Conference napalm::guitar

    I have a HD28 and I had the dealer put it on the heel.  I wouldn't do
    it!  He mount on the lower side (not on the crown) so it holds better
    and it fits in the case without any problem.   I have played guitars
    with both style and I prefer it on the heel.  The guitar feels more like
    a part of me when I turn and move aroound with it.  Don't forget to get
    a leather strap as there are some straps that could damage the finish on
    your Martin.  
    
    Bruce

    
    This note is interesting for electric guitars too.
    
    How do *you* wear your guitar ? Do you have it low, medium or high ?
    I'm not really interested from a 'pose' point of view - more from a
    practicle one.
    
    Thoughts ?
    -Tony

    re:  low/high hung:
    
    The folks at Elderly suggested that you sit down comfortably and play. 
    Then take the strap and adjust it WHILE SEATED to be in the same
    relative position, that is, no movement, when you stand up.  This will
    result in a height that may be higher than what "looks cool", but your
    access to fretboard and strings will be best for comfort and playing.
    
    re:  nut vs/ heel for strap
    
    I always had the nut-strap version, always hated it, and never knew
    there was a better way, being a DIW (dyed-in-the-wool) folkie.  When I
    bought my first Martin at Elderly, they did the far-side-of-the-heel
    button thing, and, man, what an improvement!  It's the only way to go,
    but let a pro do it, no matter how easy it sounds. (You should consider
    strap locks for heavy or expensive guitars.)
    
    Martin's finish warranty will be voided if you recase the guitar with
    ANY strap on it, so don't do it.
    \Gary

    re: where do you wear it
    
    That depends on the guitar and what I'm playing.  The ideal thing for
    me would be to have a strap with two locking preset points rather then
    just one, because when I'm playing hard (rhythm chords), I like the
    guitar a bit lower then I do when I'm playing lead.  
    
    I generally wear my Les Paul lower then my Ibanez.  Don't know exactly
    why, that's just where it feels good to me.  One thing I've found is
    that if I wear the guitar lower, I tend to move around when I play
    more.  I don't know if this is just a psychological thing or what, but
    it definately happens.  If I wear the guitar a little higher, I play a
    little better and become more statuesque.
    
    However, I've been having some problems with pain in my wrists and this
    doesn't bother me as much when the guitar is higher, so I've been
    wearing them around the same place they sit when I'm sitting down (as
    someone else suggested, I also read that in Guitar Player many years
    ago).  That seems to be a good position for comfortable playing.
    
    ...and I don't ever look too cool, no matter where the guitar is (even
    in it's case), so that's not a big consideration.  8^)
    
    Greg

    I wear mine on the high side.  Low hangin' axes may look cool (just ask
    Slash), but to me, it's gotta be where I can play the thang !!
    

    this is interesting.
    
    For my twelve string, I tie the strap behind the nut. it never entered
    my mind to place a button on the heel. Insofar as the weight of the
    guitar and the neck warping - this is a non issue. I've had this 12
    stringer since '79 and the neck is as it was the day I bought it.
    
    For guitar height, I always wanted to sling it low, but find chords are
    much more difficult the lower the guitar. I keep my guitar right about 
    stomach level, maybe up just a bit, with the angle at about 45`. I play
    acoustic at about the same height, but perhaps a little less of an
    angle now that think about it. Don't know why that is.
    
    "sakman"

    
    	Just like Gerry's Gretsch ...  ;^)
    
    

    Greg's right about Les Pauls; the lower the better on those
    it seems.  They just feel right slung that way.  A lit cigarette
    stuck in the tuning gears helps too :-)

    There's a couple of good reasons why low-slung pauls feel 'right'...
    
    	1. mass
    
    	2. gravity
    
    /Steve ;-)

    I had never used a strap on my acoustic, just always sat on a chair
    or stool.  But, then I bought a Les Paul and discovered gravity.  I very
    quickly bought a nice wide, padded, strap.  I now use the strap
    whenever I play the LP, whether standing or sitting.  What's
    interesting is that I still prefer to play the acoustic sitting down
    without a strap, but I prefer to play the LP standing up, and I think I
    do have it slung just a tad on the low side (not to my knees but resting
    comfortably below my stomach, neck at a good 45 degree angle).
    
    I agree that a Les Paul does make you appreciate high school physics. 
    I love that guitar, but gawd is it heavy.
    
    Al                                               
    

	strap w/ acoustic:

		I'm chicken of drilling into my Guild to put a button
	on the heel, so I tie the strap down at the nut.

	strap height:

		High. It's an ergonomics thing. My wrist have to be
	straight when I'm playing or the nerves in my wrist get
	shredded and my fingers go numb. The picking area is right
	over my navel. (Ya might call that "Lint Pickin'")

For the acoustic, I'd get a stool not a strap.  I have always had this adversion
to drilling holes in guitars.  In a pinch, I'd tie the strap behind the nut.

For the electric, I'd never thought about height - I just put it where it was 
comfortable.  I can remember seeing Leslie West and wondering how he could play
with a guitar that low.

Jim

    I've put strap buttons on two acoustics and never broke one yet, but if
    you're nervous, have a dealer do it. I much prefer the button in the
    base of the neck to attaching it behind the nut: for one thing, I can
    take the strap clear off the guitar and store it much more easily if
    it's not tied on. (I've been known to use one strap with two guitars on
    stage, switching the strap when I swapped guitars. Well, I've got this
    nice strap I picked up in Opryland when DECUS was in Nashville, see...)

    On my mandolin, I tie the strap behind the nut. (If I had an F-5, I
    could tie it to the scroll, but that doesn't work with an A-2.)
    Fortunately, I can roll up the strap and fit it into the pick box in the
    case without untying it.

    If you *do* decide to put the button in yourself, there are some hints
    worth following, like put soap on the threads of the screw before
    screwing it in (the smoother it goes in, the less likely you are to
    split the wood, which might happen if it binds) and don't make the pilot
    hole too small (just a tad smaller than the threads; remember, the force
    is perpendicular to the hole if you put the button in the right place).
    Practicing on a scrap piece of wood (to get the right size bit) is a
    good idea, too.

    One more thing, unrelated to the neck attachment.

    With my heavy leather strap, removing the strap (which is necessary to
    stow the guitar, since the strap doesn't fit in the case), the tail pin
    sometimes comes out - pay attention to this, and make sure it's in
    securely (finger push pressure is enough on mine) so you don't have any
    surprises while playing. (This on an OM-28, not a guitar to  put at
    risk.) If you leave the strap on all the time, this is probably less
    likely to happen - even with thinner straps, I always take mine off so
    it's not lying in contact with the finish all the time it's in the case.

    Got so fed up with the tail button falling out on my acoustic, I glued
    it in. Don't now why manufacturers haven't improved the strap
    attachments; it can't be dificult to have a threaded socket built into
    the guitar, with a machine-thread bolt/button to screw in - or even a
    kind of half-turn lock button.
    
    Seems to me that preserving push-fit buttons is like keeping a
    traditional solution just because it's traditional. A bit like those 
    tuners you get on "orchestral" string instruments. Hey, technology has
    come along a bit since Stradivarius (sp?) was around.
    
    PS Reminds me of the new towel dispensers which were installed here
    recently, replacing the paper towels. The new ones are roller towels
    with a clockwork timer/motor which winds the towel on after each use.
    
    Result? Yards of towel all over the floor. 500 years of clockwork and
    we still haven't got it right.
    c, martin 

    
    I *have* to wear my guitar high. I know it looks cool to have it fairly
    low but I can't get my wrist round the neck (specialy wide stretches on
    the low E at the 14th fret position) when its low.
    
    Either that, or wear it low and put you foot on the monitor for your
    solos and support the guitar with your knee 8^)

re:  Glueing the end pin .....

	My wife's Washburn was having problems with the endpin falling out
	all the time, so she took it back to the dealer who then glued it
	in.  A couple of months later, we decided to put a pickup in the
	guitar and wanted to put in a combination endpin/ pickup output
	jack.  Well, I couldn't get the glued in endpin out and under 
	advise from the dealer had to actually drill it out.  Not something
	I really wanted to do with a couple month old guitar.  Nevertheless,
	I managed to do it.  I had to drill out the hole larger anyway for
	the output jack, but I don't think I will allow a glued in endpin
	on any more of our guitars.

re: Nut vs. heel...

	I've done this both ways on my acoustics.  I kinda like it tied
	behind the nut on my Guild.  For the Dobro there's no choice.  In
	order to have it lay flat while standing you need the support up
	around the head of the guitar.

	I like to keep the hight about the same while standing as I do
	while seated, even with my electric guitar.  I prefer playing while
	seated, but this is not always appropriate.

	_gary

    If you are going to travel with your guitar than you should NOT glue in
    the heel pin.  A Martin dealer told me that one of the most common
    repairs jobs done is to repair a crack caused be the guitar being
    dropped while in the case with the pin in.  Remove it when you travel.
    
    BRuce
    

    
    Lots of related subject here.....
    
    
    On Heel vs Nut - I always had the strap tied on round the nut on my
    acoustics until I got an electric and realised how much more practical
    the heel approach is. I then had a dealer put a peg on my Washburn on
    the heel (took him about 30 secs!). Much tidier. Also when you're not
    using the strap you can tighten it up around the top of the guitar
    although it does impact the appearance somewhat.
    
    On Capos - I also find the heel peg a useful store for my capo. Just
    clip it round the peg when not in use. Add one of those 'stick on pick
    holders' somewhere discreet and you have a self contained guitar so to
    speak! 
    
    On Narrow Straps - On electrics I find that a narrow strap is OK for
    about 30 minutes. Play any longer than that standing up and you find
    yourself stuffing rag, anything between the strap and your shoulder.
    Moral, always get a WIDE strap for electrics.
    
    On Strap Locks - Strap came off Strat the other week and said guitar hit
    the deck with some force. Fortunately do damage. I replaced the
    standard pegs with Schaller locking pegs. Brilliant. NO guitar (well,
    electric) should be without them.
    
    On S-t-r-e-t-c-h Straps - What about these stretchy straps? Anyone
    tried them? I have visions of the guitar sort of bouncing around and
    messing up that crucial lead! Surely they can't be as bad as this.
    
    
    	Richard

    
    
    I've got one of those stretchy straps on my Les Paul.  Highly
    recommended.  Takes a lot of the shock out of any sudden movement. 
    Especially recommended if you've ever fractured the collarbone on the
    weight-bearing side.
    
    

    
    	I have a stretchy strap I use with my ES335.  I believe it is made
    	from scuba diver suit material.  
    
    	I have having trouble understanding *exactly* where you guys are
    	suggesting placing the 2nd peg for an acoustic.  Is it like on the
    	ES where it is located on the back of the guitar, just below the 
    	neck line?  My Tak has a strap button which also doubles as the 
    	pickup jack, but I have to tie the strap above the nut - which I
    	agree sucks.  I get the shakes thinking about drilling a hole in
    	this guitar...  

    re: .17
    
>	My wife's Washburn was having problems with the endpin falling out
>	all the time, so she took it back to the dealer who then glued it
>	in.  A couple of months later, we decided to put a pickup in the
>	guitar and wanted to put in a combination endpin/ pickup output
>	jack.  Well, I couldn't get the glued in endpin out and under 
>	advise from the dealer had to actually drill it out.  Not something
>	I really wanted to do with a couple month old guitar.  Nevertheless,
>	I managed to do it.  I had to drill out the hole larger anyway for
>	the output jack, but I don't think I will allow a glued in endpin
>	on any more of our guitars.

    Yeah, not a real pretty deal.  Seems like you'd be able to remove it if
    it were glued in with the right kind of glue.  Something which will
    soften with heat and/or moisture.  Hide glue is good for this, and
    white glue can also be.  
    
    re: .19
    
>    On S-t-r-e-t-c-h Straps - What about these stretchy straps? Anyone
>    tried them? I have visions of the guitar sort of bouncing around and
>    messing up that crucial lead! Surely they can't be as bad as this.
 
    I *hate* those things!!!  I got one a few years ago from a mail order
    place 'cause it was cheap and I just can't stand it.  You're moving
    around and the guitar is like ALL over the place!  I like my guitar to
    be where I'm expecting it to be...every time.  I use it for emergencies
    only!   
         
    Greg                                       

    
    Gee Greg, mine doesn't bounce hardly at all.  Except when I'm doing
    Townsend jumps!

	I had a stretchy Dimarzio clip-lok strap on my bullet when
	I had it. The bullet was a light guitar and the strap wasn't
	too bad. I haven't bothered to put it on another guitar.

	Both of my Strats got Clip-Lok straps when I got them home.
	I like them a lot but I've had to do one mod to them - the
	piece that screws into the body has raised plastic lettering
	on the clip socket that faces the guitar. I've had to reverse
	this thing so that the lettering faces away from the guitar,
	otherwise it gradually wears away your paint job - a lesson
	I learned on my Rickenbacker (boohoo).

    re: Pat
    
    Maybe it's just because I got a cheap one, or because my guitars are
    all pretty heavy, but this one's really stretchy!  
    
    Greg

    Well I've made a decision.
    
    I am going to get a luthier to put a button in the heel of my Martin.
    
    I know its a small job but I want to get it done by an expert.
    
    I will also get him to advise on the end pin to see if there is a way
    of making sure it won't come out.
    
    Thanks for all the opinions. I never realised it would generate so much
    interest!
    
    
    andy