Brian's Guitar from Conception to Birth or How to Build a Guitar in 62 Easy Steps!

43 Preinstall the Strap Locks

It’s a personal pet peeve, but I think it just looks bad to screw a flat thing to a round thing. I’m talking about a strap lock on the horn of a guitar. It only takes a few extra minutes to recess the mounting area to create a nice flat on flat connection. Mark the center of the horn. Measure the diameter of the base of the strap lock and select an appropriately sized forstner bit. Drill the horn so that you create a flat spot. Don’t drill too deep or you won’t be able to slide on your strap.

Now predrill for the mounting screw. Mark the desired depth on your drill bit with some tape. Try to drill so that you’re perpendicular and straight in. Test fit the strap lock. The other strap lock sits flat on the butt end of the guitar, so you won’t have to recess the mounting area there, but still predrill for the screw and test fit it. With both strap locks installed, try the guitar on for the first time. After you air-guitar for a while, remove the hardware and store it in a safe place.