Guitar question

[jsneddon]

So i bought the boy a cheap starter acoustic and he's starting lessons. There is only one strap peg and the other end has a couple of shoe-strings hanging off it. I've googled around and I had already figured that you tie it to the headstock with it threaded under the strings just above the guide thingy that holds the strings in place.

I'm just wondering how it would be best to tie it.... Currently I just have one string going through there and the other comes around back and I've got a square-knot at the bottom. Is that the best?

Or do you wrap it around a coupe of times and snug it up tight to where the strings make a 'V' closest to the strap and then tie it off opposite the strap?

who knew a simple guitar would be so complicated to me.... I can field-strip a trumpet in the dark fully under the influence of far too much beer in the middle of a gig and I've pulled apart pianos and fixed sticky keys no problem but this silly little strap is bugging me....

 

[martx-5]

If you scroll down to the bottom of this link, it will describe the procedure. However, it is essentially the same as what you have done.

 

[jsneddon]

Thanks Art.

That link says to tie it tight...

does that mean to tie a tight knot or to snug the strap tightly to the headstock?

Right now it is essentially a 6 inch diameter loop that freely floats around the headstock under the strings. Is that how it is normally tied up or should I snug it up to where the strap ends and the shoe-strings begin?

 

[martx-5]

I would tie everything tight. Another alternative would be to see if you can add an attachment similar to the one on the back of the guitar down by the heel of the neck where it meets the guitar body. They have them on electrics, and they should be available for acoustics. You'll have to drill into the heel most likely. The advantage is that the balance of the guitar is much better. I know when I played, I never liked the strap at the headstock position. If you sit down for practicing, get a low stool or a couple of books and use the classical technique. No need for the strap them. Here's another alternative to tying the strap on.