My Martin guitar is missing the strap button on the bottom of the guitar!

guitarjack66 · February 2022

Got myself a nice Sigma GMC STE Electro Acoustic. Had action lowered by my local tech but not had the chance to play it properly yet.

https://imgur.com/vcpgdkL
https://imgur.com/undefined
https://imgur.com/4YkXeH1

Tannin · February 2022

Nice one. Sigma do a pretty decent instrument by all accounts. I am sure you will get good service from it. Enjoy!

guitarjack66 · February 2022

Just an update on this guitar.I played it today and the 12 gauge strings are way too heavy for my style of picking and strumming but the strangest thing is the lack of a legitimate strap pin.It looks as though they've just stuffed an oversized bridge pin in the strap bin hole at the bottom of the guitar

https://imgur.com/kgxvMW1

https://imgur.com/cdTKs2x

https://imgur.com/Ye97l1y

bertie · February 2022

can't see the pics - but good NGD

Mellish · February 2022

That last pic looks like you're holding a bridge pin. End pins are usually much shorter, stubbier. What do others think?

bertie · February 2022

Mellish said:

That last pic looks like you're holding a bridge pin. End pins are usually much shorter, stubbier. What do others think?

I refer to my earlier post

Mellish · February 2022

@bertie ; well it's bridge pin length, tapered like a bridge pin. Small head

Mellish · February 2022

It's difficult to be sure from the pics, though

guitarjack66 · February 2022

That 'bridge pin' was a fatter version of the ones on the guitar and was stuffed into the hole that should have contained the strap pin. No strap pin has been supplied.

Mellish · February 2022

If it fits with no play, I wouldn't worry. But if it bothers you, you can buy end pins at most guitar shops or get your tech to fit one

Tannin · February 2022

I wouldn't dream of trusting the weight of a guitar to that thing. Throw it away and get a proper one fitted if you plan on playing standing up. Or if you play sitting down, just stick it back in and don't worry about it.

guitarjack66 · February 2022

Tannin said:

I wouldn't dream of trusting the weight of a guitar to that thing. Throw it away and get a proper one fitted if you plan on playing standing up. Or if you play sitting down, just stick it back in and don't worry about it.

This was my point. It cant take any weight,it is not anything like a proper strap pin. It's just basically a bung,a stopper for the hole and nothing more. I thought that is what my photos would show as you arent supposed to just have a hollow hole,there is supposed to be a screwed thread in there.

Mellish · February 2022

What should happen is that as you push the pin in the fit should get tight as the head meets the body. Most are just push in

guitarjack66 · February 2022

Just seen this answer on a forum talking about Martin guitars which were once Sigma's parent company

My Martin guitar is missing the strap button on the bottom of the guitar!

Article #1721160
Updated on Oct 31, 2013 at 1:15 PM

This is normal. Martin does not ship their guitars with the strap button installed on the bottom of the guitar. They do this to avoid any impact cracks that may occur if the box is dropped during shipping. You can find your strap button inside the case compartment.

Unfortunately my Sigma does not come with a case of any sort so the hole is just plugged. It would have been nice to know that though.

Devil#20 · February 2022

If it's a bridge pin it has a channel in the side to accommodate the string.

Mellish · February 2022

It's true that Martins don't ship with end pin installed. If you don't like the pin that came with your Sigma, just chuck it mate and pick up one you like in a guitar shop. They're cheap as chips

Mellish · February 2022

@Devil#20 ; you can get unslotted bridge pins mate

guitarjack66 · February 2022

Devil#20 said:

If it's a bridge pin it has a channel in the side to accommodate the string.

Yeah,I noticed that. It seems with Martin and Sigmas you have to faff around and get a tech or yourself to do all that stuff. Its just a bit of messing I'd prefer not to do. To be honest all I wanted to do was attach my strap and its just a bit of a pain thats all.

guitarjack66 · February 2022

I saw something called elliptical endpins which seem to do the job so will get a couple of those.

Mellish · February 2022

Yes but hang on, though. Are they for guitars that have an elliptical hole shape? If so, they won't do what you want. Research them first

Tannin · February 2022

Jack, be more patient and it will all be fine. Just wait 30 or 40 years and by then you won't want to play standing up anyway.

Devil#20 · February 2022

Mellish said:

@Devil#20 ; you can get unslotted bridge pins mate

Ah OK. Interestingly on your other post. I bought a Martin that didn't have and end pin either. I got a local luthier to make me one out of indian rosewood. I thought it must have dropped out in transit but maybe it never came with one.

I think it's best to have a channel in a bridge pin though because it allows you to line up the ball ends which stops you mashing up the wood where the ball ends pull against under the soundboard. Bend the string first and thread through the channel so all the ball ends line up across the guitar underneath every time. This way the ball end doesn't constantly mash up the wooden seating block underneath.

guitarjack66 · February 2022

Tannin said:

Jack, be more patient and it will all be fine. Just wait 30 or 40 years and by then you won't want to play standing up anyway.

30 or 40 years? More like 5 or 10. I'm already no spring chicken.

guitarjack66 · February 2022

Devil#20 said:

Mellish said:

@Devil#20 ; you can get unslotted bridge pins mate

Ah OK. Interestingly on your other post. I bought a Martin that didn't have and end pin either. I got a local luthier to make me one out of indian rosewood. I thought it must have dropped out in transit but maybe it never came with one.

Yes. Martin don't ship end pins just bridge pins,or similar, to bung in the hole.

guitarjack66 · February 2022

Mellish said:

Yes but hang on, though. Are they for guitars that have an elliptical hole shape? If so, they won't do what you want. Research them first

The elliptical part is just the head of the pin.The part that screws into the guitar is actually round and standard.

Mellish · February 2022

Martins usually come with end pin in a small envelope in the accessory box in the case. I guess they can get it wrong sometimes, or retailers can misplace it

Mellish · February 2022

Ah right. Well if you like the elliptical look, go with that. Put a pic up so we can see the result

guitarjack66 · February 2022

Mellish said:

Ah right. Well if you like the elliptical look, go with that. Put a pic up so we can see the result

Yeah,I will give it a go. The look doesnt bother me,as I say I just want to put a strap on it. Also the jack for lead is set off to the side so you dont attach a strap to the same place you plug in a lead if you want to play electrically,the end pin jack.A good idea I reckon

elkay · February 2022

As others have said, new Martin guitars always come with the endpin in a little yellow envelope (except those with pre-installed pickups). I have bought 4 new Martins, and this has always been the case. Check the many Martin unboxing videos on Youtube and you will see this too. I have also had Yamaha acoustics with a similar separate endpin, and I wouldn't doubt that the same applies to many other acoustics. Unlike on electrics, acoustic guitar endpins are not generally screwed in.

According to the Martin guide that comes with their guitars "The endpin is tapered and held into place by friction. It is not glued in. For proper insertion, hold endpin between thumb and forefinger, twist slightly while carefully pushing the endpin into the bottom end of the guitar."

BillDL · February 2022

All the acoustic guitars I have ever bought came with a tapered plastic or wooden "bung" (as you call i) traditional strap button that is pushed and twisted into the tapered hole in the end block. Chances are that yours was just lightly pushed into the hole so that you could either commit to keeping it traditional by pushing it in firmly yourself OR insert a combined jack socket/endpin if you decided to add a piezo pickup, like these:

https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Switchcraft-Stereo-End-Pin-Jack/1CXZ

https://www.allparts.uk.com/products/1-4-inch-end-pin-jack-stereo-flange-mount-w-3-exterior-screw-holeshttps://www.allparts.uk.com/products/1-4-inch-end-pin-jack-for-acoustic-guitar-switchcraft-stereo

Did you expect a screw-in metal button as would be found on an electric guitar? If you want one, you can get adapters like this:

https://chguitars.co.uk/product/sp19-acoustic-guitar-strap-pin-fills-existing-oversized-socket-hole/

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My Martin guitar is missing the strap button on the bottom of the guitar!