Thanks Eric.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by emandnatesdad:...reached across the guitar with his left hand to pick up a very large cordless drill. He raised that above the body and began the procedures. I seriously had to turn away.[QUOTE]
I laid mine on a table, strings facing down, and applied the heavy, pointy instrument of death from the side. I always try to remember not to raise tools OVER the guitar. And this includes pens that might slip out of a shirt pocket, as happened with my 510.

I'm thinking of installing a strap button on a used D2H I bought yesterday, but my hesitation is how will I know the correct angle to drill? The guitar I bought has a strap button in the BACK of the guitar, just below the heel cap. OUCH!! Not only is the current button in a ridiculous spot, but when I try to use this button the guitar wants to point towards the floor. Since I'll use this guitar to gig, I need the button in the correct spot. I have one in the Collings recommended spot on my OM3-HG and the guitar balances nicely. Any advice on drilling? Maybe I'll just make the 3 hour round-trip to the dealer I bought it from and let the professionals handle it.

Randy,

I just eyeballed the angle and it came out pretty close. I measured the distance that the screw would penetrate the neck heel, and marked that distance on the drillbit using a piece of masking tape...didn't want to drill too deep. Use a large enough bit so that the screw goes in easily. Just go slowly and you'll do fine.

Howdy,

[I'm very sure my post is dated, yet I wanted to reply]

Eric sounds like he has the right approach.

Eric, I have pretty much the same strap pin installation history as you.

I even did my own CW!

My angle always comes out OK as I am prtty good with tools.

But if I had it to do over again, on my CW, even though my installation is perfect and according to specs, I'd move the pin a bit closer to the middle of the heal.

Yes, for sure...I've studied this...I looked very carefully at the meat of the wood there, and where Bill puts his bolts, and I think it would be OK.

The issue is that even though there is a little more meat where it is positioned, the strap width itself can be a problem if you do not buy a strap with a fastening area for the neck which is "less" wide than most standard straps you can grap off the strap racks. I bought myself more of a "vintage" strap and it fits better.

Regards,
Mac

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mac,

Mac,

I still haven't installed one on my CW...just haven't needed it. You're saying that you located the button closer to the back of the guitar than to the fretboard. I agree that should work fine. Did you get one of the "vintage" Collings straps with the tooled leather look?

Hi Mr. Eric,

No sir, sorry for the confusion -- I located the strap button exactly where Bill's instructions mention.

If I had to do it over again, I'd move it a bit closer to the back of the guitar, or in other words, closer to the butt of the heel. That way we get a weeny bit more room for an average strap to fit a bit better there. The recommended spot is too close to the fingerboard IMHO to allow a good fit..."most generally".

I got a strap from Guitar Center. The area which the buttons are inserted is not as wide as most straps we see for sale off the racks. I'll check out the Collings straps though

Regards,
MAC

PS How do you like your CW?

Would you considering trimming the wide strap instead? There's a truss rod in there that the directions aim to miss.

Mac,

This is the Collings strap I referred to as "vintage". I don't know if it's vintage or not. http://www.elderly.com/accessories/items/CGS6.htm

I love the CW. I'm starting to lean more toward it than the D1A. And I like the 1-23/32" nut.

David,

Ummmm...If my memory serves me correctly, even with the the hardware in the heel of my CW I would have still have roon to move the strap button a little bit closer to the heel butt.

Also, I would probably not trim the strap. I'd buy a strap that fits better...like the one Eric gave a link to above.


Eric,

Yes, that's the kind of strap construction I bought. Looks like I will have to buy that Collings strap now!!! Yum!!

Yep, my CW just keeps growing on me. That's a good thing! :-)

Mac