Better Strap or Strap Pin location.

[Terry Tolley]

Does anyone know of a good strap for the Nashville Classic that provides a wide cushioned pad for the shoulder area but a smaller width at the neck end that is not hitting me in the chin when I turn my head a bit to the left. I have 2 different straps and they are both annoying in this fashion. Also, it seems that the front strap pin location is not the best. Is it possible to get another pin and install it on the heel of the neck or other spot on the back of the body? I don't know if there is enough wood to place a pin anywhere else but where it is sufficient to hold the weight. I'm either looking for a better strap to use with the existing fastening locations, or a better strap fastening location that will position the neck end of the strap at a better downward angle so it is not in the way of my jaw when I am playing all of my stolen Chet licks.

[Norm]

1. Next time you change your strings take the fingerboard pickup off and have a look inside the body cavity and see if there is solid wood (as opposed to just the three or four ply shell) in the area you want to add a strap button.

2. Go to a well stocked music store and see what the strap rack has to offer. Straps are a personal choice kind of thing. What I like, you might not.

[Terry Tolley]

Norm - you must be somewhat psychic!! I was getting ready to change my strings since the the A and D strings were getting quite dead sounding, so while I had the strings off, I looked inside. There is a block of wood shaped to fit into the area where the existing strap button is attached. It does NOT touch the top or the back - so putting the strap button on the back would be a no-go. Well, at least I know! I'm just going to have to go to Guitar Center and look through their stock until I find a strap arrangement that likes me. At least the dread of drilling a hole in my favorite guitar won't be looming!

As far as my strings went....I just changed the darned things last year....and already they were bad. Certainly not as long lasting as the strings on Miss Wanda's guitar - Paul Yandell's earliest guitar teacher.

[Norm]

There is a block of wood shaped to fit into the area where the existing strap button is attached. It does NOT touch the top or the back ..."

That's interesting in itself. For years Gretsch was having problems with the strap mounting screw pulling out of the plywood side. Guys were advised to put a block in there to allow the strap screw to safely attach. Having the block in there now is probably one of the things FMIC took care of when they hooked up with Gretsch. That and improving the wiring harness.

[BillB]

I've searched for comfortable straps, and this is the 3" strap that I'm using on two of my guitars (including a Nashville Classic). I really like these straps a lot.

Bill B.

http://www.zzounds.com/item--FRKCINSTRAP

[Terry Tolley]

I really appreciate the feedback. Both my youngest daughter and my oldest son got me gift cards at Guitar Center for my birthday - so I was going to get a decent strap for once in my life. This definitely looks like a nice one. I will check them out!

[BillB]

Guitar Center sells Franklin straps. That particular one is wide, and the woven cloth seems to have extra give to it. I may have to get another one for a fretless bass that I just bought on eBay.

Bill B.

[Vidar Lund]

Rocky at Street Sounds in Brooklyn, New York, sells Gretsch guitar straps. Scroll down a bit. I´ve bought four Gretsch straps from him.

http://www.streetsoundsnyc.com/servlet/ ... Categories

[smokymtguitar09]

Terry,
I believe you should try a narrow 2" strap and that might cure the problem before making modification to your guitar. The first strap I got for my Gretsch CG 6122-'59 was 3" wide and it rubbed and irritated my neck. The folks at Sweetwater graciously swapped it with a 2" and that cured my problem.

Good luck,
Ronnie Evans

[Terry Tolley]

Ronnie - you are correct about holding off on modifying the strap button location. At Norm's suggestion - I removed the neck pickup and using a small flash light and an mechanic's inspection mirror - I saw that the block of wood which the pin is screwed into is likely fastened and definitely glued into place at the button location. The block is not wide enough to touch the top or the back - possibly to avoid dampening them and affecting sustain. I am definitely going to look into a narrower strap in that area so my problem will be lessened, or better yet...eliminated. I was actually dreading doing any modification that involved making a hole and with this approach I will be able to avoid it.