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Post by blinddrunk on Mar 12, 2017 12:22:21 GMT
I'm the proud owner of a '32 National Tricone and when I play live, I prefer to stand. Out of respect for the guitar and with an eye to the effect on its value, I am reluctant to drill the heel for a strap button, although opinions on this would be welcome. The only other option that I can see is to run the strap to the headstock. Since the guitar is very heavy, it strikes me that this could place excessive strain on the neck. Thoughts and advice, please.
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 12, 2017 12:52:13 GMT
Hi blinddrunk, I always use a strap around the headstock on any resonator or acoustic guitar that I am using for slide. This is because it pulls the neck back towards you, which is more like the sitting playing position. For slide it is not comfortable or accurate to have the neck too far forward, which for me is what happens with a heel strap button. Plus... the strap button and strap are in the way when playing up around and beyond the 12th fret. All of the above is in addition to the fact that I would not drill a hole in the heel of a vintage guitar. There will never be any more 1932 National guitars. Each to their own, but that is just my opinion. When I was young I did a few stupid things to vintage Nationals and Dobros, but (A) I was young and didn't give a damn, and (B) vintage Nationals were not 85 years old, they were 50 years old and more plentiful than they are today.  (Yours truly with strap around the headstock - photo by Alan Messer© ) Shine On Michael  |
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Post by blinddrunk on Mar 12, 2017 13:23:04 GMT
Thank you for your prompt reply Michael. Your thoughts on drilling correspond with my own. Headstock it is, then. Thanks again.
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Post by alexkirtley on Mar 12, 2017 13:30:47 GMT
The way I see it, if you're using it a lot, just do it, the value depreciation will be nothing compared to the playing benefits, thats the reason my old Gibson J-50 got a strap button and pickup, it's getting used constantly, but each to their own
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 12, 2017 14:10:25 GMT
That is exactly what I would have said when I was your age. In fact I did a lot worse than fit pickups and strap pins to an old Gibson. But as well as being young, as I said in my previous post, vintage guitars were 40+ years younger than they are today. A 50s Gibson was less than 15 years old when I was a teenager.
It is interesting that as we get older we do seem to have more appreciation for old things, and have more interest in preserving them.
Oops....I sound like an old uncle!
Shine On
Michael
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Post by blinddrunk on Mar 12, 2017 14:41:54 GMT
I am happy with the strap around the headstock - as Michael says, it places the guitar in a more convenient position for playing slide. My only concern was that the weight of the guitar might place excessive strain on the neck. Drilling was never really an option; especially since I had a button fitted to the heel of my Martin 000-28EC about a year ago and I've regretted it ever since - and that guitar's only 15 years old.
On the subject of abusing old instruments, a friend of mine acquired a 30s National Style O about 20 years ago. A previous owner had apparently used a tin-opener, or something similar, to make a hole to fit a pick-up. It was a right mess.
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Post by Stevie on Mar 12, 2017 14:57:40 GMT
A heartfelt plea; If I was religious, It would have to be be the eleventh commandment!
What is meant by "ownership"? Even if they have to prize it from your cold dead fingers- who "owns" it then?
Your folding green beer tokens have only made you custodian for the time being. Think of the next "owner" wishing beyond possibility that a previous curator had not in an idle (or worse still flippant) moment bored a hole into it. As MM said, few unmolested examples are left, but there is a great choice of satisfactory work-horses available. As an off the top of the head example, how often do we see David Gilmour playing the "0001" Strat live?
Mr. Gilmour is often to be seen grasping a similar vintage Strat to my own my 1973. I regarded mine with disparity even when I bought it. That left me with no guilt when I had it refinished in red at Ron Roka's place in Endell Street (thanks for that cue Mr Knopfler!). How was I to know that they would coat it in a "red plastic skin"...Worse than that- I had Roger Giffin mill off the maple neck and install an ebony fretboard (which was pretty much unheard of back then). Then I removed the string tree and introduced a 1950s roundel type string retainer. Now that the guitar is 44 years old (and with the internet I have discovered that it has 1960s left over stock grey bobbin pick ups!), I look at it through perhaps somewhat more rose coloured spectacles. I do wish I had not interfered, I really do and not just because I have cattle trucked its value.
Young man, do not travel that same road. Leave well alone and find a satisfactory work around, if not only for the benefit of those that will inexorably follow.
e&oe...
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2017 17:16:39 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2017 17:48:41 GMT
The way I see it, if you're using it a lot, just do it, the value depreciation will be nothing compared to the playing benefits, thats the reason my old Gibson J-50 got a strap button and pickup, it's getting used constantly, but each to their own I can feel a Capt.Mainwaring quote coming on. |
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Post by snakehips on Mar 13, 2017 21:09:10 GMT
Hi there !
I have put strap buttons on the heels of all my vintage Nationals except a mint 1931 dark walnut Duolian I once had, plus a very good condition 1931 roundneck Style 1 Tricone I still have.
Both were in too good condition to bring myself to do it to them.
I'll try a strap on the headstock for my Tricone as I'm struggling to play it comfortably without a strap.
I do use a strap, on the headstock of my Elmore Kay dreadnought - so should manage to get used to it.
The trick is to have a strap that doesn't slide easily on your shoulder. A strap with suede on the underside is ideal.
As far as strap buttons in the neck heel, i have turned down a few really nice Nationals with strap buttons on the side of the heel - as they are butt ugly there - like a big pluke on someone's nose. My first Style O had a strap button on the side of the heel (already there when I got it) and I vowed never to get one like that again.
Strap buttons don't look offensive on the end of the heel to me, for some reason, unlike when on the side of the heel.
There's maybe a symmetry thing going on with me - can't stand seeing something on one side only !!!
The neck end of the strap doesn't stick out, in the way of playing up the neck like it does when it's on the treble side of the heel.
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Post by maui_chimes on Mar 13, 2017 23:34:39 GMT
I wouldn't do it. They get in the way of your left hand. On a guitar with 11 1/2 frets clear of the body, you're limiting yourself even more. Plus it looks ugly. And devalues the guitar. Just tie something around the headstock. Or sit down  |
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Post by creolian on Mar 14, 2017 0:48:30 GMT
Personally, I would not molest any old instrument with anything other than a repair. As far as playing a metal resonator standing up, maybe one tune but not a set. I'm 60 and life has enough pinched nerves...
YMMV
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Post by blinddrunk on Mar 14, 2017 13:45:01 GMT
Opinion seems divided on whether to fit a button - I think I'll go with my original inclination and not do it as I'm perfectly happy with the strap on the headstock. As I said, my real concern was the heavy guitar body placing excessive strain on the neck. Since nobody's mentioned that as an issue, I'll assume that it's not. Thanks for your replies.
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 14, 2017 13:58:19 GMT
Fitting the strap around the headstock of a National guitar is absolutely fine. Musicians have been doing it this way for many decades.
Shine On
Michael
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