Re: Guitar strap button location

LouisB wrote: 
I've avoided strap buttons for two reasons.

Firstly, I really feel it interferes with the cosmetics of the guitar. Depends on what you own, I guess, but if you've just purchased a great guitar why start drilling into it and screwing things on.

Secondly, sometimes the only place to put the strap is on the treble edge of the heel and to me that means it gets in the way when I'm trying to reach above the 12th fret.

LouisB


<MRTYMCFLY@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:27216-43B61753-456@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 Should I have a "button" installed on the rear of the neck of my
acoustic guitar for the strap to connect to.....or is it better to get a
small leather strap that fastens on the head of the guitar and has a
button to attach the strap to. Martin makes a small leather strap just
for this purpose. Is there any pros and cons of either or is it just a
matter of preference?


A neatly installed button should not really be considered damage to the guitar. By the same standards modern frets, pickguards and machine heads are all rather functional solutions - I would like wooden violin pegs and tied gut frets, and maybe a rosewood plate inlaid in the top like a baroque guitar... but I want to play the instrument!

I have not installed the second strap button on a couple of my guitars, and recently found myself forced to stand up (lack of room) and unable to fit a strap. I don't like tying to the neck, it tends to push the guitar over into Western position (big end out) and be a bit awkward for a more classical position with the neck raised or extended and the body over the left.

My old instruments use a ribbon instead of a strap, and have short necks, so the (centuries) old solution of tying to the end pin and the headstock works with them.

Lowden and a few others now fit a felt washer under the neckheel strap button. My buttons don't come with such a washer when I buy them. It seems a good way to prevent damage to the wood by the button.

David
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