Straps

[ghoti]

Just wondering a couple things. Several acoustics have only one pin (at the bottom of the guitar)...I've seen people put the other end at the tuning pegs, but the straps I own seem too short for that purpose, and I'm wondering if there are straps specially made for that.

Also, what straps would you recommend for a person who's about 6'4" and plays a Jumbo (with only one pin at the bottom of the instrument)?

Thank you.

 

[Cybercat]

I'm also 6'4" tall, and have in the past had to buy two straps & join them together myself to get one long enough that I don't have the guitar right up on my chest when playing! My luthier friend, Simon Pinder, persuaded me not to have a strap button installed on the heel of my guitars, saying that in many cases this can cause the wood to split.

I got lucky when looking for a Gibson strap for my Smeck : -
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=140305236512

This one has an "Adjustable Length: 32" - 57" ... long enough even for me!

I attach it at the headstock end with a Terry Gould leather band type strap-button/hook. It's very similar to the Martin one shown here : -
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&item=270352612915

Good luck!

 

[Zuper]

It depends on how you want the guitar to balance. Adding a second button will balance the guitar more similarly to an electric. An extended strap (to the nut) will shift the guitar significantly, and, depending on your playing style, can make it feel pretty "loose" on your body.

You can extend pretty much any guitar strap with some thin leather or cloth strips, or even shoelace, to give it a try.

 

[jay42]

I think the manufacturers consider this to be the end users choice, so they don't do one on the heel. Taylor has instructions on their website. fwiw, I've seen a couple on the bottom of the heel. I would think the guitar would tend to flop away from you. You're not going to split any wood if you drill a proper pilot hole.

When I was a kid, I tied it to the headstock like a folk singer...it always wants to slide away from you.

I really hate the electric end jacks, but what else are you going to do? I haven't seen a strap pre-punched for that diameter.

 

[drive-south]

Get one of these Planet Waves strap connects (~$5.00) and you can connect any strap to the headstock.

http://store.daddario.com/category/152500

I use these to attach straps to my 2 mandolins and they work great. They are also great for attaching straps to acoustic guitars when you don't want to drill a hole in the neck heel.

These are easy to find at many music stores. Most likely GC will have them.

drive-south

 

[ronster]

Get one of these Planet Waves strap connects (~$5.00) and you can connect any strap to the headstock.

http://store.daddario.com/category/152500

I use these to attach straps to my 2 mandolins and they work great. They are also great for attaching straps to acoustic guitars when you don't want to drill a hole in the neck heel.

These are easy to find at many music stores. Most likely GC will have them.

drive-south

I was really glad to finally find this thing, after years of tying things to the headstock. I love the quick release aspect too.

 

[antojado]

I don't like it tied to the headstock because for me it gets in the way. So I added a strap button on the heel of my two acoustics. The body of my Bourgeois is so light though that the head wants to fall down though.

 

[Flyin' Brian]

This man will solve any strap problems you have:

http://www.brookwoodleather.com/

 

[musicofanatic5]

As a gtr tech of many years, I would say, in general, tying your strap to the headstock, on average, is more potentially detrimental to your gtr than a properly installed strap button in the neck heel.
I have tried to play gtrs with the strap terminating in a lace tied behind the nut, and found the strap contacts my hand uncomfortably on certain first position cowboy chords. The only way around that is to tie the lace between the E/E tuners and the A/B tuners. It's a cool look and allows one to extend the body way out to the right like Johnny Cash. The only detriment is if one tends to lean on the gtr when playing or if it's a heavy gtr, it will place undue stress on the neck joint. If it's a light gtr and you don't put weight on it, the headstock tie method should be fine.
An alternative I have seen is a closed loop strap. There is a hole for the end pin button, the strap goes across your back, over your shoulder, over the heel of the neck, across the top of the gtr at the upper bout, and behind the gtr on the lower bout, back to the end pin. Does this description make sense? Wish I had a photo...

 

[ChauncyPepper]

I had this problem for a long time. I'm a big guy (6'-4" tall and 330lbs). I fashioned a hemp strap connector with a few wooden beads for asthetics. I looped the one end through the hole on the strap and tied the other end at the neck. It works great and I found that it's pretty easy to slide the guitar around. I get many many compliments on it everytime I go out and I even made a few for some friends.

 

[Traintrack]

"tying your strap to the headstock, on average, is more potentially detrimental to your gtr than a properly installed strap button "

I do not agree and either does Bob.

 

[musicofanatic5]

"tying your strap to the headstock, on average, is more potentially detrimental to your gtr than a properly installed strap button "

I do not agree and either does Bob.

Well, that's you and whatshisname's opinion! If your gtr is relatively light, and you do not have a tendency to "lean" on the gtr, you will probably be alright.

 

[89strat]

"tying your strap to the headstock, on average, is more potentially detrimental to your gtr than a properly installed strap button "

I do not agree and either does Bob.

I don't know, maybe there some detriment. After all, he's using a different guitar in each photo.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

[jcotten]

:AOK I was thinking exactly the same thing!

jcotten