Moving the strap button on an SG?

[korovamilkdud]

I just read a funny thing about SG strap buttons and the way the guitars have that neck diving tendancy...

The rumor is that you can move the strap button from the neck/body joint to the horn and have it balance better. I had never heard of such a thing. Has anybody actually tried this before?

 

[jeremy]

Re: Moving the strap button on an SG?

yes and it made my sg playable on stage. i kinda moved the strap around to different spots till i found where it hung right on me and then drilled the hole

 

[korovamilkdud]

Re: Moving the strap button on an SG?

Interesting.

Some people say it's not a problem with all SGs, and some people think a rougher strap will help hold the neck in place too (like an unfinished leather one).

I actually have extra strap buttons lying around, so if it becomes an issue maybe I'll try it.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Moving the strap button on an SG?

I've played some that dive faster than a Kamikaze pilot and others that balance perfectly. My SG Classic balances perfectly and the strap button is at the heel.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Moving the strap button on an SG?

If you put your left leg on a monitor and commence head banging like it's 1987 it balances just fine.


Moving the button works.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Moving the strap button on an SG?

There's also another method for making guitars balance better. Construct a small bag of lead sinkers, lead shot, or whatever. Tape it to the inside of the cavity plate. It'll add a bit of weight to the body.

 

[Kam]

Moving the strap button on an SG?

Yeah, I did it on my SG copy. Not only does it balance a lot better, the guitar feels a lot more comfortable to play with the first fret sitting a lot closer to your body. It's one of those little changes that I really wish Gibson would make, even though I know they never will.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Moving the strap button on an SG?

I've had an SG since 1969. Two days after I bought it I took it to a leather shop and wanted a nice strap made to match it. The guy asked me to bring in the guitar so he could match the color. The strap came out awesome & is STILL on the guitar today. Around '73 I changed the original tuners to Grover's(in 73 it was just an old guitar). Now Grover's will make the headstock heavier, but to be honest it has never been an issue with the guitar. Plays & STILL sounds great!

 

[woemoejack]

Re: Moving the strap button on an SG?

mine balances fine. i have played others that didnt.

@ Bludave, let us see this strap!

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Moving the strap button on an SG?

The issue with grippy straps like leather or cotton is that the off-balance issue is still there, it's just that the weight is grinding on your shoulder, which can wear you down after a while. Granted it's more of an issue with heavy guitars, but it's still there.

Moving the pin shifts the center of gravity so you get more even pull on both strap pins.

 

[Franknfilms]

Re: Moving the strap button on an SG?

I had the exact same problem with the esp viper. I ended up moving the strap button right on the horn. Balanced fine after that, but some might object to it cosmetically, it is a bit strange to have a strap connected to the pointy horn. Leather strap and adding weight to the body via bag-o-lead sinkers a definitely something you want to try before you start drilling a new strap hole though.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Moving the strap button on an SG?

personally I find Explorer's to be more difficult. Its that big back horn that seems to always be in the way.

 

[korovamilkdud]

Re: Moving the strap button on an SG?

Hit and miss.. I hope I'll be a lucky one.

I won't lie, I haven't bought a new guitar in a MINUTE...I'm kinda excited. :headbang:

 

[Sanford]

Re: Moving the strap button on an SG?

When I got my semi-hollow it had a tendency to want to hang face-down if I wasn't holding my arm against the body. So I moved the strap button from the neck joint to the upper horn, been fine since. More room on that horn than the SG, though.

 

[xntrick]

Re: Moving the strap button on an SG?

my cheap SG copy is also neck heavy but not sure i want to start drilling a new hole but just about every photo i have seen of Tony Iommi has his strap on the horn...