At the request of our esteemed participant, West R. Lee, here's a step-by-step guide to installing a quick release strap holder - so you can use a strap without drilling holes in the heel. I'm using the Planet Waves brand - but there are others and all work similar.
First, this the device as it comes out of the package. Note a small-strapped part and a large-strapped part that click together:
[IMG:800:444]http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k271/squawkman/closed-1.jpg[/img]
By squeezing the little release buttons on the female connector (Coastie just woke up), the lock will open where the male connector is on the short-strapped side and the female on the long-strapped side:
[IMG:800:476]http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k271/squawkman/open_2.jpg[/img]
For right-handed guitars, slip the long strap under the strings from high to low E as shown:
[IMG:634:800]http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k271/squawkman/under-strings-3.jpg[/img]
Now bring the female connector around the back of the neck and slip it through the loop and pull tight - the headstock part is now done:
[IMG:800:484]http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k271/squawkman/headstock-done-4.jpg[/img]
Slip the loop end of the short-strapped male connector through the back of the strap hole, then bring the male connector around, loop it through and tighten:
[IMG:800:363]http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k271/squawkman/strap-5.jpg[/img]
Click the male and female connectors together (still awake, Coastie?), and it's complete:
[IMG:800:325]http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k271/squawkman/complete-6.jpg[/img]
As a rule, you would keep the strap adjusted shorter than if you used a heel pin. Also, if you're using a left-handed guitar, the headstock installation is opposite (you knew that).
BTW, the model is my fantastic Corona D50 I rave about on LTG. Quick releases work on Westerlys too (as well as Martins). It is strung with Thomastik Spectrum 11s - which has bronze-colored plain strings.
First, this the device as it comes out of the package. Note a small-strapped part and a large-strapped part that click together:
[IMG:800:444]http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k271/squawkman/closed-1.jpg[/img]
By squeezing the little release buttons on the female connector (Coastie just woke up), the lock will open where the male connector is on the short-strapped side and the female on the long-strapped side:
[IMG:800:476]http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k271/squawkman/open_2.jpg[/img]
For right-handed guitars, slip the long strap under the strings from high to low E as shown:
[IMG:634:800]http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k271/squawkman/under-strings-3.jpg[/img]
Now bring the female connector around the back of the neck and slip it through the loop and pull tight - the headstock part is now done:
[IMG:800:484]http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k271/squawkman/headstock-done-4.jpg[/img]
Slip the loop end of the short-strapped male connector through the back of the strap hole, then bring the male connector around, loop it through and tighten:
[IMG:800:363]http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k271/squawkman/strap-5.jpg[/img]
Click the male and female connectors together (still awake, Coastie?), and it's complete:
[IMG:800:325]http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k271/squawkman/complete-6.jpg[/img]
As a rule, you would keep the strap adjusted shorter than if you used a heel pin. Also, if you're using a left-handed guitar, the headstock installation is opposite (you knew that).
BTW, the model is my fantastic Corona D50 I rave about on LTG. Quick releases work on Westerlys too (as well as Martins). It is strung with Thomastik Spectrum 11s - which has bronze-colored plain strings.