K&M 17525 Guardian 5 Translucent

The K&M 17525 guitar stand has been designed to be extremely quick and easy to pack up or setup and works well. The guitars remain safely in place and there is a decent sized plastic barrier between guitars.

I have purchased and installed the castor set (K&M Wheel Set for Guardian) that go with this model to make cleaning around the rack much safer and easier. The guitar rack rolls very smoothly (on a hardwood floor and stage, I haven’t tried it on carpet…) even when full of guitars and there is no fear of any guitars falling out. Each wheel has an independent locking system to assure the rack will not move unexpectedly.

Because of the tight space of this product, you have to be very careful when placing and removing your guitars from the rack. Even though there is a good plastic barrier between the guitars, it is still very easy to knock one against the other. You could go with their other model K&M 17515 that can hold both an acoustic or an electric in each slot, but this unit will ultimately have a bigger footprint and will not be as sleek and compact.
Since I have many electric guitars and not so many acoustic, the K&M 17525 works great for me.

I would, with all certainty, recommend this to anyone with a need for it.

I know what you're thinking, how much! This guitar rack is expensive but it's the best rack I've ever come across. Setting it up is a piece of cake; all you need to do is to take it out off the box, cut the plastic transit tie, unfold it by lifting the two metal uprights up until you hear a click, and that's it! There's no messing about with an assortment of fittings and you don't need a diagram; it's a brilliant design. If you need to transport it, just press down on the top of the two metal uprights, that will release the internal catches, then it folds down into a nice neat package; it's a fantastic design.

What really impressed me was how solid it was, and I mean solid, it's extremely stable. It doesn't rock from side-to-side like certain cheaper products. Another feature that's very impressive is how it grips a guitar. I have a Strat, a Tele, a PRS, a Brian May Red Special and an Ibanez AM153-DBS and this rack has no problem gripping any of them. Once you seat the guitar properly at the bottom and at the top it doesn't move; it stays perfectly upright and the neck doesn't even touch the sides. Apparently, it's made from a flexible elastomer plastic; it feels like a sticky rubber but it's a lot tougher and more ridged. This transparent version a also suitable for guitars with a nitrocellulose lacquer and there are a number of pick holders on the back, there are ten in total and each will take a number of picks.

If you're in two minds about buying one, my advice is to go for it, you won't be disappointed. Yes, it's expensive but it's top quality and well thought out. It also comes with a König & Meyer 5-year guarantee and a 10-year replacement parts service. That proves to me how much faith König & Meyer have in their products.

It's a great product and I can highly recommended it, 10/10.

I am using this stand as a convenient means to access my growing collection of guitars.

Currently it is holding 2 Stratocasters, 1 Telecaster, 1 Jazzmaster and 1 Les Paul. Each has it's own "compartment". And each guitar shape is held equally well with a steady/snug fit, This is due to the rubber-like material used for the base of the stand where the guitars sit as well as where the necks are held. I rest easy knowing my guitars will not shift or bump or fall.

It is extremely easy to use. Folding up to use or down to store. No screws, or Allen Key needed.

What appears to be black bars between the guitar compartments in the picture is in fact a sturdy but flexible rubber like material meaning you dont risk banging your precious guitars against hard steel. Only the outside frame could hurt your guitars but of course gives the stand its rigidity.

After owning, I would prefer if the translucent synthetics were black for a better/cleaner look as the translucent material has a slightly cheap look to it.

Warning: This is an electric guitar stand and the seperations are not wide enough for my Acoustic guitars. There is a product with similar name and picture (the 17515) that can also hold acoustic guitars.

Overall I am extremely happy with this stand.

I went for this option because
a) the translucent rubber will not mark lacquer, nor compress over time (as foam often does)
b) it’s so compact for five guitars. Best in class.

The ‘grip’ is excellent. Semi-acoustics ES styles also fit fine.
But it’s not suitable for a Flying V

I think I could push it close to a wall, without the headstock hitting the wall, but I haven’t tried that

I have the electric model (17525) yet even so,
my acoustic, an 000-28 copy, can just fit as well (4” lower bout).

All in all, a really lovely rack

I already owned the 3 and 3+1 stands from K&M. As they've been working good I bought the 5 stand.

Technically, it is relatively simple, but brilliant design. Rather sturdy, with transparent rubber (no colorization, no shape changing like in case of any foam). The inner "separators" are providing additional protection from accidental guitar crash when loading or unloading.

Those stands are not road capable, but at home, fitted with casters and supported by ingenuity of simple suitcase straps - those are PREFECT stands. Having casters you may easily move them with all guitars on, assuming you used that suitcase strap wrapped around guitar necks and stand vertical frame.
Shall you have the need to move or store empty stand - they (the whole series) are nicely folding.

Not very cheap, but quality always has price.

Having your guitars and basses on separate stands is not very practical: it takes a lot of space and causes friction in the household. I looked at other and cheaper multistands, but they seemed too flimsy to my taste. I’m very happy with this purchase, especially with the wheels on (to be purchased separately). Very practical and sturdy. I especially like the possibility to put this next to a wall, since the guitars stand up straight and do not lean backwards like in many other models. Worth the extra cost in my opinion. Only minus is that it took ten days from order to delivery. And please note that you can’t fit an acoustic guitar in this one. Indeed, the slots for each instrument are pretty narrow, but that’s the price of saving floor space otherwise.

This stand is simply "right". It is quite compact, and yet the spacing between the guitars is very good.

You get the flexible separator between the guitars, which might help you avoid damage.

The transparent elements which look like plastic on the picture are actually a bit flexible so the guitar "sinks" better in the stand and they do not compress over time like foam does on other stands (which in my opinion is good).

There is also an option to add wheels, so when you have many stands it can be quite useful, but the wheels are sold separately.

The product could be better, these black separators you see are placed on bridge level, imho they could be a little bit bigger and higher. There is no clamp which secures the neck, but to be honest, the transparent material keeps guitar so well that it is probably not needed unless the stands would fall.

The price is a bit expensive, I think it would be ok if the wheels were there, but it is hard to find another stand which has such features.