MM Blues - balance

[Deleted]

I finally got to play with the MM Blues which my wife bought me in September for Christmas and it was worth waiting for.  I can't play it too well at the moment but  what I can play shows a lot of potential for a great sounding guitar as I improve. 

One thing I could do with some advice with is the balance of the guitar on my knee which  tends towards the rear so that it tips backwards slightly.  I have tried playing with it tipped forward to counteract the rearward balance but it makes playing a bit more difficult.  I was thinking of putting a strap button onto the heel of the fretboard and using a strap to prevent it tipping but I'm not sure this is the best way to deal with it.  Any comments would be most welcome.

[Quarterquay]

Hello Bluesdog, there's some useful advice on this here.

michaelmesser.proboards.com/thread/4613/neck-strap-buttons

Personally I'm heading down the route of the Levy's MSS6 strap attached to the head stock once I manage to get hold of one (not so easy as I thought it would be!).

That way I won't have to go through the nerve wrecking of drilling anything!

Anyway,plenty of thoughts on that link ^

[Deleted]

If you drill the hole properly on the heel, its a good idea - warranty voided probably though.
TT

[gaucho]

Be careful if you drill the heel. Some of the imports have 3 piece necks and there is a seam where the heel joins the neck. My friend's Hot Rod had the strap button drilled right into that seam (it's very hard to see) and it eventually separated there. I like attaching at the headstock personally. The balance seems better.

[Deleted]

I've always struggled with this as my Lightning is not my main guitar but I use a little Martin neck strap that fits just behind the nut and use a full strap length combined with a little foot rest. The foot rest exploded after its first use but my neighbour who is a brilliant engineer strengthened it for me and it is now perfect.

Pete

[Michael Messer]

Hi Bluesdog,

I am pleased that you are happy with your new guitar.

This is only a quickie answer because I am busy with family Christmas stuff tonight, but the whole subject of balancing a resonator guitar is an interesting one, and is a question that has been discussed on this forum before. I am happy to talk about this in detail when I have more time, but just look at pictures or films of me and other experienced players and see how we hold them. It is usually with the neck angled away from the player's body at approximately 45 degrees. I have never used a strap and I have never had that problem, well maybe when I first started playing resonator guitars, but I don't remember.

I do not agree that the heel is the place to put a strap button on any acoustic slide guitar, because it pushes the guitar away from you at an uncomfortable angle. I think it is much better to put a strap around the headstock because it pulls the guitar into the right position for slide playing.

I gotta go.....I'll be back!

Shine On
Michael

[Deleted]

Thanks for the various responses, I think I'll try to position the guitar as suggested by Michael, it's a bit tricky but I'll stick with it and see how it goes.  Looking at pictures of MM I'm not sure how the guitar is being prevented from tipping backwards but I'll play around and see what works best.

[mrpwrslide]

I´m usually playing the reso and all other guitars in the classical style ( lower bout between the legs ).
Much more comfortable to me.

[Wailing]

If you are playing seated I have found a foot stool ( like classical players use) under my right foot (I am right handed) and a tall seat ( I use a drummers throne) works perfectly.