Drill hole for strap button? (2024)

Have you done it or would you recommend drilling a hole for a strap button on or near the heel (or anywhere else) on a mid-range cost ukulele? I have done it to less expensive ukes.

I just don’t love tying on the strap with a string or leather strap anywhere above the nut. I find it annoying. I am also not a fan of straps that go around the neck and hook onto the soundhole

ripock said:

I always do it and I am not exactly what you would call a very handy man. It is really easy. The problem is that the side of the heel into which you drill is usually curved and it is difficult to get the hole started without the drill bit bouncing around. So I put down several layers of masking tape so that I have something mushy into which to press my drill bit. Then I drill through the tape and into the wood. And that's it. The only other consideration is to make sure you don't drill too close to the body of the ukulele because then your strap pin is too close and it is difficult to slip the strap on when there isn't sufficient room.

Click to expand...

Thank you! I know that masking tape is a must for almost any drilling into wood project… especially wood instruments.

Papa John said:

a bolt on neck will have a bolt in the heel that you need to miss

Click to expand...

I wouldn’t have thought of that. Thank you.

SarahStrummer said:

Have you done it or would you recommend drilling a hole for a strap pin on or near the heel (or anywhere else) on a mid-range cost ukulele? I have done it to less expensive ukes.

I just don’t love tying on the strap with a string or leather strap anywhere above the nut. I find it annoying. I am also not a fan of straps that go around the neck and hook onto the soundhole

Click to expand...

That's what I've always done. Be sure to put a piece of that blue painter's tape over the area first. I like the balance of the strap attached to the heel, rather than the headstock. However, I think I'm going to tie the strap to the headstock on the Revelators, rather than drill a hole.

merlin666 said:

Does it matter where into the heel. For example into the base, the center/front, the top, or the bottom?

Click to expand...

It matters for me. I have a uke with the neck button on the side closest to my head, and that uke tends to rotate (strings up toward my face), no doubt helped by my anatomy, lol. Strap button on the floor side of the neck works much better for me. Haven’t tried the back of the neck.

Papa John said:

floor side for sure. Stewmac sells those little felt discs to place between the button and wood. Waverly strap buttons are my favorite.

Click to expand...

Hey Papa John…I am only seeing strap buttons for guitar through Stewmac. Are they different from ukulele buttons?