Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi All,

I'm thinking about installing a end pin and side pin (? not sure what this is called) in my neck to hold a guitar strap (these are the screw in type). Is there a particular place on the neck I should install the pin, anything to worry about? (ie compromising the neck in some way)?

Thanks,

Karen K

Karen...I've seen most strap pins located on the treble side of the heel. Just make sure to drill the proper pilot hole. I've also seen a black felt washer used to protect the underlying wood.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

so the location is personal preferance?

You need to pay attention to things like heel joint, if a built up heel was used ,grain orientation, and be sure the area you put the strap pin on the heel will be able to support the load with out splitting a seam or the grain. (yes on the trebel side) I had a client that specified that he wanted a strap pin in the back so that it was penetrating the neck block instead of in the heel of the neck. This actuall is a better location but may cause case firt issues. If you can, I would avoid strap pins all togather. The best thing for the guitar is to use a leather strap attachment that goes under the strings and arond the neck just behind the nut. This is the tried and true strap attchment that in no way damages the guitar and it does not put any hole in the guitar. Just my personal opinion.

thanks JJ and Michael. I appreciate the insight. If I can find a strap I like that has the leather tie on the end...I'll buy it.

I have the part that goes around the neck made for me at a local boot shop. they cost me $6.00 each with custom tooling. All it is is a 3/8 wide pice of leather with rawhide lacing to hold the portion that goes around the neck togather and a button on the end that attaches to any comercial strap.
MichaelP38968.6961805556

Also, Planet Waves makes a nifty neck-strap attachment that works with any strap and clips on and off at the headstock. Your local music store might have one in stock. Inexpensive, too.

Good to see you back, K.! Working on another guitar?

Karen;
DO NOT PUT A STRAP ON THE END OF YOUR GUITAR NECK!!!!!!
I've been doing repairs and guitar making for over 30 years and that is not a good place to put a strap !
It puts a sideways pressure on the neck that it does NOT need !
I'm sure it messes up tuning with all that pressure on the neck that most players do not relize- that they also seem to push down on the guitar along with the strap pull!(Imagine what this can do to the neck to body joint)

Go in the treble side of the heel-go with a locking or sure grip hook -up
Go to www.stewmac.com they have some good strap buttons that will not let you down.
I've fixed many broken headstocks because of the little round buttons NOT holding a strap.
Mike collins
www.collinsguitars.com

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Mike Collins

having cut my luthing teeth in the repair game long before having the timerity to actually build one, i agree with michael collins.

the treble side of the heel is my favourite location also. one must ascertain what type of neck joint you have. if you have a bolt on butt joint a la taylor et al, you must take into account the placement of the bolt inserts. half way between them is where you want your screw to go.

Where I've found most players are most happy with it is about 3/4"-7/8"
from the shoulder, and about 1/3 of the distance from the top to the
back (on the treble side of course) on a Martin style neck. Of course be
sure to check bolt locations if it's a bolt on neck. At first glance this
appears to many players that it would get in the way of playing up around
the 12th, but by the time your hand gets up that high it is opened up
wide enough that you will never feel it. I disagree though that tying the
strap to the headstock poses any real risk. At the most you may be
putting 5lbs sideways pressure on the neck for the few hours per week
you may have it hanging on a strap. I've worked on a lot of warped neck
guitars, but I don't think any of them could have been attributed to a
headstock tied strap (12lb 70's Fender basses may be an exception). Even
so, a vast majority of players seem to prefer the balance of the guitar with
the heel mounted strap button, so it's largely a non issue.

What I never like to see however is the button on the back of the heel or
the neck block. I just finished a D-28 repair two days ago that fell off a
button mounted this way. - cracked headstock +broken off at the end, all
the back braces loose on at least one end, and some nasty scars that will
be left as a reminder. I also discourage mounting to the bass side
shoulder, or the flat of the heel on Gibson or Guild style necks. I know
very few players who hold thier guitar perfectly parallel to gravity, and
when the neck is tilted up the strap can be likely to pull away.
David Collins38969.3818171296

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.