I just got my first Guild (Starfire V) and I love it! My only issue is that there’s no strap button on the neck side… I like my strap locks and I can’t put one on - does anyone have a suggestion on where to add the button or can someone point me in the right direction?
I’ma Guild Noobie - No Strap Button?
- Thread starter DWyatt2
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Sounds like they missed it in QA. I believe the strap button is on the upper horn still. Strap buttons should be at any music store.
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True, but drilling into a new guitar is not something that should be needed.
I’d call Guild and ask about it. They should fix that.
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Agreed.
SFIV1967
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Bill Ashton
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Back when Guild transfered building to New Hartford, CT some egghead decided that acoustic guitars did not need an additional strap button, but that electric/acoustic guitars did. That said, my F512 came without one 
"We" had a contact there that rectified that!
Seems very weird your Starfire came without one, as @Default said, a QC miss. The position does seem correct, if it were a Gibson or Epiphone, but I agree with you, if it just doesn't feel right...
I would caution however, not knowing what is behind that upper horn, might want to have a luthier do it instead of trying it yourself; Guild always put a piece of stock behind the upper strap button. My Tacoma-build D55 had a nicely cut piece of stock, the NH F512 had a piece that must have been lying about the floor! NTL, it was backed up so it did not fail, ripping itself out of the shell.
"We" had a contact there that rectified that!Seems very weird your Starfire came without one, as @Default said, a QC miss. The position does seem correct, if it were a Gibson or Epiphone, but I agree with you, if it just doesn't feel right...
I would caution however, not knowing what is behind that upper horn, might want to have a luthier do it instead of trying it yourself; Guild always put a piece of stock behind the upper strap button. My Tacoma-build D55 had a nicely cut piece of stock, the NH F512 had a piece that must have been lying about the floor! NTL, it was backed up so it did not fail, ripping itself out of the shell.
I'd go for the top horn too, DWyatt.
SFIV1967
Venerated Member
DANGER !!!Very very bad idea...
There is a reason the strap button is where it is. There is absolutely nothing behind the two horns! Just the thin laminate. Good luck hanging a heavy Starfire V on a thin piece of laminated wood. A Starfire V is not a solid body guitar but a semi-hollow guitar with just a center block! Otherwise it's constructed like a normal hollowbody. And you can't reach that area to put a reinforcement block in.
Ralf
Oooh, didn't know that. Good point, Ralf!
Very very bad idea...
There is a reason the strap button is where it is. There is absolutely nothing behind the two horns! Just the thin laminate. Good luck hanging a heavy Starfire V on a thin piece of laminated wood. A Starfire V is not a solid body guitar but a semi-hollow guitar with just a center block! The rest if constructed like a normal hollowbody. And you can't reach that area to put a reinforcement block in.
Ralf
SFIV1967
Venerated Member
Here is a picture of the construction of the sides on my 1967 Starfire IV.
Standard guitar construction. Same applies to both horns.
When GAD reviewed the Indonesian Starfire I SC he took similar pictures, here of the endblock and you see the same construction of the sides:
Ralf
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Yeah, you're right. Everything with a strap button on the horn has a backer block.No, on the neck heel! Starfires always had them there. 2023 left vs. 1967 right:
Ralf
So, yeah, heel is the place.
swiveltung
Member
Most often you can add a backer one way or another. "Where there's a will there's a way"
Is there a path through the neck pickup opening or is the center block wide on these?
Even through the F hole:
-Drill the hole where you want the button
-Shape a small hardwood block to have a round end to more or less fit the inside of the horn and small enough to fit in the F hole..
-Drill a hole through that block.
-Route a stiff wire through the hole in the upper horn.
-Grab it in the F hole.
-Thread the wire through the block.
-Use thick epoxy, JB Weld or etc on the block and pull it into the horn and leave it to set up. Something that will fill gaps well.
-Remove the wire, install the button!
Is there a path through the neck pickup opening or is the center block wide on these?
Even through the F hole:
-Drill the hole where you want the button
-Shape a small hardwood block to have a round end to more or less fit the inside of the horn and small enough to fit in the F hole..
-Drill a hole through that block.
-Route a stiff wire through the hole in the upper horn.
-Grab it in the F hole.
-Thread the wire through the block.
-Use thick epoxy, JB Weld or etc on the block and pull it into the horn and leave it to set up. Something that will fill gaps well.
-Remove the wire, install the button!
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