Changing Strap Location on Gibson

[Brett - K A L I S I A]

Sorry this may not be the best place to ask something like this but hey, I just feel home here

I want to replace my guitars straps. So far so good... But I want to change the location of one of them. For those who know, I have a Gibson Explorer, where the strap is behind the neck, and I want to try the ESP (edit : not EMG, sorry, haha) location (on the side, over the end of the neck). Are there any particular things to be careful of (I guess it should be perpendicular to the "gravity" but it's not the case on the EMG and doesn't seem like an issue). Also, I'm not sure if this will have any incidence on the stability of the guitar, did anyone try it before of played both models ?

Better to explain with pictures, I want to take it from here :

To here :

Thanks guys !!!

Brett

 

[deathtotaliban]

can i ask why? my friend has an sg and its the same way. he uses fende strap locks and he just mounted one of them backwards so the strap fits normal around him. It works pretty nice, idk if you do that or not but it seems to work and he never complains about it. But if u want to move it im sure you would be ok doing so, just be sure to make a pilot hole first. Good lUck!!

Jordan

 

[Niels]

Sorry this may not be the best place to ask something like this but hey, I just feel home here

I want to replace my guitars straps. So far so good... But I want to change the location of one of them. For those who know, I have a Gibson Explorer, where the strap is behind the neck, and I want to try the EMG location (on the side, over the end of the neck). Are there any particular things to be careful of (I guess it should be perpendicular to the "gravity" but it's not the case on the EMG and doesn't seem like an issue). Also, I'm not sure if this will have any incidence on the stability of the guitar, did anyone try it before of played both models ?


Brett

At first: what is the reason why you want to move it? Visual reasons?

A friend of mine owns a Kramer and a Gibson Explorer(but as far as I can remember this Gibson has a smaller explorer body as usual, possible?). The Kramer has the 'EMG'(maybe ESP?) position and the Gibson the one behind the neck. You said balance is not an issue, good for you, because both guitars were top-heavy.

I don't think you would have any problems with the stability, but are you sure you want to drill a new hole in your GIBSON(!) guitar?

Don't know if this helped you...

Stay tuned and feel like at home!

Niels

 

[Genius Gone Insane]

Brett, that guitar looks cool as shit.

 

[Brett - K A L I S I A]

Haha, yeah I meant ESP of course, silly me !!!

The reason I want to do this ? Yeah, all visual, wanted to go for a little change. But I'm also wondering if having the strap this way may have an influence on the balance of the guitar (the way the neck's weight makes the guitar go up and down, if that makes sense). And oh yes, this guitar a fecking heavy (like a Les Paul... only heavier, lol Haha, when I first started playing it, I thought it would look cooler to have a chain instead of a nylon or leather strap... silly me... outch).

I'm also using strap locks with one of them inversed, it works perfectly.

When I think of it, I think there's no use for this new hole, I'll just leave it as is, after all, better be safe than sorry... Thanks for your help guys !

By the way, none of the pictures showed are my own guitar, just googled the pictures to better explain and illustrate Anyway, mine ain't less cool as shit . But I can't wait to get my new custom BretXplorer b7x done by a luthier !!! :hotjump: :hotjump: :hotjump:

 

[Genius Gone Insane]

Anyway, mine ain't less cool as shit . But I can't wait to get my new custom BretXplorer b7x done by a luthier !!! :hotjump: :hotjump: :hotjump:

Are you getting your signature imprinted on it too?

 

[Brett - K A L I S I A]

You bet I do !!!

 

[Tachy]

Brett, I sold my esp viper 407 for this reason, not for viasual but for balance and more confortable playng.
If you wont to do this, consider the option to talk with an expert...

 

[elmuchoescadawg]

First time I picked up an explorer shaped guitar with the esp button position I put a strap on, hung it on me and assumed my best Hetfield pose. Within seconds the strap came off the button, the brand new guitar fell to the floor and smashed the end off the headstock. Shortly afterwards this model was changed so that the button was in the Gibson position.
These days I wont even pick up a new guitar until the straplocks are on!!

 

[~BURNY~]

My brother who happen to be a luthier told me that there's no particular dangerous things when doing this.

 

[JeffTD]

Basically if you do end up wanting to do this, just put masking tape over where you want the new strap button, and drill a pilot hole first. It'll keep the finish from cracking around the new hole.

I might have to do this to the Viper 407 I have arriving on Friday.

 

[nwright]

Also, for balance issues, you may look into moving the rear strap button to a different place to resolve balance issues in both the Viper or explorer styles. My vipers all have the button behind the upper horn and I don't have balance issue like so many people report. Both of them I moved from the tip of the horn after finding out what happens during a lively gig! Those upper horns on Vipers just don't have enough mass at the tips!

 

[Fabbio]

I have an Epiphone Explorer Gothic that has the strap pin on the exact point as the ESP you show.
Never had any problem with balance. I tried myself many times the Hetfield pose and even with the guitar down to my knees (ever wondered how in the hell James Hetfiled could play comfortably in Justice/blackalbum era?!?! he used to keep the explorer sitting on his KNEES!!! Totally unconfortable!) and I think that the slipping incident may happen more often on a back pinned guitar than the side pinned one.

 

[chadsxe]

Brett, I sold my esp viper 407 for this reason, not for viasual but for balance and more confortable playng.
If you wont to do this, consider the option to talk with an expert...

WOW...really....you never got around to liking it......hmmm....I guess to each there own.....I personally love mine...

 

[chadsxe]

First time I picked up an explorer shaped guitar with the esp button position I put a strap on, hung it on me and assumed my best Hetfield pose. Within seconds the strap came off the button, the brand new guitar fell to the floor and smashed the end off the headstock. !!

HAHAAHAH....thats what you get......

 

[Brett - K A L I S I A]

@Fabbio : you couldn't play my guitar then, I have it pretty low as well (picking hand almost completely straight)

 

[Fabbio]

@Fabbio : you couldn't play my guitar then, I have it pretty low as well (picking hand almost completely straight)

Hi Brett!

I can assure you that my Explorer is strapped low (i did let Kaomao play it some month ago and at my height -1,90 m- it's low but playable, he couldn't come around to play it comfortably) but I tried several times to use it as Hetfield (he is about my height, only more more muscular than me, I'm like Devin townsend ten years ago) and it's almost impossible to use the higher part of the fretboard. Only downpicking like hell and nothing more.

Anyway you should be able to change the position of the pins without harm.

 

[Brett - K A L I S I A]

Playing Explorer higher than the level of your zipper is so gay anyway !!!

Oh and playing Explorer over the 12th fret is gay all the same !!!

Haha, just kiddin'...

 

[Fabbio]

Playing Explorer higher than the level of your zipper is so gay anyway !!!

Oh and playing Explorer over the 12th fret is gay all the same !!!

Haha, just kiddin'...

Hehehehe.....

For these things there are always Stratocasters...