,

Yes. Gibson have always stuck with nitro finishes, despite doing some other weird things with their guitars in the '70s.

[Wonks]

The Hercules brand of guitar stands use a foam rubber that doesn't react with nitro and other finishes. They refer to it as SFF - specially formulated foam. But I have no idea whether it really is special or just a marketing term for a standard product.

My (still unfinished) kit Explorer-style guitar has been hanging from one since the end of summer and the freshly sprayed white nitro on that has remained pristine.

[ore_terra]

I had a 5 guitar rack that did indeed interact with nitro finishes. What I did (well, my grandma did it acually ) is a few fabric covers with old tshirts and wrap the neoprene pads with them.

It’s a simple and cheap solution (you dont find cheap stands with nitro proof pads) and it does not look as ugly as it sounds

That said, I also have a couple of hercules stands and they do nothing to nitro finishes.