OT (Acoustic Guitar): Strap Button pilot hole question

Loren · Post by **Loren** » Sat Dec 20, 2003 10:11 pm

I need to mount a strap button on my acoustic guitar - treble side heel of the neck position, "Taylor style" if you will. Eventhough the guitar is a beater, I don't want to crack the heel: Anyone know how wide and deep the pilot hole should be in relation to the size of the strap button screw?

Loren

OutOfBreath · Post by **OutOfBreath** » Sat Dec 20, 2003 10:18 pm

I would start with it as deep as the screw will penetrate and with a diameter roughly 1/2 that of the screw. If it seems as if it is very hard to screw in stop, gradually enlarge the pilot hole until you can seat the screw fully without needing a death-grip on the screwdriver.

Also, you might check the package the strap button came in, sometimes they tell you what size hole to drill.

ScottStewart · Post by **ScottStewart** » Sat Dec 20, 2003 10:47 pm

Loren, one other item you may need to consider. How is the neck attached to the body? If it is a dovetail, then you should have no problems. If it is a bolt-on, you'll have to be aware of where the bolts come into the heel of the neck.

raindog1970 · Post by **raindog1970** » Sat Dec 20, 2003 11:34 pm

Why some guitar manufacturers don't put a strap button on the heel of the neck has always mystified me!
It's an operation that I've had to perform a few times, and I've never had any problems.
The screws provided with strap buttons are fairly small diameter, and usually don't penetrate too deeply... just don't force the screw in, and you should have no problems.
Choose a drill bit that is the same diameter as the shaft of the screw for your first attempt, and re-bore with a slightly larger one if the screw doesn't go in easily.

kkrell · Post by **kkrell** » Sun Dec 21, 2003 2:54 am

Loren wrote:I need to mount a strap button on my acoustic guitar - treble side heel of the neck position, "Taylor style" if you will. Eventhough the guitar is a beater, I don't want to crack the heel: Anyone know how wide and deep the pilot hole should be in relation to the size of the strap button screw?

Loren

Loren,

http://www.fretnotguitarrepair.com/strapbuttons.htm

Hmmm, yet another useful link found through the WORLDTRAD site. INSTRUMENT->GUITAR->Build

My strap ties to the peghead.

All the best,

Kevin Krell

illuminatus99 · Post by **illuminatus99** » Sun Dec 21, 2003 3:06 am

raindog1970 wrote:Why some guitar manufacturers don't put a strap button on the heel of the neck has always mystified me!
It's an operation that I've had to perform a few times, and I've never had any problems.
The screws provided with strap buttons are fairly small diameter, and usually don't penetrate too deeply... just don't force the screw in, and you should have no problems.
Choose a drill bit that is the same diameter as the shaft of the screw for your first attempt, and re-bore with a slightly larger one if the screw doesn't go in easily.

I think it's because different people like the strap button in different positions, I prefer mine on the bottom side of the neck joint, I've never like it on bottom of the heel. if someone plays left-handed they may want it on the other side of the heel.

Loren · Post by **Loren** » Sun Dec 21, 2003 11:01 am

Thanks all, much appreciated.

Unfortunately I'm not sure if the neck is bolted on or not: Looking inside the guitar, I can't see any bolts in the end of the neck block, but sometimes there's a cap to hide the bolts, so I can't be certain. On the one hand I'd suspect a bolted neck since this guitar typically sells at Sam Ash for around $100 (Carlo Robelli J-220) and the neck terminates in a squarish block inside the guitar. OTH, it's hard to imagine a company going to the trouble and expense of hiding the bolt heads on something this cheap (although it's an amazing guitar for the money). If I had a small Rare Earth magnet it would be easy enough to find any bolts and their positions, but I don't have an RE lying around. Hmm, what to do....

Loren

jim stone · Post by **jim stone** » Mon Dec 22, 2003 9:06 am

Never had any problem with this.

Daniel_Bingamon · Post by **Daniel_Bingamon** » Mon Dec 22, 2003 9:17 am

Loren,
You should give a visit to http://www.mimf.com, there are a lot (almost too many) of Guitar Makers of all ranks that would be happy to help you with the problem. In fact, you might be able to find a member who is local to you.

Loren · Post by **Loren** » Mon Dec 22, 2003 11:22 am

jim stone wrote:Never had any problem with this.

With what?!

Adding a strap button? Figuring out if a neck is glued or bolted on? Finding the bolts prior to drilling a hole in the heel???

Be more specific man!

Loren

Loren · Post by **Loren** » Mon Dec 22, 2003 11:23 am

Daniel_Bingamon wrote:Loren,
You should give a visit to http://www.mimf.com, there are a lot (almost too many) of Guitar Makers of all ranks that would be happy to help you with the problem. In fact, you might be able to find a member who is local to you.

Thanks Daniel, I do need to swing by that forum and check it out, I've just been too busy dealing with other stuff lately to have the free time

Loren

ScottStewart · Post by **ScottStewart** » Mon Dec 22, 2003 11:43 am

Loren, another good link with tons of info on any guitar repair is http://www.frets.com. Frank Ford runs the site, and he will answer questions emailed to him.

Loren · Post by **Loren** » Mon Dec 22, 2003 12:23 pm

Thanks Scott, I've actually been aware of Frets.com for a couple of years now, and that was the first place I went looking for the strap button info. Unfortunately the section on installing strap buttons had all the info except suggestions on pilot hole size, hence my post here.

I think the issue of checking for bolts can only be solved with an RE magnet or a visit to a knowledable luthier at this point - something that will have to wait till well after the holidays.

OTH, since it's an inexpensive guitar, I may get impatient and just start drilling

Scott, did you see my response to your post over in the GC instrument making Forum?

Loren

ScottStewart · Post by **ScottStewart** » Tue Dec 23, 2003 5:38 am

I did now.

Hadn't been there in a while, so I replied once I saw your post.

DaveG · Post by **DaveG** » Tue Dec 23, 2003 8:45 am

Taylor guitars website has several "tech sheets", one oof which is installing a strap button. check it out..

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OT (Acoustic Guitar): Strap Button pilot hole question

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