Be careful installing your Schaller S-locks

[Sid the Kid]

Here I was worried about damaging my bass by dropping it!

For those wondering it happened about 4-5 turns in and reversing it chipped out the big piece.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

Fix up the crack with clear nail polish so it won't spread and put on a white felt washer. Done

 

[Turnaround]

What did you do that caused the finish to crack like that?

 

[tadawson]

Looks like he may have used the wrong screws! Best to use what is already on the bass if they fit in the lock, since you won't be changing thread pitch, diameter, or shape (IE buggering the threads in the body with a different screw . . . )

That looks like trying to gorilla a 10 lbs screw into a 5 lbs hole . . .

 

[Sid the Kid]

The screw in question is the new design of Schaller S lock. The strap button itself is the screw. 1 piece. This is why the FYI post.

It is not just a crack, there is a piece completely chipped off. Going to need more than nail polish and felt washer. Most of the damage is covered with the included rubber washer, but still less than ideal.

What did you do that caused the finish to crack like that?

It just cracked a little bit and when I noticed and reversed the screw the big piece chipped off. The finish is a thick transparent white gloss, and it is apparently pretty brittle.

 

[Turnaround]

How does the Schaller screw thread compare in size to the original button screw?

 

[tadawson]

Bummer . . . need to stock up on the old ones, if they are still out there. I always put them on with the screws that came on the bass (well, if they fit . . . occasiinally an oddball) and have never had any issues. Gotta wonder why the change . . .

 

[Sid the Kid]

How does the Schaller screw thread compare in size to the original button screw?

It is slightly larger with larger threads. There is more of a taper to the screw than the original, so looking at the tip they seem similar.

Hindsight being 20/20 I absolutely should have pre drilled a touch here. Probably could have avoided the damage entirely.

Bummer . . . need to stock up on the old ones, if they are still out there. I always put them on with the screws that came on the bass (well, if they fit . . . occasiinally an oddball) and have never had any issues. Gotta wonder why the change . . .

I believe the old ones are readily available, as are all the generic equivalents. No need to stock up yet.

 

[Watchootognbout]

That is one reason why I don't have paint finished basses.

 

[walterw]

I believe the old ones are readily available, as are all the generic equivalents. No need to stock up yet

no, only the knockoffs as far as i can find. all my sources for replacement schaller buttons have dried up.

the new S-lock screws are indeed fatter (which is good as long as the hole is the right size) but they're shorter and the threads are kinda shallow, that i don't like so much.

i find myself taking more care to do things like run wood glue into the hole before putting in the new buttons to shore them up.

 

[wvbass]

I don't think this is any reason to shun S-Locks, although I'd be pretty upset if that happened to me. On the other hand, I've install 4-5 sets on my basses with no issues.

 

[CBBass123]

I have 7 basses with new shallers. Awesome straplocks. I got rid of all my old shallers asap. The good thing is... if you had the old ones, the new locks work with the old pegs. Yes, the new screw is built in and is slightly fatter than normal. I'm assuming they did this so it would be a tight fit.

 

[flametop]

Did you use the XL pins that you can get separately, instead of the standard pins?

 

[Sid the Kid]

Did you use the XL pins that you can get separately, instead of the standard pins?

The new style S-locks are one piece. Nothing separate about em.

 

[flametop]

Nonetheless

The new style S-locks are one piece. Nothing separate about em.

you can get these buttons in different sizes separately.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Sid the Kid]

Nonetheless


you can get these buttons in different sizes separately.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Hey, cool. I was unaware of these. Thank you for bringing them to my attention. In September 2019 when I purchased the S-locks the only size I saw available for sale were the standard medium size.

I do not believe either the short or extra long would have improved my results more than proper preparation. In the end the stock strap button went back on and I bought a lifetime supply of rubber Grolsch washers to slip over.