Guitar Display Case: Our Top Picks

Picture this: A friend walks into your home, and notices your prized Fender Telecaster proudly displayed in a beautiful, wall mounted guitar display case. Your friend simply nods his/her head and says, “Nice…”

If you’ve read our article on guitar storage, you know that as your guitar collection grows, you will need to address the question of where and how you are going to store your guitars. In this article we’ll dive deeper into one of those options, namely, guitar display cases.

Guitar Display Case Basics

Display cases are a great way to exhibit and protect your guitars. We’re not talking about regular guitar cases, of course. Display cases are wall-mountable cases built to showcase and display an individual guitar. Cases can be wall mounted, or free-standing. In terms of design, display cases are very straightforward, essentially a shadow box that is intended to be mounted on your wall. The design, materials, construction, and features are what differentiate one model from another.

Why Consider a Display Case?

One nice guitar display case will add an impressive talking point to your room. Multiple guitars displayed in fine cases will create your own guitar showcase! Guitar racks are convenient for when you have a guitar out and are playing, but don’t offer protection as a storage solution. Standard guitar cases do a fine job of protecting your guitar from damage, but they obviously lack the “wow” factor of a display case.

So while display cases are functional for guitar storage, let’s not overlook the other big reason to consider a guitar display case:

You want to show off a prized guitar!

Before you say, “But I don’t have a vintage or ultra-expensive guitar”, let me assure you that a quality display case will make any guitar look awesome. And if you are a fan of relic guitars, there is something particularly appealing about a relic guitar featured in a pristine case. The contrast between their appearances highlights both the aged appearance of the guitar, as well as the quality of the display case.

As a bonus, display cases also provide some protection from the effects of changing humidity conditions. However, neither of them presents your guitar in the best possible light like a display case does. If you have a prized guitar, there is no better way to both protect it and show it off than a high quality display case.

Guitar Display Case Sizing

One thing that’s important to mention is that some display cases are built to house electric guitars, while some are designed for acoustic. Pay attention to the depth: If the case isn’t at least 5” in depth, it won’t be able to fit an acoustic guitar.

Thinline electric guitars, such as a Gibson ES-330, may fit in a case designed for solidbody electric guitars, but this will depend on the depth of the guitar. Most archtops will require a display case sized for an acoustic guitar.

Basically, if you are planning on displaying anything other than solidbody guitars, you will want to choose an acoustic guitar display case, since it will have the added depth you need. And naturally, a display case intended for an acoustic guitar can also house a solidbody electric.

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Guitar Display Case Picks

Now that you know why you should consider displaying your guitars, let’s run down some options at various price points. All of the cases featured here ship to you fully assembled.

Fender Display Case

It seems fitting to start our list with a case from the manufacturer of the world’s most famous guitars. The first thing you may notice about the Fender is that it looks like one of Fender’s Classic Series guitar cases. It even includes the carrying handle!

Features include:

• 3-ply hardshell wood construction
• Plexiglass viewing pane
• Soft crushed acrylic plush interior lining
• Locking Door
• Vertical Mount
• Dimensions:
  • Exterior: 46.63”L x 17.5”W x 4.5”D
  • Interior: 43.75”L x 16”W x 3.625”D

Reason To Buy:

I like the Fender case because it looks like an actual case. The black Tolex exterior and black interior lining will match with any guitar.

2. Fender Tweed Display Case

This is the Tweed version of the Fender case. Although it costs a bit more than the standard model, ask yourself: Does Tweed coolness have a price? Features are the same as the standard case, with the exception of the Tweed exterior, Red crushed acrylic plush interior lining, and Brass hardware.

• Blonde Tweed exterior
• 3-ply hardshell wood construction
• Plexiglass viewing pane
• Red crushed acrylic plush interior lining
• Brass Hardware
• Locking Door
• Vertical Mount
• Dimensions:
  • Exterior: 46.63”L x 17.5”W x 4.5”D
  • Interior: 43.75”L x 16”W x 3.625”D

Reason To Buy:

One word: Tweed. If you are going to display a classic Fender model—vintage or reissue—I encourage you to consider this Tweed case. The Red Plush interior screams luxury, which is exactly what you want in a display case.

3. Pennzoni Display Case (Electric Guitar)

Pennzoni makes a nice case that comes in at a lower price point than the Fender cases. The Pennzoni’s design looks less like a standard case than the Fender (no handle!). The Pennzoni’s display frame design is flat, and not trimmed. The result is a clean, modern appearance that will fit in well with any room decor. The heavy-duty door is acrylic, and features 100% UV protection. This is a nice feature if you plan to display your guitar where it gets some sun. Additionally, the Pennzoni may be mounted either horizontally or vertically.

Features include:

• Real Hardwood frame
• Choice of Black Cherry, Oak, Walnut
• Velvet Felt interior
• Horizontal or Vertical Mount
• Clear Acrylic view window with 100% UV protection
• Dimensions: 41 3/8th” x 15.25” x 4.5”

Reason To Buy:

Three-sided viewing and extra depth make this a great case for displaying a prized guitar.

5. Pennzoni Acoustic Guitar Display Case

This case has the same features as the Pennzoni electric case previously mentioned, but has a 5.5” interior depth to accommodate parlor and medium-sized acoustic guitars.

Features include:

• Real Hardwood frame
• Choice of Black Cherry, Oak, Walnut
• Velvet Felt interior
• Horizontal or Vertical Mount
• Clear Acrylic view window with 100% UV protection
• Dimensions:
  • Exterior: 46″ x 19″ x 6″
  • Interior: 44″ x 17″ x 5.5″

Reason To Buy:

Clean, modern design to display your favorite acoustic guitar or archtop.

6. Pennzoni Extra Large Acoustic Guitar Case

If you want to display your  jumbo acoustic, such as a Taylor Grand Orchestra or a Gibson SJ-200, Pennzoni has you covered with their Extra Large Display Case. This case is bigger inside and out, and the 6.375” depth will accommodate your larger guitars.

Features Include:

• Real Hardwood frame
• Choice of Black Cherry, Oak, Walnut
• Velvet Felt interior
• Horizontal or Vertical Mount
• Clear Acrylic view window with 100% UV protection
• Dimensions:
  • Exterior:  52″ x 23″ x 7-5/8″
  • Interior: 50″ x 21″ 6-3/8″

Reason To Buy:

Pennzoni’s Extra Large Acoustic Display Case ensures that you’ll have enough room for any guitar, large or small. It’s a good choice for an archtop, as well.

7. SFDisplay Clear Viewing Guitar Display Case

SFDisplay ups the guitar case display game with a case that features clear panels on three sides, instead of only the front. The case is constructed of Beech, and uses furniture-grade mortise and tenon construction for strength and durability.  

Additionally, the generous 6” depth means that there’s room to install interior lights to create a lighted guitar display case, if desired. Another benefit of the added depth is that the SFDisplay case can house both electric and acoustic guitars.

Features include:

• Handcrafted in solid furniture grade beech hardwood
• Choice of Black or Red interior
• Lockable latches
• 98% UV Protection Rated Acrylic Door
• Dimensions:
  • Exterior: 19.5″W X 45.5″H X 7″D
  • Interior: 18″W X 44.5″H X 6″D
• Inside Depth: 6″
• 60 Day 100% customer satisfaction guarantee

Reason To Buy:

Three-sided viewing and extra depth make the SF Display a great case for showing a prized guitar.

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Final Thoughts

Display cases are functional and decorative, and they ensure that your music area or room looks the part. Not only that, but compared to freestanding guitar display cabinets, guitar display cases have the advantage of being relatively inexpensive.

As great as a display case will make your guitar look, there’s one more important reason to choose one, and that has to do with humidification. Like a standard guitar case, a good display case offers some protection against fluctuations in relative humidity and temperature. Because it is enclosed, a display case will allow your guitar to adjust to humidity and temperature more gradually than if it were on a stand or rack. Read more about the importance of proper guitar humidification here.

Happy Playing!