handmade gibson sg guitar strap lock

DISCLAIMER

I'm not responsible for damages, injuries or any other consequence deriving if you follow the procedure described in this article !!!
BE CAREFUL, DON'T CUT YOUR FINGERS, DON'T BURN YOUR HOUSE, DON'T DO IT IF YOU ARE NOT AN EXPERIENCED PERSON WITH THE PRACTICES/TOOLS USED BELOW !!!

Ok, you're advised, let's go. If you own a Gibson SG guitar you already know a main difference that distinguishes SG from other guitars is the strap attacks' position. The low attack is located in a normal position, down in the middle of the body guitar side. But the neck strap attack is behind the SG body's back.

Gibson SG Standard

This unusual attack position, and the fact often guitar straps have not so tight holes, could eventually lead to a disastrous guitar fall while you're playing !!!

a guitar strap

To avoid this terrible event we will realize a custom homemade guitar strap lock, similar to the one in the next photo (click to zoom).

a guitar strap lock made by modifying a plastic cap

You need the following:

• a cutter
• one or more plastic caps
• a lighter (or more powerful flame, like kitchen's cookers)
• calm, patience and much caution

a cutter

a bottle's cap

Let's do it. The purpose of this article is to get a strap lock by cutting some pieces of plastic from a cap. How ? The way is to heat the cutter's blade with the lighter's flame and then cut the cap. When the blade is hot you will be able to sculpt the hard plastic with ease. Every time the blade becomes cold, and so the cut difficult, you can simply heat it again.

Of course, the important aspect of the whole procedure is giving the right shape to the cap so it can be inserted over your guitar strap to act as a lock. There is not an absolute method to get this result, but if you are a calm person and have some patience, by trying a few times you will got it. Next photos (click to zoom) will help you to understand how to shape the cap.

At first impact it could seems ugly :) but you can smooth and paint the cap or even pick some colored ones.

Obviously, you may buy a ready commercial strap lock

guitar strap lock

but some are expensive while other require you modify the guitar.

Good work.