Guitar Stand
About
This guitar stand was designed and built from scratch as a functional woodworking project. The body was laser cut from Baltic birch plywood using a vector design created in Inkscape, allowing for precise, repeatable geometry that would have been difficult to achieve by hand. All joints were designed with interlocking tabs and slots for a tool-free press-fit assembly.
A key design goal was versatility — the stand accommodates both acoustic and electric guitars without any modifications. The cradle geometry was iterated across several prototypes to find a resting angle and neck support position that works comfortably for both body shapes. The final piece was finished with a dark walnut stain and matte topcoat to give it a warm, rustic character that complements a range of wood tones.
Features
Lasercut Plywood
All components were cut from Baltic birch plywood on a CO2 laser cutter. The design was drawn as a flat-pattern vector file with carefully dimensioned tab-and-slot joints, allowing the stand to be assembled without glue or fasteners. The laser's precision ensured every joint fit snugly on the first pass, eliminating the need for iterative hand-fitting.
Dual-Purpose Design
The stand was engineered to hold both acoustic and electric guitars securely. The base footprint and cradle angle were chosen to keep the center of gravity stable regardless of body shape, while the neck support height was set to clear the headstocks of both styles. Soft foam padding lines the contact points to protect instrument finishes.
Rustic Finish
After assembly, the stand was finished with a dark walnut oil stain applied by hand with a cloth, followed by two coats of a matte water-based topcoat. The stain was wiped on in thin layers to let the plywood grain show through, giving the piece a warm, aged appearance. The topcoat seals the surface and adds durability without adding a plastic sheen that would conflict with the natural wood aesthetic.