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No strap buttons on your new guitar? No problem. This isn’t like the end of the world and there are quick fixes for that. If you don’t know how to put a strap on a guitar with no buttons, this article can help. It offers three of the most effective ways to install a strap button.
Will this include drilling? Two methods include that process, too. However, there’s nothing to worry about making a hole in your guitar – it’s very safe for as long as you follow the instructions carefully. Unless of course if you have the vintage or limited edition guitars, you don’t want to do anything on them. But, if you have a go-to guitar and you feel more comfortable with a guitar strap, the easiest way to install buttons is to drill a hole.
Quick Guitar Strap Overview
When playing your guitar in standing position, it’s best to have a guitar strap on. When properly installed, a guitar strap will make you feel very comfortable and relaxed even for longer hours. On the flip side, a guitar strap can also be very annoying, especially if you won’t attach it properly. So, even the simple guitar strap needs to be correctly put in place to aid better playability.
Guitar straps come in different sizes and made of different materials. Most straps have a hole on opposite ends and an adjustment system (tri-glide or feed-through adjustment). There are no strict rules about the orientation of the guitar strap, but for convenience, the adjustment end of the strap should be towards the lower bout (or endpin) for easy and quick access.
In Most Cases…
For electric guitars, it’s very easy to attach the guitar strap because they have two strap buttons — one at the lower bout and the other at the top of the horn or at the heel. With two buttons, you can easily attach one end (the one with the adjustment system) to the lower bout pin, while the opposite end to the horn or heel pin.
Acoustic guitars commonly have only one strap button — at the heel of the lower bout. So, this means you need to do something more. With only one strap button, you need to drill the second strap at the heel or at the base of the neck.
If you don’t want any drilling, you can attach a string at the headstock, just beyond the nut below the strings. Secure the string (shoelace, perhaps) in place. Then, attach the opposite end of the guitar strap to the string, while the other end to the pre-installed strap button at the bottom of the guitar. This configuration seems awkward, but then, this is the best and more stable alternative if you say no to drilling your guitar.
How to Put a Strap on a Guitar with No Buttons?
Don’t panic if you don’t see any strap buttons in your brand-new guitar. This is a common problem guitarist face, particularly on the classical acoustic guitars. And, there’s not just one, but three ways to fix this issue.
Drilling Two Strap Holes
The strap holes are commonly found at the bottom of the guitar on the lower bout and at the heel or top horn or at the base of the neck. So, if you don’t see any buttons, you can drill them into your guitar. The advantage of drilling a hole is you can customize the size and design of the guitar strap button you wish to add.
Should you need to drill an endpin, make sure that the hole will be at the center of the bottom. This part of the guitar has a wooden block. That block will be your target and where the screw should be attached to. Otherwise, you’ll get into trouble.
For the neck or heel pin, ensure that the location shouldn’t hinder the playability of the guitar. Probably, look for a spot in the neck or heel that’s towards the high E string (towards the treble side of the heel) and find the part that offers the screw to have more grip to the wood. This YouTube video will walk you through the step by step process on how to drill a hole in your guitar right in the fattest part of the heel:
Drill Only One Hole and Tie the Headstock
To minimize drilling, you can only drill the endpin, and use the tie (shoelace) at the headstock. The procedure for drilling an endpin is the same as the previous section. For the string, you have to secure it just behind the nut towards the headstock, below the strings. Attach the opposite end of the strap to the string, while the other to the endpin you drilled.
No Drilling
If you have an expensive or vintage guitar and you don’t want to do anything harsh on it, you don’t need to drill a hole in any part of your guitar. Simply find a guitar strap that has a closed-loop to be worn around your neck or over one shoulder and under the other, but still offers comfort. This loop strap doesn’t have pinholes, instead, it has braided lace at the end of the loop with a plastic hook.
From the back of the guitar, lead the lace with the hook towards the soundhole, passing through the waist of the guitar. Attach the hook at the bottom rim of the soundhole and ensure that it won’t interfere while you play. You can wear the strap like a necklace, allowing the guitar to rest on the braided lace. Of course, this isn’t secure, so, one hand should always hold the guitar when not playing. You also could browse more guitar at classicalguitarshed.com.
Conclusion
Having no strap buttons on your guitar? It’s not a problem because it’s very easy to drill strap pins on your guitar. It’s safe to add strap pins or buttons, but if you don’t want to do anything crazy (scary) to your guitar, get the loop strap, the one that you can just hook to the soundhole and wear it like a necklace. Therefore, your problem on how to put a strap on a guitar with no buttons can be easily fixed.