Best Strap Locks?

[Rockin Mike]

Originally Posted by Darren Low

Which straplocks are the best for metal?

I think the Dunlops and Schallers and Loxxes are all metal. The leather ones have some metal parts but are mostly leather.

Duct tape is usually silver but buyer beware, it's not really metal.

[bassbenj]

Originally Posted by WeThePeople

Couldn't agree with you more. Loxx is the new system on the block that blows away the others. Sleeker design, more secure, less parts, and easiest to install.

And unlike non-recessed Dunlops won't let you use a standard strap in an emergency.

Nothing is perfect. Everything a compromise.

[ics1974]

5/16" rubber washers like this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzhMyzm5Fj8

[WeThePeople]

Originally Posted by bassbenj

And unlike non-recessed Dunlops won't let you use a standard strap in an emergency.

Nothing is perfect. Everything a compromise.

Excellent point. I know Kerry from Loxx chimes in on these straplock posts. Maybe he could get the word to the designers about widening the base for their system. That way we could use a standard strap without the lock in an emergency.

[bigsnaketex]

I've been using rubber washers I buy at Lowes (or any hardware store). They cost .69 cents and work perfectly. Nothing else required.

They are in the specialty washer section in a drawer. They are made for fenders (NOT FENDER BASS GUITARS but fenders on a car)!

If the goal is simply to make sure your bass doesn't come loose from the strap, this is by far the cheapest and best way to secure your instrument.

And this way, you don't have to glue in toothpick pieces to refull the hole after you take out the original strap locks. People not refilling the original holes is the greatest danger with any strap lock system because if they screw comes out because the hole has be wallowed out, I don't care how good your strap lock system is, the bass is going to hit the floor (unless you're a good catch!).

[DwaynieAD]

Originally Posted by bigsnaketex

I've been using rubber washers I buy at Lowes (or any hardware store). They cost .69 cents and work perfectly. Nothing else required.

They are in the specialty washer section in a drawer. They are made for fenders (NOT FENDER BASS GUITARS but fenders on a car)!

If the goal is simply to make sure your bass doesn't come loose from the strap, this is by far the cheapest and best way to secure your instrument.

And this way, you don't have to glue in toothpick pieces to refull the hole after you take out the original strap locks. People not refilling the original holes is the greatest danger with any strap lock system because if they screw comes out because the hole has be wallowed out, I don't care how good your strap lock system is, the bass is going to hit the floor (unless you're a good catch!).

I've used schallers, dunlops, and hennesy's. this is my favorite solution so far with dunlops a close second. the hennesy's were great but quit working correctly in about 6 months. dunlops are 12 years old and still working. the schallers have been a headache since day one.

[MarkusBass]

Originally Posted by Bullitt5135

Good enough for Pino Palladino, good enough for me.

This is the way I roll.

[Kerry_King]

Originally Posted by WeThePeople

Excellent point. I know Kerry from Loxx chimes in on these straplock posts. Maybe he could get the word to the designers about widening the base for their system. That way we could use a standard strap without the lock in an emergency.

Hey guys, just a heads up. I try not to post much about our product, but I thought I'd throw this out there:

LOXX pins with strap grooves are actually available in one of our LOXX screw sets.

This was the original design for LOXX, but the compromise of the strap groove is that the LOXX are no longer low-profile.


I totally understand the concern with this, though. I will definitely pass along the suggestion to the manufacturer, and please let me know if you have any others.

[PipeRain]

I have Schallers on all of my guitars and my one bass. Given my lack of skill on the bass my premise has always been "If you can't play good, play hard". As a result I sheared the pin screw off of the end of the bass at a show years ago. A friend ran out to his car, grabbed a roll of duct tape and we used about half the roll "Fixing" it. After the show I replaced the pin screws with a 2" drywall screw in the horn and a 3" screw at the end (The one that broke) and I haven't sheared one off since.

Drywall screws are hardened steel and aren't going anywhere. I put some TiteBond II wood glue on the screws and shot 'em in good and fast with a screwgun. (Old cabinet makers trick) The heat from friction will cause the glue to "set" as soon as it stops spinning and they will NOT walk out. Be sure to make sure the head will sit sufficiently low in the locking pin, if not a few seconds on a bench grinder or a few minutes with sandpaper will allow it to do so.

Yes, I know it's low-tech and if you have some sort of high dollar bass you may not want to take such a route, but it will work.

[tjnkoo]

Never had a problem with the dunlops in 5+ years. Schallers however had broken a few times within weeks.

[MarkusBass]

I've used both...the Schallers always tend to come loose. I've come to this conclusion as to why...The Schaller design has the quick release go around the outside of the strap button, and it works like a wrench to slowly spin the button, making it loosen up. It physics. Dunlops fit inside the strap button where the friction between the two pieces is more centered and doesn't have the leverage the Schallers have. Think of a tight bolt...it's harder to loosen it with a short wrench. But with a longer wrench, the bolt breaks free easier because it offers more leverage, because it's farther away from the center.If you must use a different strap button, another option is to take the Dunlop screw and clamp it in a drill like a drip bit. Then spin it with the drill, and push a metal file against the head until you've taken enough size off of it to allow it to fit inside the strap button of choice. You might have to drill out he hole in the strap button to allow the original Dunlop screw to fit through it. My 2 cents

[bassgod0dmw]

I've been using Dunlops for years. I've got them on all of my basses and guitars.

I just finished putting a set of Schaller's on my strap for my Ric, as Ric's come stock with the Schaller style pin already installed. I hate them. They wouldn't fit on my strap until I cut away at it. Then I couldn't tighten the nut at all because the strap is too thick. I had to cut away more, then crush the whole thing with a pair of pliers before I could catch 1 thread with the nut. I can see the nut coming loose and falling off eventually, so I'll probably give it a dot of Loc-Tite.

I would have went with Dunlops, but the pin Ric installs is ginormous. I'd need to fill in the hole and redrill, or do the toothpick thing. Both of which I wasn't interested in doing.

[Warmuth]

I used Schallers for a couple years and they always worked well for me. Currently I use Ernie Ball and they seem fine. If they ever wear out on me I'm going to get a hardware screw with the eye and use little clips EVH style. That seems like it would be the stoutest, most foolproof way to go.

[PipeRain]

I suppose a lag bolt through the strap and into the bass would be a bit uncouth wouldn't it....

[bertbassplayer]

I've been using Dunlop Straplocks for about 15 years and never had issues. In fact a drummer friend of mine actually gave me a set of old straplocks his father had on his bass for many years before he passed away and they still worked great.

In the end I just say use what your comfortable with and what works for you.

[P Town]

PipeRain. A drywall screws hardness, makes them brittle, and unsuitable for a shear load. They will break before the proper screw will.

[LWagner]

I use these guys http://www.dimarzio.com/straps/cliplock. I've used em for 15 years and have never had a problem. You can pick em up for around 20 bucks. Cant beat it!

[walterw]

whereas the cliplocks always bugged me because while they do indeed lock the strap securely, the clip part is pointless!

if you unclip it, you still have a bit of strap hanging off the guitar on each end that makes it so you still can't fit it in the case, and now you can't use a different strap if you forget yours.

it might as well be a regular strap permanently screwed in behind metal washers.

(anyway, it's the grolsch washers for me; they're nice and bold-red so other gear nerds can spot them across the room )