Ok well since there seems to some questions i'll try to answer them. The parts of the straplocks that have come loose are the end ball and the nut that holds the strap on come loose. Also i have dunlops on one of my basses and i agree they are better but like i said i'd prefer a permanent solution. The washer idea seems neat so i might try that on one of my basses and if that fails i'll try the lag bolt with washers idea. Finally i'm really not interested in playing around with my schallers with glue or anything, I just want my strap to be on at all times and not have to worry about my bass coming loose.
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Anyone have experience permanently mounting straps?
- Thread starter danielfnj96
- Start date
I don't care for the Dunlops.
Again, every single person who has had a problem with the Schallers FAILED TO MAINTAIN THEM. Simple as that. And there is NO OTHER SOLUTION that will not require periodic maintenance anyway. Some of my Schallers are 20 years old and function exactly as they were designed to.
Again, every single person who has had a problem with the Schallers FAILED TO MAINTAIN THEM. Simple as that. And there is NO OTHER SOLUTION that will not require periodic maintenance anyway. Some of my Schallers are 20 years old and function exactly as they were designed to.
A pair of channel locks/Tennessee socket set/water pump pliers, a wrench (not pliers) for the nut on top of the washer, a speed wrench will do fine if that's all you've got.
Take your time and work the locking part of the strap unit(s) through the strap hole and work it as flat as possible. Flat is the key here so if you need to trim an RCH out of the hole now is the time. Line up the open end of the locking unit(s) so the are facing up when the bass is hanging around your neck. Once you have it aligned, drop the big flat washer over the lock then install the nut. If you want to use thread lock, now is the time. A little goes a very long way, a pin head drop would be too much. Finger tighten it until you've got it snug enough to hold it's position. Now open the water pump pliers until you can get a comfortable grip on the U shaped portion of the lock FROM THE CLOSED END OF THE U SHAPED LOCK PIECE. Get good grip, but be aware you can crush the U shaped piece if you squeeze too hard, just enough pressure to keep it from rotating while you tighten the nut on top is all you need. Once you get a good grip on that portion of the lock, put the wrench on the nut on top and tighten the snot out of the nut while holding the bottom so it does not move.
All my strap locks are Schaller/Fender and I've done them all this way and have never had one come loose unless I took it apart to put the locks on a different strap.
They were included with the US J plus I bought new in 92 and I've put them on just about every bass I've bought since and no problems. The trick is tightening the crap out of them and keeping them aligned so the bass rests in the bottom of the U shaped lock pieces when hanging from the strap.
Take your time and work the locking part of the strap unit(s) through the strap hole and work it as flat as possible. Flat is the key here so if you need to trim an RCH out of the hole now is the time. Line up the open end of the locking unit(s) so the are facing up when the bass is hanging around your neck. Once you have it aligned, drop the big flat washer over the lock then install the nut. If you want to use thread lock, now is the time. A little goes a very long way, a pin head drop would be too much. Finger tighten it until you've got it snug enough to hold it's position. Now open the water pump pliers until you can get a comfortable grip on the U shaped portion of the lock FROM THE CLOSED END OF THE U SHAPED LOCK PIECE. Get good grip, but be aware you can crush the U shaped piece if you squeeze too hard, just enough pressure to keep it from rotating while you tighten the nut on top is all you need. Once you get a good grip on that portion of the lock, put the wrench on the nut on top and tighten the snot out of the nut while holding the bottom so it does not move.
All my strap locks are Schaller/Fender and I've done them all this way and have never had one come loose unless I took it apart to put the locks on a different strap.
They were included with the US J plus I bought new in 92 and I've put them on just about every bass I've bought since and no problems. The trick is tightening the crap out of them and keeping them aligned so the bass rests in the bottom of the U shaped lock pieces when hanging from the strap.
I used to screw my strap on back in my "wilder" days. It seemed no matter what strap-lock system I used, they could not stand up to my heavy-metal madness. So one night, I just screwed my strap on with a couple of fender washers, and it stayed that way for many years. No, I never tripped over it, and it fit just fine in the case, and I'm not a lazy bastard. The only time I ever had a strap fail on me was when I was using Schallers... I swore that night that I would never mess around with those stupid things again.
My guitar player buddy does use them on his custom shop strat though. His Schallers(?) (I think they are Schallers) have only failed twice in the last 20 years or so... I was there both times. My screws have never failed. Yet.
I can always put the strap buttons back on if I want to sell the bass (which won't happen), it's not a permanent mod to the bass if you know how to operate a screwdriver. If you want to do it, go for it.
You know Floyd Eye, 99 times out of 100 I agree with what you have to say, but I need more information on why this is a stupid idea.
I own 1 strap per bass and I never remove them. Slip the bass over my head to take it off. Never tripped over a strap (but I have tripped over many an instrument cable....) Eventually, I put grolsh washers on just to make things more permanent. Never had a strap come off even before adding the washers.
I can fit the bass with strap easily in my case, so that's not an issue. I also don't get the "I only have 1 strap but 20 basses". Why not more straps? They're not thousands of dollars and its like buying mag wheels for your Mustang. It makes things prettier lol.
I have seen strap locks let go, even on maintained ones.
Why is permanently attaching straps to basses such a stupid idea?
I use the little red washers that come off beer bottles for this (I normally buy Grolsch for this, but other beers are available). They're such a pain to take off again that they might as well be permanent!
You just put the strap on normally and then slip the washer over the top, like this (generic picture from google):
Fender sells those, and I am converting all my basses to that.
I perma-mount my straps since 1987, ever since I brought home my Rickenbacker 4001 from the pawnshop and dropped it while I was taking First Photo with it. I bought a special strap that had little tiny holes in it, which I screwed the strap buttons through. That strap has been repaired twice in the last 25 years, and is still bolted to the bass. I've also used those key-hole type straplocks, and finally I found these rubber washers Fender makes, and they are the easiest thing I've used, so I'm getting a ton of them for all my basses and converting over.
I do not use straplocks or anything that requires modifying the wood of the instrument. I determined I never would after opening for a band where the poor guy's straplock popped off and flew into the crowd, and he played the rest of the gig sitting down because he was too proud to borrow my Hondo. I couldn't just loan him my strap . . . my mind just does not like irreversible solutions.
The $20 strap I bolted to my Ricky 4001, is 25 years old, and I've had the leather sewn together once, and I used a strip of electrical tape to fix one of the clips. I figure I have well and truly gotten the value out of it. You can see it up in my avatar, circa 2010 or so.
If for some reason it broke, I could use a regular strap too. The main reason I won't use a proprietary lock is the lack of backup options.
Yeah, but if you buy them from Grolsch you get a free beer with every straplock
This is true. I've not had a Grolsch and I'm quite the beer snob, so I guess I need to try one and see if they're my kinda beer.
However, looking at the website, it does not look like my kind of beer. I prefer beer you have to use a toothpick after, dark and heavy. I will make a point of trying one sometime, but I'm more a Bourbon Barrel Stout kind of guy -- a local place here in Louisville brews them in used bourbon barrels and it carmelizes and is thick as molasses and just heavenly, and also 12% alcohol.
I'm always amazed at how worked up some people can get over straplocks! Jeez. 
Just FYI, you can buy rubber washers like the ones on the Grolsch bottle at most hardware stores for just a few cents each. Saves you from having to drink that skunky beer!
This is another option if you don't want to make any changes to the guitar:
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Hardwar...kstrap_System.html?actn=100101&xst=3&xsr=1880
I've never used them (always had good luck with Dunlops) but a lot of folks report that they work well.
FWIW, the only staplock I've ever had that failed was a Schaller. The strap end had been tightened several times WITH A WRENCH, and only stayed in place with a generous application of loctite. In my book, there's a serious flaw in that design.
Just FYI, you can buy rubber washers like the ones on the Grolsch bottle at most hardware stores for just a few cents each. Saves you from having to drink that skunky beer!
This is another option if you don't want to make any changes to the guitar:
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Hardwar...kstrap_System.html?actn=100101&xst=3&xsr=1880
I've never used them (always had good luck with Dunlops) but a lot of folks report that they work well.
FWIW, the only staplock I've ever had that failed was a Schaller. The strap end had been tightened several times WITH A WRENCH, and only stayed in place with a generous application of loctite. In my book, there's a serious flaw in that design.
I too appreciate beer that's more like a steak than a beverage.
Grolsch, being a lager doesn't really qualify but for a lager it's pretty decent. Tasty, a bit bitter. The washers are quite good. Or you could just get black ones at the hardware store for a few cents.
I just started using rubber washers recently. I have an old strap that's pretty worn and started slipping off a lot. 3/8" rubber washers from home depot fixed it up. They are now on 3 of my basses for about $1.50.
Dunlops are great IMO.
I have one bass that came with Schallers (I think my Ric had 'em also) and feared the strap portion would loosen the pin, so I rubbed a candle on the inside of the strap part, and a little on the pin and wiped off the excess. Birthday cake candles fit in there nicely.
I have one bass that came with Schallers (I think my Ric had 'em also) and feared the strap portion would loosen the pin, so I rubbed a candle on the inside of the strap part, and a little on the pin and wiped off the excess. Birthday cake candles fit in there nicely.
Billy Sheehan has done this for decades. I think it's a somewhat inelegant solution, but it always worked for him. Eddie Van Halen had his straps like this way back when, but I don't think he does now though.
http://mattzilllla.tumblr.com/
^a couple of pics of a flush on a bass that has seen the road.
Been using these for several years since my bounciness even ripped schallers out of basses and guitars.
^a couple of pics of a flush on a bass that has seen the road.
Been using these for several years since my bounciness even ripped schallers out of basses and guitars.
Grolsch is very much a european pils - you might not like it if thats what you're into!
If you can find it in the US you should check out Innis & Gunn beers. Its a Scottish beer thats aged in Whisky (and some in Rum) barrels. Very tasty
