you folks that got more than 1 mandolin:

[dtb]

And maybe some other string boxes, how's your storage, cases sitting up or flat? I've always been a little anal about mine being flat, which always causes me problems when spaces allowed change, or whatever.

Dan

[J Mangio]

When in cases, standing up. I have two out, one on a stand, and the other hanging on a wall, and one in a case.

[CES]

At the moment in cases standing up, but securely so. Eventually I'd like to get them on a wall, maybe with a dust cover, or in a climate controlled storage/display case like those Carter's sells. Eventually...

[BrianWilliam]

Not flat as my in floor heat would cook them. Mine are upright in cases and elevated on a makeshift rack.

[GreenMTBoy]

I have my couple mandolins and couple guitars out and on Hercules wall hangers in my humidified basement room, I like to be able grab one when the desire hits me and to see them instead of hiding in the case

[dhergert]

In cases, standing securely on the side, not on the bottom. If you have enough of them, you can wedge them together in a corner pretty safely so they can't fall over.

I've seen fretted instruments suffer various peghead breaks inside their case as a result of standing on the bottom and falling over.

If you store your mandolin full-time in a case, it is pretty important to make sure there is not significant tension from the top pressing against the bridge. This combined with normal string tension can cause the top to sink, or in severe cases, to collapse.

[dhergert]

I have my couple mandolins and couple guitars out and on Hercules wall hangers in my humidified basement room, I like to be able grab one when the desire hits me and to see them instead of hiding in the case

Just be careful that you don't break your nut when you grab one.

The Hercules Auto Grab System (AGS) has to be fully disengaged before you try to remove the instrument.

Don't ask me how I know...

[dtb]

Shirley, mines are never on the floor, always up about countertop level, but that is the problem, you run out of counter space, or so it seems.

Dan

[JeffD]

I have my couple mandolins and couple guitars out and on Hercules wall hangers in my humidified basement room, I like to be able grab one when the desire hits me and to see them instead of hiding in the case

I am the opposite.

When not being played they are in the case, with the case closed, and latched. Cases are on edge typically and not on their backs. And never stacked on top of another. Right now I keep them side by side in whicker blanket cases. Looks kind of neat.

I understand about wanting to see them; I get it. I do. A wall of instruments looks really cool. And gives one the feeling of being "that guy" that plays those instruments.

One one solution is front-on high quality high density professional photographs, framed and hanging on the wall. The pictures provide motivation to go get it out and play, and the pictures don't have to be humidified, or dusted, and nobody will take the pictures off the wall to get a closer look.

Another is any of various cabinets and display cases, which also look cool and protect the instrument, and can be humidified.

[fatt-dad]

handles up! usually. . .

f-d

[JeffD]

There it is.

[Mark Wilson]

If you have enough of them, you can wedge them together in a corner pretty safely so they can't fall over.

There you go. Safety in numbers

[bratsche]

Not a lot of choice in the matter, usually. All my instruments are in latched (or zipped) cases; some sitting, some standing, some lying, on shelves, under tables, gig bags always on top of cases where applicable, and not vice-versa. Wherever I can wedge them in and make them fit works for me. Space is at a premium. They are kept away from the feline inhabitants. And there is no available wall space, to speak of.

bratsche

[mtucker]

Standing upright. Even though they do live in an almost ideal environment, they are less cantankerous cased in a cool dark closet.

[Mandobart]

Instruments hanging on the wall in a temperature and humidity controlled room. Empty cases standing upright in a giant rack.

[John Soper]

I usually have a couple of instruments out in their cases, on their sides, latched, with the handles up. My wife disapproves of interior decorating with instrument cases, so I do have a large closet with the guitar & mandolin remaining cases crammed in... but I did hide a guitar amp under a table for a long time.

Actually, she's very tolerant of my affliction.

[Bob A]

In case, closed, on edge (handle up) in a room with RH 40-50%, temp at or around 70 degrees, at floor level. Except for bowlbacks, which seem to store better flat. Floor beats elevation, due to the issue of damage should they fall from any height.

YMMV, of course.

[Mike Snyder]

In my bed. Full time RV persons make certain "accommodations" , space is limited. Not so bad, really. They don't snore or have cold feet or hog the blankets.

[Ivan Kelsall]

Mine are always in their cases & locked. I lean them on their side against a record rack so that i can pick each case up by the handle when i want it. I have a small 'cubby hole' in my front bedroom that extends across the stairs ie. coming up the stairs,you come up under the 'cubby hole'. That way,they're out of the way & take up no space in the main room - the same as the record rack,
Ivan

[T.D.Nydn]

Always back in their case,,stored upright...

[Tobin]

My vintage Gibsons in their Geib cases always lay flat on their backs, on top of the bed in a guest bedroom. All the other instruments are in decent modern padded cases, either laying flat on their backs, on their sides with handles up, or standing up and leaning into a corner of a wall in a spare bedroom which houses guns & instruments. I apparently have no rhyme or reason for how I store the cases, except that the ones I play most often tend to stay flat on the floor for easy opening. Currently, that tends to be my fiddles and banjos.

[farmerjones]

One in the case, standing up. One on a stand. I throw a dust cloth over the peg head & neck, of what is left out. Same for mandolins, fiddles, guitars, banjers, and pianers.

[Quinlan]

I usually store mine in the case lying flat and tucked under the coffee table. Is there a reason a lot of you store it on its side?

[Steve Ostrander]

I store mine in cases, flat on a shelving unit I got at the Big Orange Box. I use in-case humidifiers, which works well, except for my Larrivee D-02, which is another story....I have a couple stands out and I often leave one out for a few days while I noodle around with it.

I'll be moving this summer and I plan to build a humidified room with wall hanger storage so I can look at and play whenever I want.

[Paul Busman]

That issue never even occurred to me! The only consideration I've given as to where to place an instrument in it's case was not near an exterior wall or baseboard heat.