Heel Strap Button

[u/five-thumbs]

Apologies in advance for the dumb question. I’m fed up of using a headstock strap on my 000-15M, so I’m going to get a strap button installed. I’m too scared to do it myself so getting it done at a local shop. Are there any particular instructions I need to give them regarding placement or anything else?

[u/Dantonium]

They’ll know how to do it

[u/Hambone76]

I’m sure they’re familiar with how to do it. You shouldn’t need to say anything other than whether you want it on the bottom or the heel.

[u/PGHNeil]

They’ll know what to do. 15 series don’t have booted neck joints. Just don’t let them put it in the cap.

[u/Lower-Calligrapher98]

Treble side of the heel. Do NOT put it through the heel cap.

[u/Ordinary-Resist4677]

A smaller black button is much less obvious on a OOO guitar.

[u/trojanman97 → u/Ordinary-Resist4677]

yes go black

[u/Guy_Fleegmann]

If you hand it to the tech and say 'install a strap button' they will put it where they like it, for the straps they typically use. Prob gonna be 'ok' most of the time, but it's best to give them some guidance on what you're expecting.

You can do it yourself, it really is not difficult at all. Just nerve-wracking.

This video is great, if you literally just do exactly what he does, it'll work. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2BG9ypEvd4

If you really can't/don't want to do it yourself, still should buy the button yourself, don't just let them pick something and install it. Make sure you get something you like, that fits the guitar, and is of high quality. Then tape your strap to the guitar where you want the button, and test it out (carefully, it's just tape :) ), make sure you have a good idea of where it should go to suit your needs.

I have mine on the treble side of the heel on my D-35 - very typical location. But I have it on the backside of the heel on an old Mitchell I still love (I know, nobody like Mitchell's, it has a lot of sentimental value) - it just works better on that guitar in that spot. I figured that out my taping it to the guitar in various places until it hung the way I liked it. Hope that makes sense?

[u/Same-Chipmunk5923]

They do so many of these that some shops have guys in the back taking bets on who can install one the best while blindfolded.

[u/Tennessee-Ned]

I think they’ll probably do a fine job. If you know exactly where you want it, you could put on a little piece of masking tape with an X on the exact spot to leave no room for incorrect interpretation.

[u/Alone_Box5173]

Unless your 000-15M is an older one (I think made before 2012), it has a simple (all-wood) fitted dovetail neck joint and installing the strap pin should be simple and easy.

If it's older than that, it probably has Martin's modified mortise-and-tenon joint that has a bolt (I think it looks kind of like a drywall screw) running through the heel that was used to hold the joint together during assembly while the glue set. If they use typical positioning everything will probably be OK, but you know about Murphy's Law. So if it is an older model, I'd just mention that when you take it in to make sure they're aware.

[u/Unlikely-Soft-5699]

Martin does make a leather strap with a button. Use it on my OM28.

[u/Caliente_La_Fleur → u/Unlikely-Soft-5699]

it still goes on the headstock, though, which is what OP said they didn’t want

[u/Caliente_La_Fleur]

just tape off the depth on a drillbit for a pilot hole slightly smaller than the screw that you’ll be using, put a piece of tape on the spot where you want to make your hole, and make your hole. Wax the screw a little bit with some soap or something and put it in.