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Subject: Strap button From: Rory B Date: 12 Jan 03 - 08:48 PM Hello Mudcats, I just could not resist asking just one or one hundred more opinions on the placement of my strap button. My guitar is sitting here looking afraid of the drill LOL. I think I will place it on the heel on the high E side. It is a takamine dreadnaught (sp?) sized body...his name is lucky if any of you would like to send get well cards after his surgery!!!! It seems it is time for me to learn to play standing up and so that is the reason for poor lucky's imminent piercing! Your suggestions please : ) Thanks -R- |
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Subject: RE: Strap button From: Clinton Hammond Date: 12 Jan 03 - 09:54 PM Smack in the middle of the heel... so that it sticks out parallel to the neck... at least that where I put all mine... |
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Subject: RE: Strap button From: mousethief Date: 12 Jan 03 - 10:00 PM Which part's the heel? ALex |
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Subject: RE: Strap button From: X Date: 12 Jan 03 - 10:13 PM Rory, that's where it's suppose to go...that place is known as the "Sweet Spot." |
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Subject: RE: Strap button From: moineau nordique Date: 12 Jan 03 - 11:02 PM Take it to a luthier or guitar repair person. It's one thing to put a strap button on the lower bout, yourself. Putting one on the heel is a whole different matter and the likelihood of your splitting the heel is very high. Take it to your friendly local professional. The cost is negligible. |
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Subject: RE: Strap button From: Clinton Hammond Date: 12 Jan 03 - 11:11 PM Splitting the heel? Well, I'm 0 for 8 or 9 of the ones I've installed... never split the heel at all... |
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Subject: RE: Strap button From: Cluin Date: 12 Jan 03 - 11:24 PM As long as you drill a sufficient sized pilot hole to avoid splitting you should be alright whereever you want to put it on the heel, middle or bottom side. Just be careful of hitting the bolt or pin inside if it's a bolt-on neck. |
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Subject: RE: Strap button From: Bee-dubya-ell Date: 12 Jan 03 - 11:26 PM If in doubt, don't! The idea that playing a guitar with a strap attached at the headstock will damage the neck is a myth. However, if you just think that it looks cooler to use a strap button, Click Here for lots of good info. Bruce |
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Subject: RE: Strap button From: Cluin Date: 12 Jan 03 - 11:31 PM I just find it more comfortable to have the strap attached at the heel, myself. |
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Subject: RE: Strap button From: Clinton Hammond Date: 12 Jan 03 - 11:41 PM I seem to recall it was Cluin taught me how to do my first one.... :-) |
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Subject: RE: Strap button From: Cluin Date: 12 Jan 03 - 11:45 PM Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.... |
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Subject: RE: Strap button From: Clinton Hammond Date: 12 Jan 03 - 11:51 PM sorry.... ,-) |
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Subject: RE: Strap button From: EBarnacle1 Date: 13 Jan 03 - 03:06 AM If you are nervous about piercing your baby's skin, you can attach it with velcro and shift it about until you find the best spot for you. Just because 40 million guitar players all do it the same does not make their needs your needs. |
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Subject: RE: Strap button From: Dave Bryant Date: 13 Jan 03 - 05:01 AM After many years of having straps attached at the nut, I put strap buttons on the heels of my guitars and find it a great improvement. Straps can be removed much more easily, they don't get in the way when you're fretting near the nut, and I find the balance better. The screws that come with most strap buttons are usually very thin (about #4) and you need to drill a pilot hole more to make sure that you don't shear the screw than that you don't split the heel. I've found that placing the button slightly to the bottom of the heel (ie towards the high E) prevents the strap from pulling off (no I don't mean masturbating). |
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Subject: RE: Strap button From: Hamish Date: 13 Jan 03 - 07:01 AM Dave's right - it's all about balance. And my luthier recommended me to use the headstock, which I do, and it balances just right. |
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Subject: RE: Strap button From: Grab Date: 13 Jan 03 - 08:00 AM Regarding tying a strap to the headstock, I found that the strap tended to slide off my shoulder. So I've rigged up an arrangement with a bootlace across the face of the guitar, running from the strap button at the base of the guitar to the strap by my left shoulder. This pins the guitar in place against your body. I also find it gives a more comfortable playing position - I tend to find guitars hung off two strap buttons don't sit quite right for fingerpicking. And of course, it means you don't have to drill into your guitar. If I can borrow a digi camera sometime, I'll stick some piccies up of this unusual arrangement. The one disadvantage is that it does make it more difficult to get the guitar on and off, though. Graham. |
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Subject: RE: Strap button From: JedMarum Date: 13 Jan 03 - 09:24 AM I always use the headstock. Don;t know why, I guess I hate cutting the guitar for any reason - BUT I've cut the bottom for pick-up connector/strap buttons and I've worn the sh*t out of the face of my guitar with my picks and nails. Go figure! I do like the balance of the headstock placement. Maybe it's what I'm used to, but when I've played friends guitars with the strap buttoned at the heel, I always feel like the neck is 'flying away' unanchored! If a bit of thread creep is allowed - I am curious about the locked strap buttons. I have a tendency not to trust my strap, ever - and I'm always ready to catch my guitar in case the strap releases and it fals. It never has - at least until yesterday. I was standing and arranging myself in front of the mics when it suddenly let go - and my Larrivee started heading like a rock to the floor. I was ready for it, and caught it before it hit anything - but it reminded me of why I've always considered using one of those locking strap buttons. Anyone have any experience with 'em? Good idea? Bad? Easy to put on? |
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Subject: RE: Strap button From: GUEST,me again..Rory Date: 13 Jan 03 - 11:23 PM Wow such good and interesting suggestions. As for putting the strap at the headstock this does not work for me as I am a woman and the guitar tends to travel around a bit while I am trying to get my arms around it. You fellas who feel comfy with the headstock strap likely have longer arms than I. I have only recently tried to play standing up and while it improves my singing it is a bit of a challenge to find a comfy position for lucky. I find the tighter he is to my body the better and easier it is for me to play...thus the strap button on the heel somewhere. Clinton I am told that placing the button on that part of the heel decreases the resale value of the guitar...not that I would ever sell lucky. Does it stick up in the case? Dave Bryant I am leaning toward positioning it as you suggested...I have heard it holds the guitar the most securely there. Grab your method sounds kind of interesting in a guitar bondage sort of way...did you say you have pictures? LOL. Thank you bee those are great pics. Thanks again for all the input. -Rory- |
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Subject: RE: Strap button From: GUEST,JEFF Date: 21 Oct 04 - 05:27 PM THIS IS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOPW ABOUT STRAPS AND ACOUSTICS http://www.fretnotguitarrepair.com/strapbuttons.htm |
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Subject: RE: Strap button From: Mr Happy Date: 21 Oct 04 - 08:22 PM http://www.fretnotguitarrepair.com/strapbuttons.htm |
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Subject: RE: Strap button From: Mooh Date: 21 Oct 04 - 10:52 PM I see no one answered the straplock question. I like the Schaller brand ones but they're noisy when the weight is off them and rattle just when there's a quiet point in the music or when recording. Great on electrics especially, in my experience. I've got a 25 year old set of PickBoy brand straplocks on the Telecaster and they've worked admirably. The problem with some lock hardware is that it requires you to widen the hole in the strap, making the strap near useless if the hardware is removed. Since I have a strap for every instrument it's not much an issue for me. All in all, it sure beats dropping your axe. Btw, I install dozens of strap buttons every year for friends and clients/customers, but one of the best places for the button is on the wall hanger so the strap protects the instrument from the wall's cold and/or rough surface, remains handy, and can be shown off if it's one of them there real fancypants straps. Peace, Mooh. |
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Subject: RE: Strap button From: GUEST,Davy Date: 22 Oct 04 - 11:01 AM As I understand it the danger of splitting the heel is because on most guitars it is end grain which is much easier to split particularly with mahogany and walnut. A repairer I know says he has repaired loads of split heels caused by strap buttons getting knocked, so it's not the fitting but accidents afterward that do it. |
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