Schaller strap locks just broke my guitarists Les Paul!

Venom of God · #1 08-07-2011, 10:25 AM

My guitarist put a set of Schaller's on his Gibson Les Paul about three months ago and the last week or two the front one has kept dropping the strap. It's attached solid as and then just drops, and today that drop caused the headstock to smash into his pedal board and split the neck. It's buzzing like crazy when you play any of the high three strings and obviously cracked. Any idea what he should do about this? Are Schaller a fair company to deal with, because in my eyes it's their product at fault (they are meant to lock the strap on, not drop it!). They were definitely installed properly, both him and I have used them for years and know how they work. We're all young and saved up for a long time to buy our instruments, so this is a big deal..

Zooberwerx · #2 08-07-2011, 10:32 AM

What component actually failed, broke, separated, etc.? If installed and used correctly, Schaller straplocks are quite reliable. I doubt if Schaller will offer to fix your buddy's guitar.

Riis

Venom of God · #3 08-07-2011, 10:38 AM

I know they're great usually, I have them on both my basses and one of those sets were on a bass before that (probably six years old now and still going strong). What failed was the little spring loaded clip on the top, it's fine usually (you can put it on the guitar and pull it as hard as you can and it won't come off), but every hour or so it just pops up and drops out. I am certain that it was installed and used correctly, he has also used Schaller on other guitars and it was the second set on the Gibson (different strap).

I just figure this can't be the first time they have failed on someone and was hoping to hear a positive story of how the company dealt with it or how to go about it!

Kipaste · #4 08-07-2011, 10:44 AM

I'm not trying to be a smart ass, but are you absolutely sure they were installed properly? Or was your friend doing some guitar acrobatics, flinging it around his neck or something? Because if they are installed properly, the guitar wouldn't drop to the ground even if the pin failed. They have that big U shape just because of that. And if the pressure would be on the pin all the time, ie. the guitar would be hanging from them, I'd be amazed it took this long for them to fail.

georgestrings · #5 08-07-2011, 10:46 AM

Sounds to me like your guitarist had the strap end installed improperly - if properly oriented, it's pretty impossible for what you described to happen, unless the nut comes off the strap end, since the strap end is supposed to capture the body post in it's "cup"...

- georgestrings

carl h. · #6 08-07-2011, 10:47 AM

I'm thinking you had them installed upside down. There are many pics of them on the web where they are installed upside down. The spring gizmo does not hold anything, the u-shaped part does the holding.

Venom of God · #7 08-07-2011, 10:49 AM

He was leaning forwards to turn off the PA with the guitar still around his neck, not sure exactly how it was hanging. The part connected to the strap may have been upside down, I'm honestly not sure, but I know that happens to mine from time to time. The rest of it though was guaranteed installed correctly, he was just talking today about taking them back to the shop because they kept popping out. I actually had the spring rocket out of mine a month or so ago (was meeting up with rodl2005 actually, he may remember), I was just fiddling with it while sitting down (not connected to the bass) and it flew out! I'm going on a tangent here though, as his spring still seems to be fine. Every now and then it just disconnects own it's own!

georgestrings · #8 08-07-2011, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carl h.

I'm thinking you had them installed upside down. There are many pics of them on the web where they are installed upside down. The spring gizmo does not hold anything, the u-shaped part does the holding.

Exactly...

- georgestrings

guy n. cognito · #9 08-07-2011, 10:53 AM

You sure you're not talking about Dunlops? Schallers will not drop the instrument if installed correctly.

smeet · #10 08-07-2011, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guy n. cognito

You sure you're not talking about Dunlops? Schallers will not drop the instrument if installed correctly.

I like Dunlops much more than Schallers personally. But I'm confident that both products will function just fine if installed properly.

Venom of God · #11 08-07-2011, 10:58 AM

Positive they are Schallers and I've also been a big supporter of them on this forum when people say they don't work (which is almost always the wood being stripped when they screw them in), in this case the locking part is dropping away from the body, and while they *may* be upside down (I'm not sure), I think the product is failing to LOCK if it drops at all!

guy n. cognito · #12 08-07-2011, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Venom of God

Positive they are Schallers and I've also been a big supporter of them on this forum when people say they don't work (which is almost always the wood being stripped when they screw them in), in this case the locking part is dropping away from the body, and while they *may* be upside down (I'm not sure), I think the product is failing to LOCK if it drops at all!

If the product is installed incorrectly, the failure is on the part of the owner, not the product. They do come with instructions, ya know.......

georgestrings · #13 08-07-2011, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Venom of God

The part connected to the strap may have been upside down, I'm honestly not sure, but I know that happens to mine from time to time.

*If* properly installed, this is also impossible - once tightened onto the strap, there is no way that can "happen from time to time"... There have been plenty of threads about this - probably the only design "flaw" that Schallers have is that the strap end nut *can* loosen up, if some sort of locking agent isn't used... Years ago, I found that a spot of blue(med strength) Locktite on the threads before installing would take care of this...

I've been gigging for over 30 years, and have used Schallers for atleast 20 of them - I've played some pretty heavy basses and guitars during that time(RD Artist, Les Pauls, etc...), and throw my axes around pretty good during a performance - I've never had a Schaller failure in all those years, and never witnessed one either - that wasn't caused by the nut loosening, or them being improperly installed, that is...

I'd say your guitarist is out of luck, dude - sorry...

- georgestrings

Zooberwerx · #14 08-07-2011, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carl h.

I'm thinking you had them installed upside down. There are many pics of them on the web where they are installed upside down. The spring gizmo does not hold anything, the u-shaped part does the holding.

To the OP: May I assume the components were working properly after the "incident"? If so, Riis's Rule of All Things Mechanical now applies: gear that is truly broken will not repair itself.

This may sound extreme but why don't you ask your buddy to demonstrate how he affixes the Schaller strapend to the guitar itself? Just trying to rule out the operator error aspect.

Riis

low2groove · #15 08-07-2011, 11:05 AM

First thing is to make sure they were installed correctly. I've seen many people put the end on the strap upside down. Make sure the U on the straplock is toward the bottom or end of the strap and that it clicks into place.

And no, Schaller will not replace the instrument but they will probably replace the straplocks if indeed it is a manufacturer defect (never seen one from them).

I've been using Schaller strap locks and only that brand since they came out, They are the best in my book and I always recommend them.

trevcda · #16 08-07-2011, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Venom of God

the last week or two the front one has kept dropping the strap... and today that drop caused the headstock to smash into his pedal board and split the neck.

Why would you keep using/trusting something, installed correctly or not, that very obviously has a reliability problem? It should have been addressed when it first occurred, not ignored hoping it would go away. If it's a defective part I'm sure they would repair/replace the part, but that's as far as I would expect their warranty to go.

Venom of God · #17 08-07-2011, 11:10 AM

I've found mine spins every couple of months and I have to tighten it with a pair of pliers, not a big deal and again I am not complaining about mine, Locktite is a good idea though. Guy n. cognito, I have tried to stress many times that they were (and still are) installed correctly, it may have spun about on the strap part, I'm not sure but mine have done that before. I didn't say his was definitely like that I said MAYBE, please read other posts more carefully before coming out with condescending remarks like "they come with instructions."

As I also said, I've had a set for six years with no drama yet a set I got a few months ago self-destructed while not even stuck on a bass.. maybe they QC has dropped? I don't know. What I do know is that something branded with the word lock should do just that, what if someone was doing a solo with the guitar over their head? Even if they were up the right way they'd be upside down then, and expected to hold.

I'm not saying they are a terrible company and I'm not saying their strap locks suck, I am saying that in this case I believe the product is at fault and I wanted to know if anyone had any experience with the company when it comes to such things.

Venom of God · #18 08-07-2011, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trevcda

Why would you keep using/trusting something, installed correctly or not, that very obviously has a reliability problem? It should have been addressed when it first occurred, not ignored hoping it would go away. If it's a defective part I'm sure they would repair/replace the part, but that's as far as I would expect their warranty to go.

He was going to take them back to the shop as I said in an earlier post, I assume he figured they were still safer than nothing but I don't know. Learnt a lesson there though I guess!

carl h. · #19 08-07-2011, 11:12 AM

A cheaper and more available option to the loctite is fingernail polish. Buy the cheapest clear you can find. It makes a great invisible glue.

BTW the pedalboard and gravity broke the guitar. Falling from an airplane never killed anyone. It is the sudden stop that kills.

guy n. cognito · #20 08-07-2011, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Venom of God

I've found mine spins every couple of months and I have to tighten it with a pair of pliers, not a big deal and again I am not complaining about mine, Locktite is a good idea though. Guy n. cognito, I have tried to stress many times that they were (and still are) installed correctly, it may have spun about on the strap part, I'm not sure but mine have done that before. I didn't say his was definitely like that I said MAYBE, please read other posts more carefully before coming out with condescending remarks like "they come with instructions."

As I also said, I've had a set for six years with no drama yet a set I got a few months ago self-destructed while not even stuck on a bass.. maybe they QC has dropped? I don't know. What I do know is that something branded with the word lock should do just that, what if someone was doing a solo with the guitar over their head? Even if they were up the right way they'd be upside down then, and expected to hold.

I'm not saying they are a terrible company and I'm not saying their strap locks suck, I am saying that in this case I believe the product is at fault and I wanted to know if anyone had any experience with the company when it comes to such things.

Sorry if you think I'm being condescending, but it sounds like you need a bit of an education. The Schaeller instructions....if you actually read them, specifically state that you need to check that nut periodically to make sure it hasn't loosened. The strap lock is designed to work installed per the instructions, and if your guitars failed to follow the instructions then all fault falls on him. If the nut was loose, then it's his fault.

Furthermore, you clearly state below:

Quote:

and while they *may* be upside down (I'm not sure),

So which is it, sport? Are they installed correctly, or are they installed upside down? :roll eyes:

Finally, I must agree with those who point out the ignorance of continuing to use a product that seems to be defective. You state:

Quote:

and the last week or two the front one has kept dropping the strap.

Again, why wouldn't he address the problem IMMEDIATELY, rather than continue to tempt fate by using the "defective" product?