Guitar Strap
Posted on August 2, 2007
Filed Under Basic Maintenance |
I just purchased a Takamine elec./acoustic guitar online. When I opened it I was shocked to find that there was no second strap pin. I refuse to “tie off” to the head stock, so I have a problem. My question is: can I install a second pin at the base of the neck, and if I do, what effect will this have on the sound? FYI, the instrument is b-stock and therefore is not warranteed by Tak. Also, is it possible that this was an oversight? I cannot imagine a manufacturer not including the second pin on anything other than a classical guitar!
Yes, you would expect that there would be a second strap pin. But many, if not most, acoustics arrive from the manufacturer that way. I’m not exactly sure why.
It could be because there are a couple of different places where strap pins can be mounted on an acoustic. One place may be better than another depending on how you like your guitar to balance when using a strap. Fortunately this isn’t a big problem and installing a second strap shouldn’t have any effect on the sound of your guitar.
If you do it yourself you can buy a strap pin from a local music store or on-line from www.stewmac.com. Be sure to drill an appropriate size hole for the strap pin screw and locate it in a solid place on the heel of the neck where there is no chance of causing a split. If you have some experience with woodworking, it’s a fairly simple operation. If you want to be totally safe go to a music store and ask them to install it. It should only take a few minutes and cost somewhere around $10 to $15, including the cost of the strap pin.
And yes, I agree with your decision about not tying off the strap on the head stock. Some people do that, but…in my opinion, it looks a little goofy. More importantly it’s almost impossible to get the guitar to hang in a decent playing position when the strap is attached to the headstock.
best,
John
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