Moving Jack Casady Strap Button (pictoral)

[Rolling Thunder]

So I've been wanting to do this for a while and today was the big day. I can say that it went without any real hiccups, but until the glue is set and the new button is in, I classify it as "incomplete".

My reason for doing this is that I do not like the way the bass tilts forward away from my body. I did some research and found a pic with a brief explanation (but honestly the pics explained 95% of it). So without further ado, here's what I did today:

Here's the basic diagram:

block of African mahogany (to complement my leatherbound books):

Kerfed lining "ribs" on sidewalls:

Tracing the horn:

Sketch of the cut:

 

[Rolling Thunder]

Making the cuts:

 

[Rolling Thunder]

Making room for the kerfed sides:

 

[Rolling Thunder]

It took a few tries to get the width right:

 

[Rolling Thunder]

Drilling the hole was like putting a dog down with a .22LR to the head:

Used a guitar string to make a pull-guide:

Cut a drop paper so that I don't drag glue on the inside:

 

[Rolling Thunder]

Started the other end in a tuning peg with a little slack (my $1,000,000 idea):

Got my gluing utensils ready:

This was the best position to apply glue (just on the middle flange):

 

[Rolling Thunder]

Pic of the wood brace in place

And letting it dry:

 

[Rolling Thunder]

Cost: ~$10
Difficulty: 6.5/10
PITA level: 11/10
Beer required afterwards to calm yourself from drilling into your baby: 6-pack (IPA preferred); substitute where legal

 

[Beej]

Very clever, thanks for sharing.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

Very clever, thanks for sharing.

I got most of my methods from Epi Casino threads

 

[Freekmagnet]

Nice. I have a JC. I know what you mean about the strap button placement. It really is uncomfortable. Good job!

 

[Against Will]

Very cool. Great thread.

Can't wait to try this and completely #### it up!

 

[Rolling Thunder]

Very cool. Great thread.

Can't wait to try this and completely #### it up!

Go slow....there's no prize for being fast. It took me about 8 hours total and I did about 1.5 hours of actual work.

 

[wraub]

This is the best method at most times, but, especially with such an important job. You did well.
Enjoy that beer, I'll substitute for you.

Go slow....there's no prize for being fast. It took me about 8 hours total and I did about 1.5 hours of actual work.

 

[TakeABreak]

My favorite part is using the tuning machine for tension. Nice engineering!

 

[Axstar]

Would a highly controlled epoxy pour achieve the same effect? This looks like amazing work though! Well done!

 

[bbh]

Great post. Really like the way you laid out this post with pics. Real nice looking bass too.
Thanks man...

 

[Max Bogosity]

Using the tuning machine as a clamp was brilliant. Did you happen to measure the final width of the block after trimming to fit between the linings?

 

[Coolhandjjl]

Great pictorial. I did mine, but used a pine closet pole I already had. I left it round, and just let it ride against the both of the kerfed ribbings. Once in place and dry, I used a brad point bit and made a hole through the horn tip (where I wanted the strap pin to be), all the way through the entire closet pole, and I then inserted and glued a dowel flush to the outer layer of the body. That's what I drilled and screwed the strap pin into.

Your method seems easier.

Great idea with the string and tuning peg to clamp!

 

[Rolling Thunder]

Would a highly controlled epoxy pour achieve the same effect? This looks like amazing work though! Well done!

Probably, yeah. That's a great idea actually. One idea I had but don't know how to do is to shape a metal strip with a threaded hole for a bolt.