Strap Button Placement

Lucius Paisley

Lucius Paisley

Well-known member
Well... made a little mess of it while placing a strap button from the top to the bottom of the guitar. The screw holds in place, but it's not really supported by the wood as such (I'll take a photo of it later, it's 4:30am and I can't be bothered right now), and rather than risk tearing it out or snapping the wood right off the body, I'm going to unscrew it gently and find a new place for it.

I'm thinking, like the SG or my semi-hollow, of placing the screw/strap button somewhere at the back of the neck, which currently looks like this.

boltright.jpg
I'm not 100% sure of the structural integrity of the wood in this area because those are some pretty savage sized bolts in there already. Option 1) If I were to place the screw in the centre of the three right-angled bolts, would this be safe? Option 2) Should the screw be higher up? e.g. SG style. Or is there an Option 3) Something I'd probably think if it weren't almost 4:40am?
 
I think the SG positioning and Les Paul pin positions are the worst. The SGs tend to roll forward and fall off the pins when you are not holding the guitar. The LPs when you are playing the pin is pointing at the ceiling and pop off easily. Both need strap-lock systems.

If you like where you had the pin. Carefully unscrew it, dip a toothpick or two in wood glue to fill the hole. Once the glue drys cut the toothpicks flush, redrill, and re-screw.
 
Ouch! It is fixable but yes I would not put the pin back in there. Go for the SG positioning and get some good strap locks. Gently drill a pilot hole before installing the strap locks.
 
I have seen Strats with a strap button on one of the neck screws. I don't know if you can find one with a big enough hole for your big-ass bolts but that is a totally non-intrusive way to do it.

option 2: mount your button in the BACK of the upper horn, not the side, maybe an inch or so from the tip. Just make damn sure the screw isn't long enough to poke through the front! And drill a pilot hole like Securb says.
 
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Seems the screws on a Mikro are also micro, 2.5cm/1" length. Absolutely no danger of drilling through to the other side by placing it on the back of the horn. I also forget just how light the guitar is.

This should not be a problem at all.
 
That works! How is the balance? Does it hang right? I never liked the strap button on the Strat's neck plate...it is the same issue that SGs and 335s have- the guitar 'falls away' from you. If it wasn't for 'tradition', I am sure someone would re-engineer the entire way we hold guitars.
 
I usually wear a strap quite low, so I'll need to adjust that. Right now it sits perfectly on my lap, even when standing up. No neck dive to speak of, unless I tilt it like that on purpose, like the neck isn't even there. Which will probably change once I get the new tuner keys on.

I've never really had the falling "away" issue with my 335 either, probably due to having the strap low, the guitar sits flat on my legs.

I did have a minor consideration about putting a strap button at the very end of the headstock, but that looked like it was far too delicate to try.
 
Mincer said:
That works! How is the balance? Does it hang right? I never liked the strap button on the Strat's neck plate...it is the same issue that SGs and 335s have- the guitar 'falls away' from you. If it wasn't for 'tradition', I am sure someone would re-engineer the entire way we hold guitars.
Click to expand...

I really like the strap button placement on my SG, 335, & Explorer, while I can't stand the typical Strat / Tele placement. I'm 6'2 and have rather broad shoulders, so maybe they hang differently on me. OTOH the Explorer was my first decent guitar nearly 20 years ago, so maybe I've just been conditioned.
 
IMO, you placed it in the right placed on the back of the upper horn.

My SG Jr has enlarged strap buttons. No issue with the strap at all. No neck dive either. Some I've played do have neck dive. When I built this, it all worked out.
 
ErikH said:
IMO, you placed it in the right placed on the back of the upper horn.

My SG Jr has enlarged strap buttons. No issue with the strap at all. No neck dive either. Some I've played do have neck dive. When I built this, it all worked out.
Click to expand...

Well, it's the upper horn 'now'...
a1back.JPG
 
Securb said:
I think the SG positioning and Les Paul pin positions are the worst. The SGs tend to roll forward and fall off the pins when you are not holding the guitar. The LPs when you are playing the pin is pointing at the ceiling and pop off easily. Both need strap-lock systems.

If you like where you had the pin. Carefully unscrew it, dip a toothpick or two in wood glue to fill the hole. Once the glue drys cut the toothpicks flush, redrill, and re-screw.
Click to expand...

I prefer to do it this way. Cut and center punched before it dries.

https://youtu.be/rdBr2bHvfI0
 
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