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Lean-Back CBG Rack Design

First off, I'm still a newbie 'round here and not sure if this should be a blog post instead. This is my first time starting a 'discussion'. I figure it's easier to reply here if someone has a question or new idea. So anyway...

I'm a tinkerer. I can't help it. I built one of the PVC racks that was posted here where the guitars sit on top of a dual rail with the necks hanging down. It worked great, but after a few months I wanted to try something different. Yesterday I was looking at it and thought, hey I could convert that to a leaning rack like 1 of those travel guitar cases. So today I went at it. I'm sooooo happy with it! Thought I'd share in case it helps someone else. If you build one, you don't have to follow my dimensions exactly. Do what's right for your needs, tweak it, make it better... But to get you started, here's the design I used.

Notice the front lower rail is higher than the back lower rail (only by 1 inch), but this makes the guitars lean back against the top rail. This is key! The gap between the 2 bottom rails allows your neck through tail to hang down.

At first I did a quick assembly without the elevated sides (they look like arms on a chair). It worked great, but I decided to put the sides on to prevent a cbg domino slide onto the floor if my crazy dogs rammed into it while wrestling.

The whole thing's made from 1/2" PVC. I inserted a 1/2" aluminum tube inside the front lower rail which bears all the weight to keep it from bowing. Works really well & keeps it light. I tried a dowel, but it didn't stop the bowing.

I ended up with a lot of extra PVC vs where I started from with my original hang down rack. Like I said, I liked that design, but I'm a tinkerer and wanted to mix it up. I have a feeling a lot of people around here are tinkerers too! :)

Hope this helps!

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Permalink Reply by Grandpa on April 22, 2016 at 4:35am

By the way..as a 66 year old So Cal guy, I can honestly say no one has ever said to me... Hey Grandpa, Nice Rack! Sorry, could not help myself.

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Permalink Reply by Janis Wilson Hughes on April 22, 2016 at 8:08am

I couldn't agree more with your sentiments! Very well said Grandpa.

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Permalink Reply by Janis Wilson Hughes on April 24, 2016 at 2:34pm

Thanks Gary!

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Permalink Reply by Grandpa on April 22, 2016 at 9:19am

Thanks a lot Wayfinder! Just when I thought I could start on a couple of new gits this afternoon. Anybody got an old futon around So Cal?

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Permalink Reply by Jim_N on April 25, 2016 at 2:01pm

Too costly, 'Finder.

How 'bout merely laying a 2" x 4" on the floor, an appropriate distance from a wall, and leaning your cbgs up against it? (Obsessive hoarders might wanna use a 4" x 4".) In any case, just be extremely careful of the dreaded Domino Effect. (I think Richard Nixon said that.)

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Permalink Reply by Jim_N on April 25, 2016 at 5:08pm

C'mon... with my limited ability to comprehend or follow even the most simple instructions?? You've gotta be kidding!

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Permalink Reply by Jim_N on April 26, 2016 at 7:59am

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Permalink Reply by Janis Wilson Hughes on April 24, 2016 at 2:35pm

I really like your renderings Way! This is both simple, and great. :O)

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Permalink Reply by Cause the Blue rat on April 22, 2016 at 10:05am

Totally dig this! Thanks for sharing AND giving a diagram on how you made it. AWESOME!

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Permalink Reply by Bama Hound on April 23, 2016 at 7:04am

Using side view in room: Instead of end cap on base next to bongo, use tee orientated same as others, do slightly altered to account for added tee.configuration that gits are resting on. Tee must be added stacked on one another (long way) to el on top rail. Git necks are staggered one left and one right. The measurements of the resting rail will have to be adjusted to accommodate the placement of the second tee.The foot on the left with the end cap can be shortened some since overall footprint is widened without getting tippy. This will make the rack asymmetric.Sorry if this doesn't make sense, believe it or not I'm trying to get my Vette resonators through before the 29th.That is the reason it took me so long to answer.If this description makes no sense, I will make a drawing.

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Permalink Reply by Janis Wilson Hughes on April 24, 2016 at 2:38pm

Oooohhhhhhh! I see, yes that's a good idea!

Hope Vette reso's are going well.

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Permalink Reply by Bama Hound on April 25, 2016 at 6:18am

I'm sorry for that reply, believe it or not I could actually see what I was explaining in my mind. Not so much so when I reread my post.I will go with a drawing later. That reply sounds like somebody that is ready to write a "manifesto". Vette reso's have got me strung out. I believe my finest hour.