Tele Strap Button Placement Question...Thoughts/Ideas?

Masta' C

Masta' C

Well-known member
Yo yo yo, party people!

So, I'm getting ready to drill my sexy Goblin Green Flake Warmoth Tele body and I am trying to decide on strap button placement. This is my first go 'round with a Tele body, so I'm a little apprehensive about what to do.

I know the standard button placement is a "safe" bet, but I'm seeking as much upward neck tilt as possible.

I'm used to playing guitars like the Jackson Rhoads and Flying V's. Their designs tend to put the guitar in more of a "classical" playing position when standing than the flatter position of Strats/Teles in my experience.

I'm not concerned about authenticity or resale value at this point. Outside of the basic outline, there's virtually nothing "Telecaster" about my build. This is a mean, green, modern rocking machine!

I am considering this alternative to the lower button placement in an attempt to get more neck rise (just a quick photoshop, not my actual body):

G211DWS.jpg


Has anyone tried placing the strap buttons in a different position than stock on a Tele?

Any thoughts on this mod?

Thanks!
 
Re: Tele Strap Button Placement Question...Thoughts/Ideas?

Here's a quick picture I threw together to help explain my thought process. The red line is the exact same angle on both:

uXQn7Z6.jpg
 
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Re: Tele Strap Button Placement Question...Thoughts/Ideas?

The difference between a Tele and any sort of V is the Tele is balanced well. If you want the neck to point up, angle the guitar that way and it’ll probably stay. Back when I had some goofy shaped guitars, every time I tried moving a button to adjust the neck angle, it took a lot of movement to make much difference.

Maybe tape that end of the strap in place to find the sweet spot?
 
Re: Tele Strap Button Placement Question...Thoughts/Ideas?

You might want to try the classic trick of putting a strap button on the neck plate, with one of the neck screws holding it on. Typical location is the upper right neck plate screw (when looking at the guitar from the back, with the neck pointed toward the ceiling).

The different bottom button location might be cool too. If you are going to do it, though, I would recommend mirroring it on the other side of the body. That will give you two equally placed "feet" for the guitar, so it will lean much more stably against an amp, a wall, etc.
 
Re: Tele Strap Button Placement Question...Thoughts/Ideas?

I think there was a company that did a Tele body with 2 strap buttons on the bottom, on either side of the center (so the instrument could stand up) for the same reasons you are considering it.
 
Re: Tele Strap Button Placement Question...Thoughts/Ideas?

Feels risky with a new body, but I think I'll give it a try. I'll probably opt for the double-button approach, as well.

I have tried the neckplate button on a Strat. It's an "ok" fix, but it created a slight forward-roll of the top of the body (i.e. the top edge falls away from your body) that I didn't like, but it is a good suggestion.
 
Re: Tele Strap Button Placement Question...Thoughts/Ideas?

if the axe (especially the neck) is nice and light, use a wide strap with suede backing. You can sit the guitar on any angle you like using traditional positioning. I tried once on a partso tele to change the angle by changing button position and i could not get it to make a difference.
Great color btw
 
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Re: Tele Strap Button Placement Question...Thoughts/Ideas?

masta' c said:
Feels risky with a new body, but I think I'll give it a try. I'll probably opt for the double-button approach, as well.

I have tried the neckplate button on a Strat. It's an "ok" fix, but it created a slight forward-roll of the top of the body (i.e. the top edge falls away from your body) that I didn't like, but it is a good suggestion.
Click to expand...

+1 IME Doesn’t work anywhere near the neck join on Fenders
 
Re: Tele Strap Button Placement Question...Thoughts/Ideas?

Mincer said:
I think there was a company that did a Tele body with 2 strap buttons on the bottom, on either side of the center (so the instrument could stand up) for the same reasons you are considering it.
Click to expand...

Schecter located in Van Nuys CA from 1976 to 1984
 
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Re: Tele Strap Button Placement Question...Thoughts/Ideas?

I think you'll see that it really won't make a difference (as far as neck angle is concerned).

Been there, done that.

I tried several locations on a SG to try to help the neck dive. The absolute worst position is on the back of the neck joint where the factory puts it. Oh well, that's Gibson for you.
 
Re: Tele Strap Button Placement Question...Thoughts/Ideas?

GuitarDoc - Obviously, I'm looking at keeping the stock position of the neck side button and changing only the position on the bridge side, which is typically opposite of what most people do to remedy neck dive on an SG (i.e. move the neck-side button around).

My thinking is that the red lines in my diagram above naturally strive to achieve a somewhat horizontal alignment. How close each red line approaches horizontal depends on the weight of the body between the straps vs the weight of the neck beyond the neck-side button, which acts sort of like a lever.

It seems to me that, as both red lines approach the same semi-horizontal alignment, the "modified" position will cause the guitar to remain canted just a few extra degrees upward at the same balance point.

Any thoughts to the contrary?

I haven't drilled it yet, probably this coming weekend.

I'm not past sticking to the stock positions. Just didn't know if anyone had experience with the same modification I'm attempting here compared to stock?
 
Re: Tele Strap Button Placement Question...Thoughts/Ideas?

I knew I've seen it before- on the Carvin Holdsworth. I suppose there is 2 so it can sit upright against an amp.
1c2cefae-4f15-46e3-9914-d79eaa462d27.JPG
 
Re: Tele Strap Button Placement Question...Thoughts/Ideas?

masta' c said:
How close each red line approaches horizontal depends on the weight of the body between the straps vs the weight of the neck beyond the neck-side button, which acts sort of like a lever.
Click to expand...

Exactly!

You won't change the weight of the body or the neck, nor the ratio of their weights to each other by changing the location of the strap button by a couple inches on the tail end of the guitar. Just because you draw a red line on the picture and propose that it be level will not change the actual hanging position of the guitar. Believe me, I have tried it on MANY guitars (not just the neck button on the SG I mentioned earlier).

The best solution was given by Chickenwings...use a wide strap with a back material/texture that keeps it from sliding on your back.

Mount your strap button in the most convenient and aesthetically pleasing location.
 
Re: Tele Strap Button Placement Question...Thoughts/Ideas?

I've struggled with the balance of my Esquire build since I put it together. I've tried 1.5lb wrist weights on the back of the strap to help but only makes the guitar too heavy. It's already 8lbs and adding more makes it uncomfortable for me. The tuners are Gotoh Kluson style locking and are actually slightly lighter than the non-locking Gotoh Klusons so it's not the neck. I like the neck to stay tilted up and the Tele design simply doesn't allow that, at least not with any I've had (though the 80's Contemporary Tele from Japan wasn't as bad). So, I've yanked the neck (it's a Strat neck) and selling the body fully loaded. That neck will end up on a Strat body.
 
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Re: Tele Strap Button Placement Question...Thoughts/Ideas?

I think your original drawing with the angles will work.
 
Re: Tele Strap Button Placement Question...Thoughts/Ideas?

I decided to do a quick test before I start drilling. Here is my "strap button testing rig"...yes, I trusted my expensive body to masking tape :)

6JTrf4H.jpg



And here are the results. I overlayed two photographs (one in each strap position) so there may be a small degree of error, but this is very close:

S3EuZ82.jpg



The verdict? I think I'll stick with the stock strap location.

While it DID lift the neck as I hypothesized, the real-world difference wasn't that substantial.

If I was fighting a true neck-diver, those few degrees might be beneficial. However, this is a light and very balanced guitar and should be plenty controllable with a good strap.

I tried adding weight for the bridge and neck hardware and they essentially cancel each other out, so what you see is what you get!

Also, ended up with a Wilde (Bill & Becky Lawrence) L90 8.0H in the bridge with a Kinman Big-Nine-O in the neck slot. Should be killer!!!
 
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