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Are strap locks actually terrible or is it just me?

#101
byacey said:
I use strap locks (Schaller) without any problems. A drop of blue Loctite on the machine screw threads, tighten them down good, and you're set for years. Fooling around trying to fit rubber washers that can eventually crack or pop off seems bush league in my opinion.
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I did sour on the earlier versions of the Schallers as they could loosen or snap off at the worst time. The newer ones look somewhat better designed. I went to simply screwing my straps on the instrument with polished steel washers and checking the tightness of the screws when I am cleaning and prepping the instrument for the next gig. Sure, the strap lays in the case on the guitar but if you use a good leather strap, it shouldn't be affecting the instrument's finish. Since I have a different strap to match each instrument, I am not worried about having to change straps when I change instruments which the locks can make easier.
 
#102
scooper said:
I did sour on the earlier versions of the Schallers as they could loosen or snap off at the worst time. The newer ones look somewhat better designed. I went to simply screwing my straps on the instrument with polished steel washers and checking the tightness of the screws when I am cleaning and prepping the instrument for the next gig. Sure, the strap lays in the case on the guitar but if you use a good leather strap, it shouldn't be affecting the instrument's finish.
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Except the dyes they use leech into the finish and discolor it.
 
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#103
Vinny_G said:
I really like their product, so it hurts my little heart when someone says bad things about it. :crying:
Can you make me a hug? :woot:

To be more serious, I find the criticisms unjustified because they are all based on the old model, and they're pretty much all the result of a low (or no) maintenance routine. You can not compare a current model with an obsolete model, it's not fair. ;)
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Fair enough, sorry if that came across as rude...long week, and it’s only Wednesday!
 
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#105
One of the reasons I went away from locks is that they tend to squeak and creak, which actually was an issue during a session I did years ago. You'd never hear it live but in the studio you might. Of course we immediately blamed the kick drum pedal but no, it was my track. So the locks went away and...... never came back. Black rubber (and wonderfully named) fender washers from the hardware store work fine, for me. But I'm not in a hardcore or ska band. : D
 
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#106
I love the Diego Large Strap Buttons @sissy kathy turned me on to and wish they still sold them.

It is nice to not have metal items on the ends of my straps at pack up, never was much an issue when using locks but it is nice to not have to worry about them scratching or whacking anything.

Also any strap can be used instead of needing to use what mates with the end on the bass.

There is no sound, no moving parts and are pretty flush to the bass. Pretty much the same concept as the rubber washer, permanently installed.


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Here they are on my Dingwall.

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#109
After flirting; once I take a bass home, I put strap locks on her immediately.
I, too, prefer the look and strength of flush mount Dunlop’s, gold or black. Never had a fail, but I do try to clean them every now and then (self-proclaimed fastidious geek).
 
#110
Tom Bomb said:
Bonamassa uses the Dunlops, and he likes the squeaks and creaks, uses 'em to great effect :woot:



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Whatever works. They can, and will, make a racket if you're not careful. Par for the course :)
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In my experience they can and will make a racket if I move at all. Again, 99% of the time it wouldn't be a problem but not having them at all has not been a problem 100% of the time.
 
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#111
I bought the old Schaller style set a couple of years ago. The section that you pull to release the lock was jammed and wouldn't pull out to unlock. Wasn't going to risk putting those on and never being able to take them off.

Gave them another chance again last year. Somehow the same thing happened, so I've been using Dunlops or washers on everything. Even if something comes with Schaller locks, they get replaced immediately.

I do think that my next set of locks will be the S-locks to see how they perform.
 
#112
Tom Bomb said:
Bonamassa uses the Dunlops, and he likes the squeaks and creaks, uses 'em to great effect :woot:



​

Whatever works. They can, and will, make a racket if you're not careful. Par for the course :)
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I found that the thicker your strap, the less noise they make, and I'm using those padded orthopedic Levy straps and they don't make any noise at all. A little hard to put them on at first, but they always go on, and once the strap breaks in, piece of cake. I don't like the rattle they make, but I will sometimes use thinner straps, especially if I'm playing guitar, and the number of times that it's ever been an issue, even with an acoustic guitar, is 0.
 
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#113
LBS-bass said:
You're not crazy. I use the rubber washers as well. The only time I ever dropped a bass on stage was due to strap lock failure and I've never used them again.
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About 35-ish years ago I dumped my '75 Jazz headstock first due to a malfunctioning Schaller strap lock. Luckily the stage had carpeting. . Since then, I use oversized strap buttons on all my basses. Never had a problem. But I don't do any bass twirling or gymnastics while I'm playing either.
B.
 
#114
JimmyM said:
I found that the thicker your strap, the less noise they make, and I'm using those padded orthopedic Levy straps and they don't make any noise at all. A little hard to put them on at first, but they always go on, and once the strap breaks in, piece of cake.
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Same here...I use Levys straps and the ends are thick enough for a tight fit for the strap lock. And for those times I had thin straps, it was easy enough to cut a piece of old material to make a 'washer'. You can use felt, or even put an o-ring in the cup to keep them from rattling...the ideas are endless.

I dropped my first bass back in 88 or 89, been using locks on everything ever since.
 
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#115
catcauphonic said:
Never saw those, but the Dunlops on my Spector have been stable for 5+ years so far
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The Dunlops on my Dolphin have been good since 1998.
I have Dunlops on all my bases, I use 1 strap, makes changing basses easy.
I use the dual design pegs so I have the option of using a strap without locks . Started using them in the 80s when the flipping instruments around the shoulders was a thing. :)
The Schaller type have the weakness you describe.
 
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#116
BakedMaple said:
I prefer the Dunlop strap locks.

Flush mount is my favorite but it’s a huge commitment.
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I make my own basses. To put on flush mount Dunlops (what I use), I drill a hole for each with a Forstner bit, then one for each with a regular bit for the screw. After the 2 minutes with the Forstner bit, everything else is just as easy as putting on a regular strap button.
 
#119
When I have a strap that's too thick to install the strap locks, I will compress the leather with a C clamp. It makes a nice round, thin patch.

I like Loxx myself. I understand that Schaller no longer vibrate apart like they used to, but they lost me because of it.
 
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