Great video, you’re a natural teacher! Here’s a screw pro tip: when tightening a screw into wood, it can get tough to turn at the end and you risk stripping the screw head (or worse, slipping and gouging your uke!) Take your screw and rub a bit of beeswax (or similar substance) on the threads. It will tighten up easy-peasy. Sometimes it’s not needed, but if you find the screw getting harder and harder to turn - stop, back it out, and wax those threads!
Thank you fantastic tutorial! As a side note my wife still talks about her visit to Wales via Operation Friendship senior year of High School 1980s from Craftsbury,Vermont and how kind the folks were there. I see what she means!
Fantastic to hear. Obviously I would agree but yes, the Welsh are a super friendly bunch. I am so glad your wife has fond memories and still talks about Wales. 🥰
Thank you, I've only just got a ukulele & I'm learning from scratch. I've been looking at my strap options, I'm glad I didn't buy one before watching this video. Now I know to check if my ukulele has the block for a strap button to be fitted
Great tip Andy, I do do this sometimes and it would have been good to mention. As I always use the same drill bit I can see the makr where I normally go to but it would have helped others.
@@UkuleleWales The only place where we differ in our approaches with this is I put a piece of masking tape down as I drill; and I also measure the tail end (I fold a piece of paper over the bottom of the ukulele and fold it in half to find the middle of the bottom. End result: we all get strap buttons on our ukuleles.
It really is this easy! I've done it myself. However, I'm a bit hesitant to do it with my more expensive glossy uke. Definitely will put a piece of tape on it first.
Good on you. I do know what you mean, my nicest uke, I got the shop to add one before they sent it out to me. Today 2 students with cheap but gloss ukes asked me to add strap buttons, I will definitely use tape for those.
do you recommend a strap button on a cutaway ukulele at the heel.i don't seem to have enough room in this area due to the cutaway. thanks for the post.
Great question David. In theory you should still be able to add the strap button on a cut away as it goes into the heel of the neck but I do have a cut away uke here that actually has the strap button added on the back of the heel of the neck rather then the side of that helps. Here is a clip from a video where I show it - ua-cam.com/video/Kk59ztKnpBA/v-deo.html
The strap button I got with my strap has 13mm of screw projecting from the washer. This looks long and I think it could protrude out of the block inside the uke, so could drilling right through the block cause a problem? Regards, Barry form Essex England
Hi Barry, sorry about the delay in my reply. In case you haven’t done the job yet, is the screw the original that came with the strap button? If so it should be just fine, in fact I have sometimes used 20mm screws. 👍
I'd add that I place some masking tape where I want the holes and draw a cross with a pencil to give me a target to aim for. On the bottom of the uke I aim for halfway along the seam between the two side pieces.
i.m scared about the integrity of the sound ,but isn't there a way to use super glue to do that ? je dis ça ,je dis rien ^^ i'm ignorante ! merci pour le diy 👍🏻👍🏻
Honestly, I really haven't noticed any difference with the sound after installing strap buttons and I have added them to many ukuleles. Many of the makers of ukuleles in all price ranges install the strap buttons too, even very expensive ukuleles.
I am left handed meaning I strum with my left hand and I see that my strap button is on top.. is this a problem? should the strap button be on the bottom? Thanks in advanced!
Hi, sorry it's taken a while to reply, work and school stuff has been busy this week. Honest answer is I haven't really tried it. I would say, if you haven't already tried, have a go carefully, I'd hate to see the ukulele slip off. Let me know how you got on.
Nooo, never I'll be using force on my new baritone! Only joking Madam, now I know everything about this matter, quite on the contrary to the situation ten minutes ago. I agree with you, definitely a button at the heel treble side. Gonna fix that ASAP; many thanks from Sweden 😊
The drill (and so, the hole) was quite small, to have more space for the screw and prevent the pick effect that could easily ruin the wood at the bottom you should have used a one-size-bigger drill after having made the hole to have a slightly bigger one.
Great advice. I did though measure the drill for the pilot hole, so the drill was only just smaller than the screw and have never had any issue doing it this way. Thanks
@@deniseshaw3871 Hi Denise, you use a very small drill to make a pilot hole for the screw. You are drilling into a block of wood inside the bottom of the uke. It is scary the first time but it is also easy, honestly.
Hi Mary, sorry about the delay in my reply, it's been super busy with school work. How tight is the uke already in the case and what sort of material is lining the case. It would have to be SUPER tight before hand to make a difference BUT I have a case which is tight and I carefully push the foam and material down the first time so I didn't damage the case.
Totally get that. It is always personal prefernce, I just prefer using a strap. I am going to do a video very soon about different straps including ones that don't need strap buttons.
Great video, you’re a natural teacher! Here’s a screw pro tip: when tightening a screw into wood, it can get tough to turn at the end and you risk stripping the screw head (or worse, slipping and gouging your uke!) Take your screw and rub a bit of beeswax (or similar substance) on the threads. It will tighten up easy-peasy. Sometimes it’s not needed, but if you find the screw getting harder and harder to turn - stop, back it out, and wax those threads!
Great tip there, Thanks Dan!
Roughly in the middle . Absolutely perfect subscribing now .
LOL, so glad you”get me”! 😊
Thank you fantastic tutorial! As a side note my wife still talks about her visit to Wales via Operation Friendship senior year of High School 1980s from Craftsbury,Vermont and how kind the folks were there. I see what she means!
Fantastic to hear. Obviously I would agree but yes, the Welsh are a super friendly bunch. I am so glad your wife has fond memories and still talks about Wales. 🥰
Thank you, I've only just got a ukulele & I'm learning from scratch. I've been looking at my strap options, I'm glad I didn't buy one before watching this video. Now I know to check if my ukulele has the block for a strap button to be fitted
So glad to have helped and please feel free to ask if you have any more questions.
@@UkuleleWales thank you
Put a bit of tape around drill to mark the length of screw so you know when to stop drilling especially for the heel screw.
Great tip Andy, I do do this sometimes and it would have been good to mention. As I always use the same drill bit I can see the makr where I normally go to but it would have helped others.
You won’t believe this....I filmed this same video last night. Mine will be posting next week. Great minds think alike.
Indeed, great minds think alike! LOL Shall look forward to yours. :-)
@@UkuleleWales The only place where we differ in our approaches with this is I put a piece of masking tape down as I drill; and I also measure the tail end (I fold a piece of paper over the bottom of the ukulele and fold it in half to find the middle of the bottom. End result: we all get strap buttons on our ukuleles.
Did it. It works great. Thank you so much.
Glad it helped Susan, well done you. 👍
Great. Wonderful video. Grateful to you.
Many thanks! 😊
Great video and good demonstration. Much appreciated 💐🌹💞
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for the lovely comment. 😎
It really is this easy! I've done it myself. However, I'm a bit hesitant to do it with my more expensive glossy uke. Definitely will put a piece of tape on it first.
Good on you. I do know what you mean, my nicest uke, I got the shop to add one before they sent it out to me. Today 2 students with cheap but gloss ukes asked me to add strap buttons, I will definitely use tape for those.
@@UkuleleWales I did the gloss one! Took my time and it came out great!
@@Laurynn125 Well done, so glad you did it and even better you are happy with the gloss uke.
Thank you for teaching us how to do this!
Very glad to have helped Jennifer.
Thank you! That helps a lot. I can do!
Glad to have helped.
do you recommend a strap button on a cutaway ukulele at the heel.i don't seem to have enough room in this area due to the cutaway. thanks for the post.
Great question David. In theory you should still be able to add the strap button on a cut away as it goes into the heel of the neck but I do have a cut away uke here that actually has the strap button added on the back of the heel of the neck rather then the side of that helps. Here is a clip from a video where I show it - ua-cam.com/video/Kk59ztKnpBA/v-deo.html
Really helpful
Glad to have helped Nick.
The strap button I got with my strap has 13mm of screw projecting from the washer. This looks long and I think it could protrude out of the block inside the uke, so could drilling right through the block cause a problem?
Regards,
Barry form Essex England
Hi Barry, sorry about the delay in my reply. In case you haven’t done the job yet, is the screw the original that came with the strap button? If so it should be just fine, in fact I have sometimes used 20mm screws. 👍
Thanks!
Thank You so much for the “Super Thanks” very much appreciated and so glad you are enjoying.
You are very skilled and brave. With my luck, I drill my finger. Thanks so much for sharing!
Thanks! TBH, sometimes it's easier to just learn how to do things yourself rather than finding someone else to do it. :-)
I'd add that I place some masking tape where I want the holes and draw a cross with a pencil to give me a target to aim for. On the bottom of the uke I aim for halfway along the seam between the two side pieces.
Great advice Barry, I have done this myself on more expensive ukes and gloss finishes.
i.m scared about the integrity of the sound ,but isn't there a way to use super glue to do that ? je dis ça ,je dis rien ^^ i'm ignorante ! merci pour le diy 👍🏻👍🏻
Honestly, I really haven't noticed any difference with the sound after installing strap buttons and I have added them to many ukuleles. Many of the makers of ukuleles in all price ranges install the strap buttons too, even very expensive ukuleles.
I am left handed meaning I strum with my left hand and I see that my strap button is on top.. is this a problem? should the strap button be on the bottom? Thanks in advanced!
Hi, sorry it's taken a while to reply, work and school stuff has been busy this week. Honest answer is I haven't really tried it. I would say, if you haven't already tried, have a go carefully, I'd hate to see the ukulele slip off. Let me know how you got on.
Nice demonstration! Just wondering does putting strap buttons affect the sound quality of the instrument in anyway?
Hi, no adding strap buttons doesn't affect sound or playing at all, just makes it easier to hold.
@@UkuleleWales thanks dear!
anyone knows if this also works for acoustic or classic guitars?
Hi, as far as I am aware it is the same process to add strap buttons to an acoustic guitar, might be worth checking out UA-cam just to check though 👍
@@UkuleleWales thank you!
Nooo, never I'll be using force on my new baritone! Only joking Madam, now I know everything about this matter, quite on the contrary to the situation ten minutes ago. I agree with you, definitely a button at the heel treble side. Gonna fix that ASAP; many thanks from Sweden 😊
My pleasure to help and sending greetings to Sweden from Wales 🏴
Would you not put a piece of masking tape over the part to be drilled ?
Hi Denise, if it was a gloss or painted uke I definitely would. Also if it was a very expensive uke I would of course take extra care.
@@UkuleleWales ahh ok mine is a gloss one so I will have a go with tape then thanks
The drill (and so, the hole) was quite small, to have more space for the screw and prevent the pick effect that could easily ruin the wood at the bottom you should have used a one-size-bigger drill after having made the hole to have a slightly bigger one.
Great advice. I did though measure the drill for the pilot hole, so the drill was only just smaller than the screw and have never had any issue doing it this way. Thanks
Tidy job!
Thanks
Seems easy enough but I’m scared I’ll damage my beautiful uke. Taking it to the shop instead. Great video though
Completely understand taking it t a shop but very glad you enjoyed. Thanks
I havent got a drill 😪
Could you borrow one maybe? If you do manage to get a drill and you get stuck / nervous, please feel free to ask.
How far do you have to drill inside the body ?
@@deniseshaw3871 Hi Denise, you use a very small drill to make a pilot hole for the screw. You are drilling into a block of wood inside the bottom of the uke. It is scary the first time but it is also easy, honestly.
I really would like try to drill my ukulele but I am afraid it won’t fit in to my case afterwards . Ahahah
Hi Mary, sorry about the delay in my reply, it's been super busy with school work. How tight is the uke already in the case and what sort of material is lining the case. It would have to be SUPER tight before hand to make a difference BUT I have a case which is tight and I carefully push the foam and material down the first time so I didn't damage the case.
I can't bring myself to do this. The uke is too pretty.
Totally get that. It is always personal prefernce, I just prefer using a strap. I am going to do a video very soon about different straps including ones that don't need strap buttons.
I won’t be letting a drill anywhere near mine!!