Help: Strap peg on a 'zouk? Yes or no?

Subject: Strap peg on a 'zouk? Yes or no?
From: GUEST,Dean ( a novice bouzouki player)
Date: 09 Jan 02 - 01:59 PM

Hey there Mudcatters

I received a bouzouki as a Christmas gift. It's been a blast so far. I have a question how other players attach a strap to their instruments.

Currently I am using a narrow leather string which is run underneath the strings just above the nut. The leather string is tied to the end of a strap. The other end of the strap is attached to the end peg. Works OK, but sometimes get in the way of fingerings on the first fret.

Instead of that arrangement, I would like to attach the strap to the body of the 'zouk, where the neck joins. To do that I would need to drill a small pilot hole for a strap peg.

I looked at some used instruments on the web, none of the pictures of those showed a peg strap, yet I have seen photos of different players with the strap attached to a peg.

So now I need advice...

Which method of attaching the strap is more popular?

What are the advantages/disadvantages of each method?

Would inserting a strap peg cause any structural problems with the instrument? (Trinity College model 375) ( Yes, I would be _very_ careful when drilling a pilot hole for the strap peg)

Thanks!

Subject: RE: Help: Strap peg on a 'zouk? Yes or no?
From: SharonA
Date: 09 Jan 02 - 03:38 PM

Since I don't know her personally, I'm not sure whether Peg would enjoy being strapped onto a bouzouki.

Subject: RE: Help: Strap peg on a 'zouk? Yes or no?
From: Ned Ludd
Date: 09 Jan 02 - 06:14 PM

Strap button on or near the heel is my favourite.(on my fylde.) I don't like attaching it to the peghead cos of possible strain on the looong neck and the balance is not as good.

Subject: RE: Help: Strap peg on a 'zouk? Yes or no?
From: mooman
Date: 09 Jan 02 - 06:40 PM

Provided you drill your pilot hole the right size and place the button carefully, e.g. to ensure the strap does not slip off at a certain angle and also that you are going into solid and substantial wood, e.g. the heel or block, and not near any joints (in the instrument, rather than the smokeable type!), you should be OK. I usually install so the button faces down or at least below the horizontal while playing as this ensures the strap will not slip off.

On a long necked instrument like a 'zouk, I would tend to favour a heel-mounted strap button. This should certainly be OK on a design like the Trinity College. I would sometimes hesitate in using or recommending a heel-mounted button on certain vintage or very valuable instruments, depending on whether the neck and body joint are strong enough to fix the strap at the nut, the presence or absence of a truss rod and the method of neck fixing, as this could lower their value. There again, having it fall apart through strain or a sudden descent to the ground could lower its value considerably more! In such cases, I would recommend consulting the maker or a good luthier.

A pilot hole is ESSENTIAL to avoid splitting the wood when you screw in the button. If you don't feel confident doing it yourself any luthier or reputable instrument shop should be able to help.

P.S. Make sure you get a good quality, decent size strap button. Some are worse than useless!

Best regards and good luck,

mooman

Subject: RE: Help: Strap peg on a 'zouk? Yes or no?
From: mooman
Date: 09 Jan 02 - 06:51 PM

P.P.S. Regarding straps, be careful of anything with vinyl tabs or the like as I've seen nasty damage to instruments caused by adverse interactions between these and the finish of the instrument.

It's best to use an all leather or fabric with leather tabs straps.

Best regards

mooman

Subject: RE: Help: Strap peg on a 'zouk? Yes or no?
From: Sorcha
Date: 09 Jan 02 - 06:57 PM

Sharon, I think Peg would probably fuss a bit.

Subject: RE: Help: Strap peg on a 'zouk? Yes or no?
From: mooman
Date: 09 Jan 02 - 07:13 PM

Sorch,

Next time I am in Boston on a trip I will try it and see!

Moo

Subject: RE: Help: Strap peg on a 'zouk? Yes or no?
From: Gypsy
Date: 09 Jan 02 - 09:59 PM

You might try like we do on mandos......tie the top strap thru the peghead, higher, so you can get to that first fret. We add custom strap buttons that use the same hole as the tailpiece, so you can change your mind later, without damage to the instrument.

Subject: RE: Help: Strap peg on a 'zouk? Yes or no?
From: GUEST,Dean ( the bouzouki novie)
Date: 10 Jan 02 - 02:26 PM

Thanks to everybody for their advice.

I installed a strap peg last night - no problems encounterred.

The deciding factor in favor of installation was Ned's comment about possibly straining the fretboard with a strap tied to the headstock.

Thanks again.

Subject: RE: Help: Strap peg on a 'zouk? Yes or no?
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Jan 02 - 03:27 PM

a wonderful instrument, this. I would not at all mind being strapped to one! But I draw t line at being drilled first...