Inexpensive guitar hacks

[Dru Edwards]

What are those inexpensive guitar hacks that you've used or tried out? Consider a 'hack' as something that isn't specifically made for guitars but was discovered to help with something. Did you like it?

For example, a shoelace used to tie a strap to the headstock (that's a great thread). Pencil lead used for nut slots, a dentist mirror used to peek inside the sound hole, some kind of steamer to unglue a neck for a reset, etc.

Your thoughts?

[TBman]

I use suction cups to hold the guitar strap for my Classical instead of those "neck up" devices. The finish on my Cordoba isn't sensitive to the cups.

[dwasifar]

Originally Posted by TBman

I use suction cups to hold the guitar strap for my Classical instead of those "neck up" devices.

I don't know if I would trust that.

[TBman]

Originally Posted by dwasifar

I don't know if I would trust that.

I'm a rebel...

I also play seated so it would fall about 2 inches into my lap

[Dru Edwards]

Hey Barry, yep, that classifies as a hack . I've never seen that before. So instead of the end pin you use the bolt from the inside of the guitar and screw it down?

Originally Posted by TBman

I use suction cups to hold the guitar strap for my Classical instead of those "neck up" devices. The finish on my Cordoba isn't sensitive to the cups.

[Acousticado]

I could be wrong, but I don’t think there is any bolt actually in the guitar. From the pics, it seems to me that the bold is embedded high into the suction cup so that the metal of the bolt doesn’t touch the wood surface. Inquiring minds want to know!

[TBman]

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

Hey Barry, yep, that classifies as a hack . I've never seen that before. So instead of the end pin you use the bolt from the inside of the guitar and screw it down?

No, the suction cups have wing nuts. I just had to drill into a couple of water bottle caps to make washers.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RHFQPZP...roduct_details

[Dru Edwards]

Originally Posted by Acousticado

I could be wrong, but I don’t think there is any bolt actually in the guitar. From the pics, it seems to me that the bold is embedded high into the suction cup so that the metal of the bolt doesn’t touch the wood surface. Inquiring minds want to know!

Makes sense, Tom. And based on Barry's reply below you're correct.

Originally Posted by TBman

No, the suction cups have wing nuts. I just had to drill into a couple of water bottle caps to make washers.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RHFQPZP...roduct_details

Ingenuity for sure, Barr. Exactly what I was looking for in this thread. I don't think I'd gig with it standing up though.

[Mark Stone]

I've owned my K Yairi classical for about 42 or 43 years. Maybe 20 or so years ago, I took off all the strings to clean 'er during a string change, and the saddle fell out. I couldn't find the saddle (never did) and I was gigging with the instrument that night - so I broke off a piece of a plastic "Pick-up-Stick" (remember that game?) and used it for the saddle. The guitar still has the plastic stick as the saddle, and sounds awesome.

[RagtopGT]

There's a tobacco store in town that has a huge selection of cigars and they put out the empty boxes for free. Some of the more expensive cigars come in beautiful hinged wooden boxes with very colorful printing or artsy labels. They're very decorative and I use them to store various guitar parts, strings, accessories, whatever, and leave them on the shelf and end table as decorations. They look cool and are always a source of conversation.

[Dru Edwards]

Hey Mark - that's amazing that you're using a pickup stick as a saddle. I'm surprised that it sounds so good ... must have been a great fit.

Originally Posted by Mark Stone

I've owned my K Yairi classical for about 42 or 43 years. Maybe 20 or so years ago, I took off all the strings to clean 'er during a string change, and the saddle fell out. I couldn't find the saddle (never did) and I was gigging with the instrument that night - so I broke off a piece of a plastic "Pick-up-Stick" (remember that game?) and used it for the saddle. The guitar still has the plastic stick as the saddle, and sounds awesome.

[Brucebubs]

My home-made bridge clamp.



My powered string winder.



My 'aged' bone pins. Set in front soaked in tea, set at back done in coffee.

[billyrum2]

I play outside sometimes. I've tried clamps and clothespins to keep the music in place. The other day I bought some summer shorts from Walls and they did't take the hangers. Hangers are about 9 inches long and fit my music stand perfectly. They have two clamps and work nicely. Of course everyone knows my waist size now but they work.

[YamahaGuy]

When installing strap buttons, I never have felt washers laying around. I've used (successfully and unsuccessfully) steel washers, cut up velcro, o-rings from motorcycle chain, assorted crush washers, cut up pieces of plastic, paper washers. Nothing is usually better than most of these hacks, especially on the neck block.

[Dru Edwards]

I like the aged bone pins! Looks fantastic and all it takes is some tea.

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

<<snippet>>
My 'aged' bone pins. Set in front soaked in tea, set at back done in coffee.