How to Attach a Guitar Strap Button

Guitar strap buttons make it possible for acoustic guitarists to attach a guitar strap to their guitar in the same way that electric guitarists do. Traditionally, acoustic guitar players attached the top end of the strap to a tuning peg or to a string tied around the top of the nut. This makes the guitar strap awkward to use, and it can interfere with the tuning as well. The problem can be corrected by securing a guitar strap button to the bottom part of the neck, close to where the neck connects to the body. This requires drilling a small hole in the guitar.

Things You'll Need

• Drill
• Drill bits
• Screwdriver
• Masking tape
• Ruler
• Nail
• Hammer
• Wax
• Blanket

Instructions

1. Locate a place for the guitar strap button. The strap button should on the part of the neck that is facing down toward the floor. The exact location depends upon the shape and style of your guitar. Center the hole between the fretboard and the bottom of the guitar. Look inside the sound hole. It is necessary to drill into a solid block of wood. Mark the place with a nail. Tap the nail slightly in to make an opening for the drill.

2. Lay the guitar on a blanket or other soft material to protect it when you drill. It is helpful to have someone to hold the guitar in place while you drill.

3. Match the drill bit with the guitar strap button screw. Line them up side by side. The drill bit should be just a little bit smaller. Measure the length of the screw to determine how deep the hole should be. Measure the same length on the drill bit and mark it with masking tape.

4. Drill the hole. Stop when the masking tape reaches the guitar.

5. Rub the screw in wax or soap and attach the guitar strap button. The wax helps the screw to go into the wood and will protect it from stripping. Place the screw in the strap button and place the felt washer on the bottom of the strap button. Screw the strap button into the guitar with a screwdriver.

6. Attach your guitar strap to the guitar.

References

• fretnotguitarrepair: Installing a Strap Button on a Guitar