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Post by Onechordtrick on Feb 3, 2019 18:07:40 GMT
Any gotchas or is it a question of just drill and go?
I want something at the neck/body position; guitar is a Yamaha 310 so I’m not worried about spoiling the resale value.
Is there a “best” position?
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Feb 3, 2019 19:26:28 GMT
Much depends on the angle of dangle you prefer. I always put mine on the treble side of the heel, maybe roughly a 1/3 of the way down from the fingerboard. I like the postin the guitar assumes this way, and the strap is not prone to peeling off the button under the guitar weight. Drill pilot hole about the diameter of the central core of the strap button screw, leaving only the threads to "bite" Some heels have metal things in them - try to avoid if you are able, but not the end of the world if you hit metal - just shorten the screw accordingly. use a soft "washer" on the button screw - felt is usual, but I've cut most of mine from offcuts of leather. This is nifty - www.stewmac.com/How-To/Online_Resources/Hardware_Installation/Wheres_the_best_spot_for_your_strap_button.htmlSo I guess I'm a Position 5 kinda guy! W ouldn't dream of using anywhere else. Keith
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Post by PistolPete on Feb 3, 2019 21:14:45 GMT
I am also of the opinion position 5 on the picture Keith posted is the best & have relocated buttons there on a couple of instruments when I've been swapping the end position to a jack. To be honest it doesn't bother me greatly not having one & unless I'm doing work anyway, I usually just pick up one of these things:
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Post by Vinny on Feb 3, 2019 22:13:03 GMT
What Keith said. That’s where I put them anyway, since that’s where George Lowden put it when I bought a guitar at his workshop. Who am I to second guess him? Use felt or leather washer as Keith suggested.
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Post by Onechordtrick on Feb 4, 2019 8:46:45 GMT
Much depends on the angle of dangle you prefer. I always put mine on the treble side of the heel, maybe roughly a 1/3 of the way down from the fingerboard. I like the postin the guitar assumes this way, and the strap is not prone to peeling off the button under the guitar weight. Drill pilot hole about the diameter of the central core of the strap button screw, leaving only the threads to "bite" Some heels have metal things in them - try to avoid if you are able, but not the end of the world if you hit metal - just shorten the screw accordingly. use a soft "washer" on the button screw - felt is usual, but I've cut most of mine from offcuts of leather. This is nifty - www.stewmac.com/How-To/Online_Resources/Hardware_Installation/Wheres_the_best_spot_for_your_strap_button.htmlSo I guess I'm a Position 5 kinda guy! W ouldn't dream of using anywhere else. Keith Thanks - that's really helpful. Button on order and time to dust of the power tools. Guess I'll find out how useful the "hammer action" setting really is
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Post by Onechordtrick on Feb 4, 2019 8:48:23 GMT
I am also of the opinion position 5 on the picture Keith posted is the best & have relocated buttons there on a couple of instruments when I've been swapping the end position to a jack. To be honest it doesn't bother me greatly not having one & unless I'm doing work anyway, I usually just pick up one of these things: Thanks - that's what I'm using at the moment but it doesn't really hang comfortably which is why I want to fit a button.
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Post by scorpiodog on Feb 4, 2019 10:04:30 GMT
I use one of these.with a very sharp drill bit. I find I panic when I use anything that turns faster, and this gives lots of control. It's a tiny hole you need to make, and it really doesn't take very long to drill one with this bit of archaic kit.
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colins
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Post by colins on Feb 4, 2019 10:26:18 GMT
I always fit them where Keith said, I do have metal fixtures in my neck heels so I make sure to avoid those. Make sure the hole is the correct size for the screw (always try this on a spare piece of wood to check before drilling the guitar) too large and it won't be secure, too small and you risk splitting the neck heel. Oh and drill through some masking tape.
Colin
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Feb 4, 2019 10:47:26 GMT
Much depends on the angle of dangle you prefer. I always put mine on the treble side of the heel, maybe roughly a 1/3 of the way down from the fingerboard. I like the postin the guitar assumes this way, and the strap is not prone to peeling off the button under the guitar weight. Drill pilot hole about the diameter of the central core of the strap button screw, leaving only the threads to "bite" Some heels have metal things in them - try to avoid if you are able, but not the end of the world if you hit metal - just shorten the screw accordingly. use a soft "washer" on the button screw - felt is usual, but I've cut most of mine from offcuts of leather.......................................... Keith Thanks - that's really helpful. Button on order and time to dust of the power tools. Guess I'll find out how useful the "hammer action" setting really is Power tools? I do mine by hand with a pin chuck and a small drill bit, then enlarge it with a bigger one. If you use a a power drill, be sure to make something of a "starter hole", and also put some tape over the drill site in case of slippage. Best to get someone to hold the guitar v firmly whilst you wield your appliance - make sure the angle is correct in all planes and go slowlyish. Keith
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Post by Onechordtrick on Feb 4, 2019 11:25:26 GMT
colins thanks some good tips there that I hadn't thought of. ocarolan You can relax! I was planning to use a hand drill
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colins
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Post by colins on Feb 4, 2019 12:02:00 GMT
This is the drill I use, it was my great-grandfather's so well over 100years old, I also use it for drilling the screw holes for the tuners. And here is where I fit it.
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Post by Vinny on Feb 4, 2019 17:20:47 GMT
Wow, Thats a beautiful looking guitar colins!
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colins
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Post by colins on Feb 4, 2019 19:12:05 GMT
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Post by Vinny on Feb 4, 2019 19:18:05 GMT
I followed the thread.Amazing work. Unfortunately, the HB gathering is a bit too much of a trek from Ireland. Would love to attend and put faces to the forumites. AND be in with a chance to win a guitar. Extremely generous of you.
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Post by Mike Floorstand on Feb 4, 2019 20:40:39 GMT
One tip I've heard and tried successfully myself (or at least not unsuccessfully, i.e. it's never made the job worse, but I can't definitively say it made the job better since I only did it once) is to put a tiny dab of fairy liquid* on the screw before inserting and tightening, to lubricate it.
I think the luthiers around here would say if you do the job properly (i.e. drill the right size pilot hole) you don't need fairy liquid. They are right too. I also think - though happy to be corrected - that if you drill the right size pilot hole then a tint dab of fairy liquid will not make things any worse.
* Other washing up liquids are available, but I haven't tried them...
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