Guitar Strap Pins

[William2]

Do most players here use a guitar strap? I came across a nice strap I own that I used when I had my Eastman 805CE. And I wondered is many players use a strap and have to add a pin to their instrument. I've seen these pins on the heel and the side of the neck. Is there a preferred placement? Does adding a pin decrease the value of an instrument? I noticed that Martin invalidates warranties if a pin is added. Yet Furch adds them to many or their guitars.  I'm kind of reluctant to add a pin, but I love that strap LOL. And I did like the freedom the strap gave me with that 805CE.

[Queequeg]

Not a fan, myself.
But then I'm always seated when playing.
As you pointed out some makers install them at the factory. At least they know where to place them, which is to say over the years I've seen a few that were drilled in what I would describe as precarious locations.
One time I did decide not to buy a guitar because the previous owner had installed a strap pin. It was done properly but it wasn't "original" and I know I wasn't going to use it.
But I don't think it would really decrease the value, provided it is placed properly.

Yes, I fully understand that makes me a little crazy. 

[B0WIE]

 In the US, a company cannot legally invalidate a warranty unless the modification is cause for malfunction/damage (see the Magnuson-Moss act of 1975). What's really important about pin placement is that it's in an appropriate place and done cleanly. It may affect value on a collector-grade vintage guitar but has no real impact on a modern instrument, if it's done right. When people screw them into the sides, where there's no support, that's when things break and warranties are invalidated.

 Personally, I don't like seeing them and I may remove and fill if it was an instrument I planned to keep. If you need one, have it added. Just make sure it's done by a competent tech who understands how that particular acoustic is constructed.

[jazzereh]

I sit when I'm playing so don't need one but, if you have on-board amplification there will be a pin for your cable so that's a strap pin anyway. 

I would much rather have a pin at the heel if I was going to have one but I see some players tie the strap to the headstock and that bothers me.  When I got my first guitar, not an expensive one at that, that is what I did with a strap I used back in the day but I figure, depending on how you might put pressure on the guitar body with your arms, a strap tied to the headstock might cause damage to the neck at the body.  Perhaps unlikely but that's my issue with that kind of strap tie.  So, better to have the strap pin properly attached at the heel. 

[Rockysdad]

In the Larrivée pro shop under guitar strap pins, you'll see photos with a scale showing *exact* location.
https://www.larrivee.com/shop/strap-button

Just click on the photos.

[William2]

Thanks, Rockysdad. That is very detailed. I don't think I would put one on my Larrivee's but maybe another brand.

[John in Charm City]

I use a strap often enough that I add the button to the heel on most of my guitars.  Can't stand the strap tied to the nut.

John