Unofficial Taylor Guitar Forum - UTGF
Lessons, Recordings, How Tos, Repair, Accessories => Lessons, Recordings, How Tos, Repair, Accessories => Topic started by: DennisG on January 23, 2018, 10:31:14 AM
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After years of owning Taylor guitars, I've yet to figure out a workable strap lock that won't activate my ES system. One promising device was the Planet Waves CinchFit, but it doesn't fit on Taylor's endpin jack. Any ideas?
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Hey Dennis,
What do you mean by "activate" the ES? FWIW, I've found that if you are plugged in, that in itself is a "keeper' for the strap at the butt end (and if you are not plugged in then that's a different story, of course). So is the button or strap end at the neck heel giving you trouble?
Edward
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Hi Edward,
Thanks for responding. Yes, I understand what you mean that plugging in will hold the strap in place. But there are venues I play where I'm not plugged in, and I'd like to lock the strap onto the end pin jack without using typical strap locks which would drain the battery, since they want to be plugged in. Let me know if I'm not making myself clear.
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Ahhh got ya, Dennis!
The trouble I have with the ES end pin (and playing not plugged in) is that it is so shallow --too shallow IMHO-- and requires either a thin strap, or that you "squish" the strap so that it fits into the button properly and will stay there. I did the latter as I use the Taylor suede strap as well as the old "Byzantine" strap ...both are hearty, thick leather that is comfortable, but doesn't fit into the shallow ES endpin. Enter two nickels: wet the end of the strap, put a nickel on both sides of the hole, and squeeze it in a bench vice (or vice grips, C-clamp, whatever). Leave it overnight and the leather dries that way, and now that area is permanently thinner and fits perfectly onto (or should I say into) the ES endpin ...and she stays! Short of Pete Townshend windmills, I feel very secure about the strap staying put. Not exactly what you may be looking for, but it definitely works!! :)
Edward
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Edward. Thanks for that strap fix suggestion. Just purchased my first Taylor and I was surprised
that the Clinch Fit attachment that I use on my other Guitars won’t work on the Taylor
Ed
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might not be the remedy your looking for but I did get a Lakota Leather strap that was mentioned on the forum a bit....I fits like a glove and is thinner than most I've had...SO FAR, haven't had any OH CRAP! pop off moments & I play/gig fairly heavily plugged & unplugged..Best wishes!
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I've never seen a Cinch Fit, but in principle, I personally don't like fussing with strap "thingies" as I simply want to slip it on and trust it.
The ES pin is a bit of a pain that is easily remedied by Taylor IMHO: simply make it with another 1mm or so of depth, done!!! But as it is what it is, I'd rather go with the "nickel squish" method than any other device that I have to think about and deal with. That said, on a Les Paul I will add a rubber washer because with an LP, the stakes are high if that bad boy lets go!!! It's all about what we're comfortable with and the lengths we're willing to go to gain that comfort. :)
Edward
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I've never seen a Cinch Fit, but in principle, I personally don't like fussing with strap "thingies" as I simply want to slip it on and trust it.
The ES pin is a bit of a pain that is easily remedied by Taylor IMHO: simply make it with another 1mm or so of depth, done!!! But as it is what it is, I'd rather go with the "nickel squish" method than any other device that I have to think about and deal with. That said, on a Les Paul I will add a rubber washer because with an LP, the stakes are high if that bad boy lets go!!! It's all about what we're comfortable with and the lengths we're willing to go to gain that comfort. :)
Edward
One end of the CinchFit attaches to the guitar strap; the other end has jaws that clamp onto the end-pin jack. It holds the strap securely in place, yet can be removed in about two seconds. Naturally, Taylor's non-standard end-pin jack is too wide to accommodate the CinchFit. This clever device fits perfectly on my Goodall's end-pin jack and those of every other guitar I've tried it on. Honestly, there are times when I've found Taylor's insistence on using this portly and shallow end-pin jack to be maddening. It would be such an easy fix for them.
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Ahhh got ya, Dennis!
The trouble I have with the ES end pin (and playing not plugged in) is that it is so shallow --too shallow IMHO-- and requires either a thin strap, or that you "squish" the strap so that it fits into the button properly and will stay there. I did the latter as I use the Taylor suede strap as well as the old "Byzantine" strap ...both are hearty, thick leather that is comfortable, but doesn't fit into the shallow ES endpin. Enter two nickels: wet the end of the strap, put a nickel on both sides of the hole, and squeeze it in a bench vice (or vice grips, C-clamp, whatever). Leave it overnight and the leather dries that way, and now that area is permanently thinner and fits perfectly onto (or should I say into) the ES endpin ...and she stays! Short of Pete Townshend windmills, I feel very secure about the strap staying put. Not exactly what you may be looking for, but it definitely works!! :)
Edward
New to Taylor and I was surprised that the Clinch Fit I use on my Martin and Gibson will not work on the Taylor . Tried the two nickels and wet strap end and now I’m good to go ! Thanks Edward
Ed
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Hahaha, another convert, nice! Ya gotta love it when the cheap, low-tech solution is the best solution. I had learned this trick and had done it to two of my Taylor straps yeeeeaaars ago and I still swear by this fix :)
Edward
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Hahaha, another convert, nice! Ya gotta love it when the cheap, low-tech solution is the best solution. I had learned this trick and had done it to two of my Taylor straps yeeeeaaars ago and I still swear by this fix :)
Edward
You are Da Man Edward!
Simple but very effective solution
And I love the name Edward 😂
Ed
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Two Eds are better than one, mate! ;)
Edward
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I'm looking into the Loxx system, a German company. I sent them an e-mail yesterday (saturday) so I figure I'll give them a few days to respond. Their website shows a system for acoustic guitars. It looks promising!
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Saw something on Amazon and didn't see it here, so:
https://www.amazon.com/Strap-Jack-Guitar-System-Acoustic/product-reviews/B01NCA718C/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_hist_3?ie=UTF8&filterByStar=three_star&reviewerType=all_reviews&pageNumber=1#reviews-filter-bar
Thing is called a "Strap Jack". Manufacturer claims it won't trigger battery drain, but some customers said it does in the reviews. Seems Amazon customers either loved it or hated it. Insert grain of salt here.
Don't claim to have the answer, but every bit of info helps.
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Edit > More info courtesy of AGF:
https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=347057
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As I posted on that AGF thread in 2014:
I use [the Strap Jack] for my performing ukulele, which has a passive pickup (no battery). It was a way to use a strap without having to put in a second strap button in addition to the end pin jack. Mine is just a touch loose and does pull out sometimes. It depends on the ID tolerances of the end pin jack (they do vary). I have considered using a turn of black electrical tape to tighten things up, or maybe crunching it a little with pliers to make it "toothed" or oblong.
I still have not tested it in my Taylor's to see if it runs down the battery, but I suspect not.
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As I posted on that AGF thread in 2014:
I use [the Strap Jack] for my performing ukulele, which has a passive pickup (no battery). It was a way to use a strap without having to put in a second strap button in addition to the end pin jack. Mine is just a touch loose and does pull out sometimes. It depends on the ID tolerances of the end pin jack (they do vary). I have considered using a turn of black electrical tape to tighten things up, or maybe crunching it a little with pliers to make it "toothed" or oblong.
I still have not tested it in my Taylor's to see if it runs down the battery, but I suspect not.
The company advises users to remove the batteries in Taylors when using the Strap Jack.
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Good to know, Dennis. I have dedicated straps for all my guitars, so they fit the normal Taylor end pin jack OK. And since I no longer gig, all my instruments have the batteries removed. A battery that isn't there cannot leak if I forget long term.
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Brilliant, Edward. I have exactly the same problem and you have solved it.
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You are most welcome, friend! I am simply passing along the strap-tip I learned from others before me ...ya gotta love it! :)
Edward
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Try Tapastring and their Strapkeeper 2. Works great on ES2 jacks as I’ve had one on mine for 4 years with no problem. I dont use the plastic lock washer which frees up the leather strap.
The Strapkeeper 2 is designed for smaller end jacks such as the ES2.
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D'Addario Accessories Acoustic Cinch Fit Jack Lock Designed for Taylor Guitars (PW-AJL-02)
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BHHPQ8B/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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I'm another "double-nickel" fan. Used that method on both of my Taylor Byzantine straps. Easy on/off and never left me hanging. :)
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I admit to being a complete "Taylor blind" guy. I have never owned one but joined recently because I want to get one. I am very confused as to why putting a strap on would drain the battery. I know it's something simple and obvious that I am missing. Anyone care to elaborate for a newbie (well a 60 year old newbie)??
Thanks.
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Putting the strap on won't do anything to the battery. Keeping something plugged in to the jack to help retain the strap will drain the battery. Most Taylor pickup systems will give about 40 hour plus/minus of working life on a standard 9V battery. If you leave a cable plugged in for a couple of days (even unused) you've depleted a battery.
This is not Taylor-specific, BTW. Many pickup systems with an on-board preamp will use the battery if left plugged in. The male part of the jack completes the circuit and turns the system on.
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Putting the strap on won't do anything to the battery. Keeping something plugged in to the jack to help retain the strap will drain the battery. Most Taylor pickup systems will give about 40 hour plus/minus of working life on a standard 9V battery. If you leave a cable plugged in for a couple of days (even unused) you've depleted a battery.
This is not Taylor-specific, BTW. Many pickup systems with an on-board preamp will use the battery if left plugged in. The male part of the jack completes the circuit and turns the system on.
Thanks. I did mis-understand. I am generally aware of the battery drain stuff, in fact I used to have a Parker Fly that I would drain inadvertently every other day, I just could not remember to unplug it for some reason! Thanks again.
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I have a follow-on question: I remove the batteries when they die, which is every few weeks to months. Is there danger of a battery leak? Any idea how long it might take for that to happen?
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I have a follow-on question: I remove the batteries when they die, which is every few weeks to months. Is there danger of a battery leak? Any idea how long it might take for that to happen?
Yes, there is a potential danger of battery leakage. I just had to throw away a multi-hundred-dollar pair of Bose noise-cancelling headphones because the battery leaked, rendering the on/off switch useless. That was painful. The problem is, you never know how long it's going to take for batteries to leak, since you don't know how long they sat around in the store before you purchased them.
But I have to say, if you're changing batteries every few weeks or months, the danger of undetected leakage is practically nil. When batteries start to leak, you can usually tell while they're still in the package.