Strap button placement

[deejayen]

I read an old thread discussing strap button placement, and someone said that placing it on the back of the heel or the back of the guitar isn't the best position for it. Did the Guild factory fit them here (1990's JF-30)? Is there plenty of solid wood behind it?

 

[jedzep]

One reason the position shown isn't ideal is that the guitar can easily roll forward and disconnect when you let go it. This tutorial give the best position, however I use the Neo-Tech banjo loop that connects behind the nut for easy on/off strap connection. It feels more balanced to me and I can let go of the guitar without the headstock end dropping.

https://www.premierguitar.com/diy/guitar-shop-101/install-strap-button-on-acoustic-guitar

 

[deejayen]

Thanks very much. I've seen a lot of acoustic guitars with the strap button in the 'Premier Guitar' position. I play sitting down, and my current acoustic doesn't have a strap button. If I had to play standing up with that guitar I'd probably look into something like your Neo-Tech loop.

The picture above is of a guitar I'm thinking about buying.

 

[jedzep]

I play mostly sitting down, as well, but still with a strap, as I find that having the guitar higher and off my lap gives me more comfort and control. The advantage of a supported neck is that your fret hand doesn't have the double task of holding up and moving around on the neck. It's sped up my fretting.

Neotech Acoustic/Banjo Adaptor Loop (5001342) | eBay

Neotech Acoustic/banjo adaptor loop is ideal for acoustic and banjo players who want to convert any guitar strap to fit their needs. The solid leather retaining base assures a secure hold that's easy to attach and compact in design.

www.ebay.com

 

[Bernie]

My (new) luthier has put the strap button much lower and that seems to be more convenient when one plays up the neck (at least on a guitar that doesn't have a cut away)...About an inch or a little bit more away from the lowest part of the neck heel would seem the best place in my opinion.

There isn't a strap button on my New Hartford F-30 neck's heel. So this one might well have been added...

I have one guitar with a strap button located on the heel cap (so quite similar to what's on the guitar you fancy), and I'd say the issue is not so much in the guitar rolling forward, but in the fact that the strap would be pulling in a such a way it could easily get off from the button... The guitar could fall down if you're not holding it then ; so in case you'd be tempted to play standing up, just get some strap locks, or one (at least) of these little circular rubber pieces that will help the strap from disconnecting, and that could save the guitar...
Fender makes this kind of things for about 5 dollars a pair or is it 4 I think (always leave one on the guitar and one in the case)...

Other than that, it shouldn't be much of a problem to have that strap button there (it's even a bit worse than on my guitar it seems, but I think there must be enough wood there for it to hold firmly)...

 

[fronobulax]

There isn't a strap button on my New Hartford F-30 neck's heel.

It is not always safe to generalize from New Hartford to Westerly (which is where the OP guitar was made).

New Harford, being Guild, was inconsistent about strap buttons. At one point if the instrument had factory electronics it got a strap button. No electronics, no button. This was allegedly based upon customer feedback - people who ordered factory electronics also were more likely to play standing up and therefore need a strap.

 

[walrus]

It is not always safe to generalize from New Hartford to Westerly (which is where the OP guitar was made).

New Harford, being Guild, was inconsistent about strap buttons. At one point if the instrument had factory electronics it got a strap button. No electronics, no button. This was allegedly based upon customer feedback - people who ordered factory electronics also were more likely to play standing up and therefore need a strap.

Wait! I removed the DTAR electronics from my '11 NH F-30, was I supposed to take the strap button off, too?

BTW, here's the previous discussion on this issue:

Strap button at heel or use headstock loop......

I'm sure I'm not the only one who has hesitated drilling into their Guild acoustic to install a strap button..... I can always use the headstock attachment.

letstalkguild.com