Strap buttons working loose

Lebarque

Got a new (to me) guitar and the strap buttons keep working loose.

They're also too short to use grolsch-style rubber washers, which is my preferred method of ensuring the strap stays on. 

Any tips?

Ps. I don't like strap locks

Philly_Q

New strap buttons, bigger/longer screws?

Funkfingers

It is quite possible that the previous owner of your guitar had fitted fancy strap buttons only to remove them immediately prior to sale. 

If the screws on the "upgrade" buttons were wider or longer than the stock ones, this would explain the lack of grip for the originals.

The obvious options are either to use a larger screw or to reduce the diameter of the hole. Gluing in part of a cocktail stick is the traditional solution.

stickyfiddle

Change strap buttons. And put a glue-covered matchstick in each hole while you're changing them

EricTheWeary

My only bit of successful DIY - remove the button, put wooden cocktail sticks (non sulphurous end of matchstick if you haven't got cocktail sticks) dipped in wood glue into the hole, trim off and rescrew. Obviously wait for the glue to dry before applying any pressure. 
Edit: replace the screw and button whilst glue is wet but allow to dry before using it as a strap button. 

ICBM

EricTheWeary said:

My only bit of successful DIY - remove the button, put wooden cocktail sticks (non sulphurous end of matchstick if you haven't got cocktail sticks) dipped in wood glue into the hole, trim off and rescrew. Obviously wait for the glue to dry before applying any pressure. 

But importantly, put the screw in first while the glue is still wet - *then* leave it to set before using the button. I know that’s probably what you meant, but I wasn’t quite sure .

EricTheWeary

ICBM said:

EricTheWeary said:

My only bit of successful DIY - remove the button, put wooden cocktail sticks (non sulphurous end of matchstick if you haven't got cocktail sticks) dipped in wood glue into the hole, trim off and rescrew. Obviously wait for the glue to dry before applying any pressure. 

But importantly, put the screw in first while the glue is still wet - *then* leave it to set before using the button. I know that’s probably what you meant, but I wasn’t quite sure .

Yes, screw in whilst the glue is wet. It wasn't clear 

Rocker

You spent some/a lot of money buying the guitar so buy proper strap retainers to keep it secure on a strap.  They are not expensive and they don’t give you a hangover. 

fretfinder

I’ve repaired loose strap button screw holes many times, always successfully, and I’ve always let the glue dry in the hole with the cocktail sticks before putting in the screw. I don’t want wet glue seeping out of the hole as the screw goes in (the displacement laws of physics apply here) and then have glue drying on top of my guitar’s nitro finish unseen underneath the strap button. YMMV but I’m going to keep doing what’s always worked for me.

stickyfiddle

Rocker said:

You spent some/a lot of money buying the guitar so buy proper strap retainers to keep it secure on a strap.  They are not expensive and they don’t give you a hangover. 

Groslch ones are the best available. You can buy them without buying beers if you need to  

Every other straplock relies on even more mechanical stuff not failing…

Jonathangus

All my guitars get a set of these, plus a Grolsch-style washer if the strap isn't too thick.

https://www.gluedtomusic.com/products/730/gotoh-ep-b3-large-oversized-strap-buttons-set-of-2-chrome/

Fishboy7

Strap locks look crap - Those rubber Grolsch washers work fine