What are the Best Straps to Prevent Head Dropping on the Martin LX1RE Head?

A head drop is when the head side of the guitar is so heavy that the head drops down when you let your hand go. My Martin LX1RE has a slight head drop. It is not a bad guitar just because the head drops, but to be honest, it is tough to support the falling head with my left hand while playing. So, as an easy countermeasure, I looked for an effective strap to prevent the head from falling down.

■ The Guitar I’m Trying These Straps On - Martin LX1RE

When we usually think of a guitar with a head strap, we might usually think of an electric guitar. It’s true that acoustic guitars have a lighter head and larger body than electric guitars, so they have a balance that prevents the head from falling down, but acoustic guitar heads may fall off depending on the model. The guitar that I used this time to prevent the head from falling down is the Martin LX1RE, a miniature electric acoustic guitar, a.k.a. the popular Little Martin.

MARTIN / LX1RE Mini Acoustic-Electric Guitar

This guitar is a small but heavy guitar. I have played Taylor, Yamaha, and other mini-acoustic guitars, but this is the heaviest guitar I have ever played. It is solidly built with a high specific gravity. The weight of the guitar may cause the head to drop a little. The head may fall down because the body is small and the balance of the weight is more than the head. Also, the neck is made of high pressure wood, which is a multi-laminated laminated wood, so it is very hard and heavy with high specific gravity, so this may be the cause.

I like the heaviness because it feels luxurious and rigid. The head drop is not a problem if I support it lightly with my left hand, but I wanted a strap that matches the design of the Martin LX1RE, so I thought about it…and then I bought it.

■ What’s the best materials that help prevent the guitar head from falling?

To prevent the head from falling, you need a strap that will not catch on your clothes and slip, and you can choose a strap with a non-slip material on the back. Electric guitars are heavy, so if they get caught on clothes, the clothes may shift or stretch. The Martin LX1RE weighs 1.7 kg, so it’s unlikely to shift with your clothes like an electric guitar that weighs more than 3 kg.

When I say non-slip materials,

• Leather
• Suede

and so on.
Those with nylon backsides, such as the standard FENDER monogram strap, are prone to slipping.

Leather slips slightly less than nylon or polyester. However, if the surface of the leather is smooth, it may look cool in terms of design, but it will still cause slippage. If you are looking for a more non-slip material, choose suede.

Suede is a leather surface that has been treated to make it more fluffy. The rough surface finish makes it difficult to catch on clothes and prevents slippage. The degree of fluffing is also important. Even with suede, if the fluffing is fine, the anti-slip effect will be weak. The roughness should be as strong as possible.

■ What width do you recommend?

Strap widths vary from thin to thick. I recommend thick straps to prevent the head from falling. A thicker strap increases the area in contact with the clothing, which increases friction and makes it more difficult for the strap to move.

However, the strap stands out a lot, so it is not suitable for those who want to be fashionable with a thin strap. You will want to balance the appearance and practicality of the strap. A thick strap seems to go well with Martin LX1RE, so I’ll purchase a thick one.

■ What is the best thickness of the strap?

The thickness of the strap does not seem to have any effect on head dropping. However, thicker material is more gentle against the shoulder. Also, the thicker the strap, the more luxurious it looks. Thick straps are also more durable, so there is a sense of security.

■ Ways and Items that Prevent the Head from Falling

In addition to replacing the strap, there are other methods and items that can be used to prevent the head from falling.

Attach weights to the end pins or inside the sound hole.

This method changes the balance between the head and body sides by adding more weight to the body side. If you put weights on the end pins, the body side will be heavier. You can make it heavier by putting the endpin through a large metal washer and then inserting it into the body. Also, the Martin LX1RE is an acoustic guitar, so it has a sound hole. By attaching weights to the inside of the sound hole, you can add weight to the body without being noticeable, which will help eliminate head drop.

Use lightweight pegs if you want to prevent head drop on basses.

Although they’re not for acoustic guitars, basses can be replaced with lightweight pegs to lighten the head and eliminate head drop. Lightweight pegs are pegs made of lightweight materials such as aluminum or duralumin.

Here are some recommended lightweight pegs for bass players.

GOTOH / GB350/L2+R2 Chrome

Lightweight pegs of the RES-O-LITE series, which are mainly made of special duralumin with smooth rotation and tuning stability.

HIP SHOT / HB6C-1/2 Ultralite Clover Black

HIP SHOT's Ultra Lite series is a lightweight peg that is approximately 20-25% lighter than other companies' pegs. Its high precision and a clear tone are its charms.

■ Three straps I recommend for the Martin LX1RE

Here I will introduce 3 straps that I recommend for the Martin LX1RE. All of them are available at Sound House, so please visit the Sound House app or website.

MOODY STRAPS / Leather & Suede 2.5” Standard Black/Red

The surface is smooth genuine leather and the back side is suede. The width is 6.3cm and the thickness is firm. The suede on the back side comes in a variety of colors and I like the red version. I like the version with the red backing. The red backed version looks like it would go well with the Martin LX1RE. The design is by Allison Suter, a leather goods designer, and the double stitching is highly durable. However, the price is expensive at around 20,000 yen, so you might need to muster up some courage before you buy it.

FENDER / FENDER ROAD WORN STRAP/BROWN Guitar strap

I recommend this one to those who are looking for a vintage style strap that doesn’t easily let the head fall. This strap has a suede lining and a wide, soft leather strap. This vintage brown color seems to go well with the Martin LX1RE.

LEVY'S / MS26-RST

LEVY'S offers various types of leather straps, some of which cost more than 10,000 yen, but the quality of this low-priced product is good enough. Unlike the other two products, this one has suede on both the front and back. I like this all-suede design because it looks like a strap for adults. The width is 6.4 cm, which is a wide type. You can choose your favorite color from a variety of colors, including rare green and light colors like tan, along with standard brown and rust color (dark brown with reddish tint).

■ The strap I purchased for my Martin LX1RE

The strap I purchased for my Martin LX1RE is the LEVY'S /MS26-RST strap, which I introduced earlier. I decided to purchase this strap because of its reasonable price and the mature texture of the all-suede material. When I actually tried it, the head stayed up and my clothes didn't shift, so it was the right choice. By the way, the strap I was using before was the standard Fender Monogrammed strap, which has a nylon backing that causes the head to drop.

The new strap is a rust color, a dark brown with a slight reddish tinge. If you want to match the color of the Martin LX1RE exactly, you can choose brown. If you want the strap to stand out a bit, I recommend the rust color.

I am not sure if this strap will prevent the head from dropping since electric guitars are heavy, but I recommend this strap for the Martin LX1RE for both its beautiful appearance and it’s slip-resistant. I hope you will consider this strap as well.

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