Opinions on using a strap to hold the guitar instead of supports.

Hi

Has anyone tried using a classical guitar strap? I'm considering it as it would allow me to also stand when practising but it doesn't seem like anyone is using them. Is there a problem with straps? 

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    • Dean
    • Dean
    • 3 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    I use one at times because I have low back issues, but I also don't have an expensive instrument right now so it was not a problem to drill into the heal and end block to install strap buttons for me. I think it works fine but the guitar still moves around more than I'd like.

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      • MirceaTeam
      • Head of Guitar
      • Mircea
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Dean oh I would like to know more about this! Did you drill the holes in your guitar yourself?

      Mehmet I've been thinking about doing it for years now! I have been working on this project consisting of a small ensemble concert involving audience participation, for which all musicians need to be standing up, however, I couldn't bring myself to drill a hole into my precious Paco Marin. It also got put on indefinite hold with Covid, so it's not been very urgent lately, but I do hope we'll restart preparations once things open back up.

      That being said, my friend and colleague TY Zhang, who was on tonebase Live recently and is also a GFA winner, drilled holes into his Smallman and has used it with a strap in many concerts already! Perhaps I'll pick his brain about what this process was like and if he noticed any changes in sound following it.

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    • Dean
    • Dean
    • 3 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    I wouldn't recommend it for an expensive guitar, it might change the resale value since some people are traditionalists when it comes to classical guitars. But if you want to DIY here is what I recommend:

     

    1.  measure and mark a centered hole.

    2. secure the guitar with clamps to a table or something and use a small hammer and brad nail or sharp screw and make a small center punch hole to guide the drill bit.

    3. drill a slightly smaller hole than the size of the screw and mark how deep the drill will go on the bit so u know where to stop.

    4 screw in you strap buttons.

     

    It's easy to DIY but it's usually best to try it first on some scrap wood. The part that's difficult is keeping the guitar still if you don't have clamps but the center punch will help to keep the drill from wandering so don't skip this step.

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    • Igornull
    • Igor.2
    • 2 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Hi everyone. If you are not going to play standing up, you don´t need to drill a hole on your guitar, although I did so in one of mine. If you tie a long strap in your headstock, then you put it around your left shoulder, let it fall all the way down to your right thigh, pass the strap under it  and then you simply SIT ON THE STRAP ITSELF. I leave you a link to a video on this. The fact is that you can´t change the position of your body without moving the guitar itself, so it´s not easy to play certain difficult passages.

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C03fsBh5IUg

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