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Are strap locks actually terrible or is it just me?
- Thread starter KoalaOnBass
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- strap locks
I have one bass with Schallers on it still, and they stopped locking. Noticed before a show that I could just pull them off. The retainer pin on the strap side looked worn, kind of cone shaped. The strap buttons looked a little worn as well, but kind of hard to tell. I had some spare Schallers that I took off another bass and swapped them on, but I think it is time to get some new Dunlops on this bass. I've been looking for a new strap as well, so will probably get both soon.
This happened to me as well, the end pin that went into the peg on the body wore down and it didn't hold anymore. I've been a dunlop user ever since.
Had my beloved Musicmaster take a dive once before I started using strap locks. Would never go without them.
I just got a couple of the Levy's padded wide straps and had a heck of a throwdown getting the Dunlops on. But you're correct they are snug and quiet once you win the fight.
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sounds like a case for Schaller S-locks.
I've used Dunlops on my all basses for a while, but recently installed S-locks on one.
downside: a bit more bulky locks on strap
upside: no more worrying about 'did it really lock'. also putting strap on/off seems faster for me.
This seems to be a oft-recurring topic on which there will never be agreement so each must resolve to make it their own abstruse metaphysical journey.
For me: There is no way I'm making a habit of removing the original end pins from my basses. So... D'Addario Planet Waves locking straps on everything they fit on (Fender etc.), Strap Blocks (rubber washers) for everything else (G&L etc.). Both work, both are relatively cheap, both are relatively non-fiddly. ... but I leave straps on all my basses and guitars (some for a very long time) in the case and have never had a strap-caused finish problem old, new, vintage, nitro, whatever. (I did have a 1968 burst P that came with a strap-rash on the back from laying on I suspect a "plastic-ish" strap.) I have never dropped a guitar. Close, but my lightning reflexes bla bla bla.
Of course, I have been thinking of getting a custom strap made out of a buffalo pelt and a formula-one tire and I'm pretty sure I'll need to attach it with railroad spikes.
For me: There is no way I'm making a habit of removing the original end pins from my basses. So... D'Addario Planet Waves locking straps on everything they fit on (Fender etc.), Strap Blocks (rubber washers) for everything else (G&L etc.). Both work, both are relatively cheap, both are relatively non-fiddly. ... but I leave straps on all my basses and guitars (some for a very long time) in the case and have never had a strap-caused finish problem old, new, vintage, nitro, whatever. (I did have a 1968 burst P that came with a strap-rash on the back from laying on I suspect a "plastic-ish" strap.) I have never dropped a guitar. Close, but my lightning reflexes bla bla bla.
Of course, I have been thinking of getting a custom strap made out of a buffalo pelt and a formula-one tire and I'm pretty sure I'll need to attach it with railroad spikes.
I've heard of the new S-locks from Schaller. After some creative battles I did get the Dunlop's on that new strap. All's good on this end.
Hey talkbassers, I need your insights. I've always heard people raving about strap locks and how essential they are to keeping instruments safe. It made perfect sense, so I bought these a few years ago.
Only problem was...they kept coming apart randomly (the two metal bits screwed together with the strap sandwiched in between). If that had happened while standing up, my bass would've ended up on the floor. I thought the whole point of strap locks was to PREVENT this from happening??
So I stopped using them and resorted to rubber washers (which actually work great). Recently, though, I bought a used bass which came with a different brand of strap locks installed - same problem, the two parts keep coming apart. I can't use rubber washers on this one, as I'm using a thick leather strap that the washers won't fit over.
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?
Not crazy. Or we're both crazy (a distinct possibility
)I loved straplocks to start with but they're more trouble than they're worth... rubber washers for me: easy and effective.
Well obviously they make a small amount of noise when clipping them on. But beyond that I've had no issues with noise from them. Granted I don't lift the weight of my bass from the strap while I'm playing that often, and when I have no extraneous noise of any kind is present. Though I should say I'm playing mostly metal not soft quiet stuff.
I have a 1984 G&L L2000 that I put Dunlops on in 1984. Still work just fine. I should probably oil them sooner or later. I think the strap is the same one I bought when I bought the bass. I was just playing that bass about 20 minutes ago.
I never take the strap off of the bass.
A buddy of mine dropped a Les Paul on stage and cracked the headstock due to a strap lock failure.
Not sure the brand.
I use Mono straps with the black Fender brand rubber Grolsh washers.
Nice and tight. Easy too. It works very well for me.
A buddy of mine dropped a Les Paul on stage and cracked the headstock due to a strap lock failure.
Not sure the brand.
I use Mono straps with the black Fender brand rubber Grolsh washers.
Nice and tight. Easy too. It works very well for me.
I've been using Lock-It Straps for a few years now because I hated having to replace strap buttons and install stuff on my straps. The Lock-Its are easy on, easy off, but won't let go once you've actually put them on. Haven't had an issue at all and they're tough as can be.
Hasn’t failed yet. I went this way after catching an Alembic a few inches from the floor when the strap lock at the time failed. (can’t remember which one, late 80s). Yes, the strap never comes off, which is fine with me.
I’m sure modern strap locks are much better now, but I’d just rather do what I know.
I use the Schallers, with zero issues, but this still strikes me as the most effective, and cheapest method, that I plan to use on future guitars and basses.
songwriter21
I have an obsession for wood. The musical kind.
For decades, or as far back as I can remember, I used strap locks. Then I got sick of having to install them on new basses, and there was the insane pain-in-the-butt process of getting that locking clasp on thick leather straps (Dunlop kind, and yes, Schaller sucks). I finally just said enough, and got some of those same rubber washers, from Stew-Mac...had an in-store credit, so I figured why not. I should've been using these simple little pieces all along, wow. My new Yamaha bass has big enough strap pins that don't even need the washers, anyway.
I thought this was a bit overkill..... but Eddie Van Halen's signature guitar uses the same thing so what do I know.
