Schaller Strap Lock Failure (POS!)

Matt Dean · #1 02-04-2011, 02:39 PM

...just need to vent a little. I experienced a Schaller strap lock failure last night. The horn of my bass came free from the strap.... ouch!

Anyway, upon examination I found that the retractable pin that locks the strap in place was severely worn on one side, thus allowing the strap to slip off the stud in the guitar horn.

Sucks... off to buy something else. Recommendations?

rojo412 · #2 02-04-2011, 02:42 PM

Dunlop.

I hate the Schallers, they always came loose on me or squeaked.
The Dunlops just need a drop of oil and they are good for years.

rkingly · #3 02-04-2011, 02:43 PM

Bummer.
I use rubber washers either from a hardware store or Grolsch
beer bottles. Never had a failure.

crack-boom · #4 02-04-2011, 02:45 PM

DiMarzio Cliplock Straps

T-Bird · #5 02-04-2011, 03:15 PM

Hi.

Strange indeed.

I do admit that I don't gig that much, but I still have the Schallers I bought 25 years ago, and except for the nut coming off because of the usual user error, not a problem.

IIRC, the pin is hardened steel, and the button is brass. Are You sure that those were genuine Schallers You had, because the engineer in me finds it hard to believe that brass could wear steel that much.

Regards
Sam

StevieMac · #6 02-04-2011, 03:16 PM

My recommendation is fender washers (shown below) and some slightly longer than stock screws. Bolt the strap on permanently and never have a problem again.

Stilettoprefer · #7 02-04-2011, 09:34 PM

If you installed the part that stays on the strap properly the pin shouldn't have any wear on it.... Should have the open end facing up when the strap is on. And actually with it like that, there is no pressure on the pin at all..... Just the closed end of the lock. I use schallers on all of my guitars and basses and use the same strap on all of them (never changed the parts that stay on the strap because they have never broken!)

OmnitzGarima · #8 02-04-2011, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rojo412

Dunlop.

I hate the Schallers, they always came loose on me or squeaked.
The Dunlops just need a drop of oil and they are good for years.

I've had Schallers come loose several times a year. I'm going with Dunlops, or no strap lock at all.

Fender4Me · #9 02-04-2011, 09:50 PM

Dunlops!

pasta4lnch · #10 02-04-2011, 09:58 PM

bummer indeed - I've always been worried about that. I have all my schalers set up so that the shoe horn opening is facing up incase that happens . . .

methinks the rubber washer is the way . . .

walterw · #11 02-04-2011, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stilettoprefer

If you installed the part that stays on the strap properly the pin shouldn't have any wear on it.... Should have the open end facing up when the strap is on.

this. having the lock part upside down (so the instrument falls out when the pin is pulled) is just asking for it.

that said, you also gotta loc-tite the nut that holds the mechanism onto the strap, or it will come undone on you.

the dunlops are indeed mechanically better, in that the C-clipped mechanism can't fall off the strap, and there's no "weak" orientation of the clip to avoid. my complaint with them is that they hold the strap way up off the instrument. (the recessed version is cool and all until you forget your strap and realize you can't even borrow someone else's

)

it's the grolsch gaskets for me; if i were the kind of knucklehead who liked to spin the bass over my shoulder like some kind of rock star, i would permanently attach the strap with big plate washers and long wood screws.

sawzalot · #12 02-04-2011, 10:13 PM

I used Schallers for a few years early on and had issues with them loosening up on me. I switched to Dunlops about 15 years ago and have never had a problem since--and yes, some of my basses/straps still have the original Dunlops I put on when I bought the bass, still going strong after all these years.

rojo412 · #13 02-04-2011, 11:07 PM

The Dunlops can be used in different ways...

For the bottom strap button, I actually use the second hole of my strap to put on the strap button, while the main hole has the lock in it, flipped around to lock the strap in place. It's just like being strapped only, but the strap won't come off.

On the horn side, the strap lock being farther out actually helps balance the bass (a 5 string Jazz Deluxe).

And there's no law saying you have to attach the locks to the strap. You could just put the strap on the button and affix the lock outside of it.

prd004 · #14 02-04-2011, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pasta4lnch

bummer indeed - I've always been worried about that. I have all my schalers set up so that the shoe horn opening is facing up incase that happens

It's supposed to be facing up, the Shaller system is based on gravity, the pin is just to keep it from falling off when there is no weight on the strap. But I've seen so many people put them on upside down, amazing.

Been using Shallers for more years than I can count and never have they failed on me, wouldn't use anything else.

T-Bird · #15 02-04-2011, 11:53 PM

Hi.

Quote:

Originally Posted by prd004

It's supposed to be facing up, the Shaller system is based on gravity, the pin is just to keep it from falling off when there is no weight on the strap. But I've seen so many people put them on upside down, amazing.

Are You being serious???

Why on earth would someone do that?

Regards
Sam

prd004 · #16 02-04-2011, 11:58 PM

Oh yeah, sereous. In fact one of the previous posters said he turned his right side up (which he thought was upside down) in case the pin failed.

People don't read instructions anymore. My brother, who is a highly intelligent guy, put his Shallers on upside down too!

mech · #17 02-05-2011, 05:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prd004

It's supposed to be facing up, the Shaller system is based on gravity, the pin is just to keep it from falling off when there is no weight on the strap. But I've seen so many people put them on upside down, amazing.

Been using Shallers for more years than I can count and never have they failed on me, wouldn't use anything else.

^^^^^This.

mech

Sundogue · #18 02-05-2011, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StevieMac

My recommendation is fender washers (shown below) and some slightly longer than stock screws. Bolt the strap on permanently and never have a problem again.

+1. I love my ghetto strap locks. Best and safest ever. My strap opening will actually barely slip over the washer (with some struggle). I have the butt end permanently mounted but the horn one slips off (but only when I want it to when I put it back in the gig bag).

friskinator · #19 02-05-2011, 07:45 AM

I recommend spraying the connecting pieces of the Schaller hardware with a little bit of WD-40. It reduces friction while playing, and it makes the straplock attach/detach from the bass smoothly. Before I did that, I used to have problems with the Schaller strap buttons coming loose, no matter how tightly I screwed them in. The WD-40 solved that.

ric stave · #20 02-05-2011, 07:56 AM

I used Schallers for a while - as long as you check the tightness of both parts every so often they work OK - but on my main bass, after playing 2-4 shows a week for about 3 years, the strap C part actually wore away the bass peg part - cut right through one side of it.

I use Dunlop Dual design on most of my basses now. Never had a problem with them coming loose or apart, and if I ever want to use a different strap, I can.