#1
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Playing guitar without endpin
Hello to all,
I have a fairly recent OM28 guitar, inherited from my father, which has a hole left open, in the bottom of the case to mount the endpin (it's a white, plastic pin, which I think was included with the guitar) of the shoulder strap. I hope it's not a stupid question, but not being an expert, and not wanting to do damage, I would like to ask you: what are the pros and cons of playing the guitar leaving this hole open (both in terms of sound, and in terms of mechanics and effect on wood)? Given that I do not use the shoulder strap because I play sitting, do you think can I can safely use it without an endpin to close the hole, or is it better to mount the endpin? Many thanks to all those who want to help me. Andrea |
#2
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Yes, it's ok. I haven't installed the endpin on my 000-15sm and never will.
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#3
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Quote:
...no worries about leaving the endpin out...it will not affect the tone or structural integrity of your guitar...play it in good health!! |
#4
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Nah don't worry about it. You can leave it out if you want to and it won't make a bit of difference. Many end pins are fitted in on a taper so that the force of friction holds them in. Some are glued in none the less. But you could also see if it fits in nicely and holds in my friction, that way you could always remove it some day too.
Otherwise don't worry about it. |
#5
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The big hole in the front is the one to be concerned with. Stuff can fall in there.
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#6
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You’re good to go. My recently-acquired Brook Lamorna doesn’t even have an endpin, nor an endpin-hole...!!
D4B9DAE3-7A62-4F27-8E7C-413C42E4116A.jpg
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John Brook ‘Lamorna’ OM (European Spruce/EIR) (2019) Lowden F-23 (Red Cedar/Claro Walnut) (2017) Martin D-18 (2012) Martin HD-28V (2010) Fender Standard Strat (2017-MIM) |
#7
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You are fine - nothing to worry about.
There is no truth in the rumour that if you hang it up all the music will trickle out.
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Silly Moustache, Just an old Limey acoustic guitarist, Dobrolist, mandolier and singer. I'm here to try to help and advise and I offer one to one lessons/meetings/mentoring via Zoom! |
#8
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Welcome to the forum. No worries about the end pin. They come from the factory that way.
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#9
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Quote:
Pick on Slim
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2022 Gibson L-00 Studio Walnut/Burst 2019 Martin D-28 Re-imagined 2018 Gibson J-45 2007 BSG GJ-27 12 string 2005 BSG J-27 2020 Regal RD-30M Resonator 1938 Dobro model unknown 2023 Michael Messer Fiddle Edge Dobro Plus a Takamine and an old S.Yairi. |
#10
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Quote:
Slim
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2022 Gibson L-00 Studio Walnut/Burst 2019 Martin D-28 Re-imagined 2018 Gibson J-45 2007 BSG GJ-27 12 string 2005 BSG J-27 2020 Regal RD-30M Resonator 1938 Dobro model unknown 2023 Michael Messer Fiddle Edge Dobro Plus a Takamine and an old S.Yairi. |
#11
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The only disadvantage is that you can't play standing up. That's it.
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"I've always thought of bluegrass players as the Marines of the music world" – (A rock guitar guy I once jammed with) Martin America 1 Martin 000-15sm Recording King Dirty 30s RPS-9 TS Taylor GS Mini Baton Rouge 12-string guitar Martin L1XR Little Martin 1933 Epiphone Olympic 1971 square neck Dobro |
#12
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Thanks to all, I think then I will leave the guitar without endpin, since I always play between sofa and chair.
JayBee, beautiful guitar without endpin hole: if I weren't almost sure of doing damage I'd change the OM (I saw a luthier who did something similar, on frets.com I think), but in the end it's okay for now. Thanks again to everyone! Andrea |
#13
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Me either. If anything, it slightly reduces the odds of damage if you drop it on the end where the endpin would have been. Probably not much difference, but surely no downside...
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"It's just honest human stuff that hadn't been near a dang metronome in its life" - Benmont Tench |
#14
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Come to think of it, I paid half of what I could have for one of my guitars because it had been dropped on its end pin and got slightly stove in.
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#15
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Andrea, just to add to what’s already been posted, the tailblock area of the guitar is purely structural, not vibrational, so using or not using the endpin will have no discernible effect on the sound. Last year I took delivery on a guitar that I’d ordered from the Martin Custom Shop, and I had specified “no endpin” when I ordered it.
I ordered the guitar that way because I knew that I was going to install strap locking hardware, and didn’t want to have to fill in the tapered hole for an endpin. But plenty of guitars come from the factory without any strap buttons or endpins at all - Larrivee guitars used to come that way. So if you’re not going to play the guitar standing up, there’s no need to either use or worry about the endpin: not now, not ever. Hope this helps. Wade Hampton Miller |