Are strap locks actually terrible or is it just me?

[GBBSbassist]

This problem has been fixed with the new version, making it the best on the market.
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With all due respect, Schaller have pushed their lackluster design (in my opinion and many others who've had Schallers fail on them) for decades before finally realizing that it could be better by adding an obviously much needed set screw to keep the mechanism on the strap without having to resort to loctite or some other type of thread glue. That already loses some points for me.

With that said, the new S-lock versions from Schaller looks pretty good, and pretty air tight from a design standpoint.

Meanwhile though, I've never once had the Dunlop design ones fail, and they've been essentially the same design (at least the locking mechanism) from the moment they started selling them. Additionally, they've always been held onto the strap by a snap ring (far better design from the get-go than the old schallers using only a washer and nut).

 

[Vinny_G]

With all due respect, Schaller have pushed their lackluster design (in my opinion and many others who've had Schallers fail on them) for decades before finally realizing that it could be better by adding an obviously much needed set screw to keep the mechanism on the strap without having to resort to loctite or some other type of thread glue. That already loses some points for me.

With that said, the new S-lock versions from Schaller looks pretty good, and pretty air tight from a design standpoint.

Meanwhile though, I've never once had the Dunlop design ones fail, and they've been essentially the same design (at least the locking mechanism) from the moment they started selling them. Additionally, they've always been held onto the strap by a snap ring (far better design from the get-go than the old schallers using only a washer and nut).

I never had any problem with the Schallers but, as others have said, it may be because I checked them regularly. It is simple maintenance, as with all the rest of a musician's gear. I stumbled once because of a badly knotted shoe lace. Was it the fault of the lace?

 

[GBBSbassist]

I never had any problem with the Schallers but, as others have said, it may be because I checked them regularly. It is simple maintenance, as with all the rest of a musician's gear. I stumbled once because of a badly knotted shoe lace. Was it the fault of the lace?

If your shoelace was "badly knotted" it sounds like it was tied improperly from the beginning.

I suppose you could call it simple maintenance to have to re-tighten the nuts on your straplocks every so often, but let me ask you this, how often do you go around and re-tighten the nuts on most other things you use regularly?

 

[Vinny_G]

If your shoelace was "badly knotted" it sounds like it was tied improperly from the beginning.

Yes, by me. I will not blame the laces maker.

I suppose you could call it simple maintenance to have to re-tighten the nuts on your straplocks every so often, but let me ask you this, how often do you go around and re-tighten the nuts on most other things you use regularly?

It depends on the importance that I give them. On the nuts of the tires of my car, regularly. On all the screws of my guitars, regularly also. In both cases for peace of mind, ease of use and security. I've never had a problem with them.

And you, are you more like "put it and forget it", and if there is a problem it's necessarily the fault of the material?

 

[GBBSbassist]

Yes, by me. I will not blame the laces maker.


It depends on the importance that I give them. On the nuts of the tires of my car, regularly. On all the screws of my guitars, regularly also. In both cases for peace of mind, ease of use and security. I've never had a problem with them.

And you, are you more like "put it and forget it", and if there is a problem it's necessarily the fault of the material?

If you want to continue to compare shoelaces, fine. In this scenario where the laces were badly knotted, it's user error. In the case of the Schaller straplock design (before the new S-lock) coming loose from the strap, it's not user error. You can install them according to the instructions, and they will inevitably come loose due to the flawed design. That's not a matter of my opinion. There's a very good reason Schaller improved on their original design. It needed it.

I'm certainly not a "put it and forget it" guy, but a system designed to keep your guitar on your strap shouldn't need to be retightened before each gig to prevent failure. Congratulations on re-tightening all of the screws on your guitar regularly. There are likely dozens of you world wide.

 

[lz4005]

So what's going on here? Am I doing something wrong? Are there better-designed strap locks out there that actually work (the ones I had are well-reviewed, though)?? Am I just crazy?

The most foolproof strap lock is a large metal washer with the diameter of the hole in the middle bigger than the part of the strap button that touches the body but smaller than the part you normally put the strap over. You have to use a screwdriver to remove the strap. As used by Billy Sheehan and Phil X.

 

[JimmyM]

Wow, some of you guys act like you get commissions over every strap lock sold!

 

[Vinny_G]

In the case of the Schaller straplock design (before the new S-lock) coming loose from the strap, it's not user error. You can install them according to the instructions, and they will inevitably come loose due to the flawed design. That's not a matter of my opinion. There's a very good reason Schaller improved on their original design. It needed it.

Since they have solved the problem, then there is nothing more to complain about a flawed design.

Congratulations on re-tightening all of the screws on your guitar regularly. There are likely dozens of you world wide.

LOL, I don't think so.

 

[Stevorebob]

I prefer Loxx. In my opinion, they are the best designed and most secure. I like the low profile. They work best if the strap hole is enlarged. However, they are a bit difficult to come by these days.

I recently purchased a Mike Lull bass, which came equipped with Dunlop strap locks. Before I switched them out to my preferred Loxx, I gave them a try, and I’ve stuck with the Dunlops on the Lull. I consider them to be as secure as my favorite Loxx.

Ah, the ones that come with free beer. The rubber washers work for many strap buttons, but I’ve found some — Music Man in particular — to be a difficult fit. I feared I would do more damage awkwardly trying to fit the rubber washers than I would going without, so I switched to mechanical strap locks. YMMV.

 

[Stan_da_man]

Oh no, the rubber might stretch!

 

[bass12]

I had basses made in Asia and North America, all those who arrived with strap locks were Schaller type. I currently have a bass made in Canada mounted from factory with Schaller type strap buttons. I don't know where you see Dunlops as the industry standard.

I think Schallers are more popular worldwide, but I don't know for the US specifically.

I know that Sadowsky, MTD and Lull come with Dunlops. F bass, Smith, Elrick and Skjold have used Dunlops but they might also use other strap locks. I'd be curious to know which U.S. or Canadian builders use Schallers.

 

[Vinny_G]

I know that Sadowsky, MTD and Lull come with Dunlops. F bass, Smith, Elrick and Skjold have used Dunlops but they might also use other strap locks. I'd be curious to know which U.S. or Canadian builders use Schallers.

My Godin Shifter came with Schaller type strap buttons. I had a Schecter and a Yamaha that also came with them. But I was not thinking about the high end boutique bass builders you cited, so yeah, it must be a North American thing. I'd be curious to know which big/mainstream brands use Dunlops.

 

[GIBrat51]

I know that Sadowsky, MTD and Lull come with Dunlops. F bass, Smith, Elrick and Skjold have used Dunlops but they might also use other strap locks. I'd be curious to know which U.S. or Canadian builders use Schallers.

Rickenbacker, for one... Personally, I don't use strap locks, and to be honest, I never felt like I needed too, either. But, to be honest (again), my playing style on stage didn't require them. When you stand real still, back in the shadows by the drummer, and pretty much nothing moves but your hands? No real need for strap locks...

 

[Jimmy K9]

I've been using Dunlops for 20 plus years on all my basses and have never had one fail. I'm not a wild dancer or an acrobat though.

 

[mmbongo]

I know that Sadowsky, MTD and Lull come with Dunlops. F bass, Smith, Elrick and Skjold have used Dunlops but they might also use other strap locks. I'd be curious to know which U.S. or Canadian builders use Schallers.

Carvin/Kiesel have used Dunlops since at least 1992 that I know of. That's when I ordered my first Carvin, and I've been using Dunlops ever since. However many years that is, probably 30 basses, all had Dunlops, never a single failure.

 

[flyingfinbar]

Dunlop dual designs use a different attachment method so there’s nothing that can come unscrewed- I switched to them and stopped using Schaller type straplocks many years ago because of the random nut loosening thing.

I’m all about Dunlop dual design. I have them on all of my basses and guitars, and I’ve never had a failure. And if you forget your strap with the lock assembly, you can borrow/beg any plain old strap, and they’ll still work.

 

[Vinny_G]

I’m all about Dunlop dual design. I have them on all of my basses and guitars, and I’ve never had a failure. And if you forget your strap with the lock assembly, you can borrow/beg any plain old strap, and they’ll still work.

The Schaller strap buttons still work as well, if the slots in your strap are firm enough.

 

[Tom Bomb]

Fastening, as a concept, is pretty straight forward — first, make it fast. Natural for some. Experience is the best teacher. There are a whole heap of options, today. I saw a bunch on a display the other day. Had to resist the temptation. People are getting pretty clever, on this tack And, there's a market. Broken hearts are synonymous with broken headstocks

But once you're done fastening, and everything's tight … it's safe to dance. That's always a comfort. Especially when you're toting a pitched headstock.

My latest foray, a pair of these, for one particular pesky and contrary old axe,

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But I'm now eying off this little beggar — much more elegant. I should get out more

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I've been using the old Schallers for eons. I have a number of others but I haven't even used them. Set in my ways, I am. Bought another set, not so long ago, along with a new strap None have ever failed me — some, early on, showed signs of coming loose: this is simply because leather, etc., has a little give. Nipping them up routinely until they bed properly is mandatory, really. Or hit 'em with a shifter and a wrench, and go to town on the little monsters.

Overkill, maybe, but you're less likely to come unstuck. I'm happy to just hand-tighten 'em, no gimmicks. Just a bit of muscle. Loctite's a fine idea too — but you'll still have to keep nipping 'em up, after the first decent outing or two.

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[Brad Johnson]

Never saw those, but the Dunlops on my Spector have been stable for 5+ years so far

The Dunlops on my 84 Tobias have done the same for 35 years.

 

[Brad Johnson]

The only strap locks I don't like are the ones that use and rely on little ball bearings to lock the two pieces together; I've seen these wear out and come uncoupled at most inopportune times. The Schaller and others that lock and have a U shaped captive coupling are the best.

Never had those little bearings fail on several dozen gigging basses over several decades. I have had Shaller nuts unceremoniously fall off more than once.