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Best straplocks?
- Thread starter Damani311
- Start date
Dunlop Dual design, and don't attach your strap to the actual locks.
The dual design lets it be rigidly held in place by the strap button like any bass without the button on. If it slips off, the button holds it. If you somehow get the button to fall off (I've never had that happen), the strap won't come with the button. It also keeps the strap at a normal distance away from the body.
The only problem is that these are a little long, so it may make fitting in a case a little difficult.
The dual design lets it be rigidly held in place by the strap button like any bass without the button on. If it slips off, the button holds it. If you somehow get the button to fall off (I've never had that happen), the strap won't come with the button. It also keeps the strap at a normal distance away from the body.
The only problem is that these are a little long, so it may make fitting in a case a little difficult.
I've used Schallers, Dunlops, washers, bolts. Settled on Planet Waves Elliptical End Pins. They work.
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I have used both .. and I prefer Dunlops.. to me they are just easier to use, more intuitive, and require less after installation maintenance. I have them on all my straps (3) and on all my basses except 2.. (out of 7) One of those is an ABG and one is my 78 Jazz that I don't play anymore and keep for sentimental reasons..
The Schallers to me are counter intuitive and cumbersome as you have to pull the pin and slide the lock onto the strap pin from one direction.. with the same hand.. and there is that nut that comes loose.. With Dunlops you use two fingers and your thumb.. press and push.. press and pull .. done.. but that's me..
The Schallers to me are counter intuitive and cumbersome as you have to pull the pin and slide the lock onto the strap pin from one direction.. with the same hand.. and there is that nut that comes loose.. With Dunlops you use two fingers and your thumb.. press and push.. press and pull .. done.. but that's me..
I used that exact solution on my Les Paul for years. Nothing moves, nothing breaks. Find an attractive, unique set of washers, install them, and then: baddabing...forgetaboutit.
. .
I have had the fancy metal ones with quick release over the years and more than once had the guitar come off during a performance. For the last several years I just moved to the Fender rubber lock and they have been excellent. Though, I always leave the strap on so if it came on and off regularly it wouldn't be that awesome.
The rubber rings were originally called Rubbers and were advertised in Guitar Player magazine in the early 70's!
I found one on a stage in about 1975 and it has never torn.
I made about 250 sets in the early 90's and sold them locally but could never figure out how to get distribution.
An early Stingray came with Dunlop's and they stick out about a mile off the surface of the body.
I have a Spector that someone counter bored a hole so that the female piece is flush with the body and it works great.
The two basses in question are older and I won't counter bore.
Right now I'm switching between 2 basses and want to use the same strap.
The Shaller's look like a low profile but I have read that that sometimes fall off!!!
Is it just a matter of using Loctite thread locker to keep hardware from coming un-screwed or are there design problems?
I found one on a stage in about 1975 and it has never torn.
I made about 250 sets in the early 90's and sold them locally but could never figure out how to get distribution.
An early Stingray came with Dunlop's and they stick out about a mile off the surface of the body.
I have a Spector that someone counter bored a hole so that the female piece is flush with the body and it works great.
The two basses in question are older and I won't counter bore.
Right now I'm switching between 2 basses and want to use the same strap.
The Shaller's look like a low profile but I have read that that sometimes fall off!!!
Is it just a matter of using Loctite thread locker to keep hardware from coming un-screwed or are there design problems?
Thought that on a related note about the locks on the Spector, Dunlop actually make a set of flush mount straplocks that require the stationary part to be recessed into the bass.
Yes,
The process to bore an oversize hole with a square bottom is called a counter bore, and as mentioned, the hole is flush to the body. This means the Dunlop pin can be recessed into the body which doesn't make the strap stand off about 1" like my Stingray with the old tall mounts.
Can't do this mod to my old Fenders.
Looks like the Schaller, Fender, (both Schaller and knob style) and EB body mounts will not hold a standard strap.
The standard Dunlop mount at the body will hold a standard strap in case you forgot your one with hardware.
If this is correct, this is huge advantage.
Is this true?
If so, I'm going to go Dunlops or rubber washers.
As I posted way back, I prefer the Loxx strap locks: Loxx Strap Lock System for Guitar or Bass - Chrome Finish.
These are the same locks that hold car and boat tonneau covers. The strap sits flush against the instrument, and the mechanism does not loosen.
These are the same locks that hold car and boat tonneau covers. The strap sits flush against the instrument, and the mechanism does not loosen.
Have to admit, I was unaware of Loxx as a previous link went nowhere.
So a sleeve instead of ball bearings and the strap isn't way off the body?
So a sleeve instead of ball bearings and the strap isn't way off the body?
Here’s a vid:
.
The strap button is replaced by a small ball-shaped pin. The strap sits about 1/8” from the instrument body.
Don't know how I slept through this.
Standard strap attachment with the Dunlop locking hub being used to keep the strap on the strap button.
The strap stays in the original position and the lock doesn't stick out any further than normal.
Plus, there is no extra force on the screw or lock assembly.
Very clever!
Dunlops stick out too far, imo. Schallers for the win!
Admittedly the Schallers can be a bit of a PITA with installation, screw size (on a Gibson), case fit and the nut coming loose at unexpected times, but the Dunlops sticking out just always bothered me. Also, I had the Dunlops inadvertently come off on me once when I hadn’t clicked the strap in properly (operator error, but I wasn’t happy nonetheless). I’ve had Schallers be a problem too, but I just recently changed over my one Dunlop-equipped instrument over to Schallers (after like 14 years) and now have Schallers on all my straps, even those that don’t have an assigned instrument. Now I can use any strap with any instrument. My friends in my practice space all use Schallers too, so we can all switch instruments when the occasion arises and keep using our own straps with the strap length and all still set up just right for the player.
Not perfect, but I’ve got a couple of hundred invested in Schallers by now, so I’m all in I guess...
Admittedly the Schallers can be a bit of a PITA with installation, screw size (on a Gibson), case fit and the nut coming loose at unexpected times, but the Dunlops sticking out just always bothered me. Also, I had the Dunlops inadvertently come off on me once when I hadn’t clicked the strap in properly (operator error, but I wasn’t happy nonetheless). I’ve had Schallers be a problem too, but I just recently changed over my one Dunlop-equipped instrument over to Schallers (after like 14 years) and now have Schallers on all my straps, even those that don’t have an assigned instrument. Now I can use any strap with any instrument. My friends in my practice space all use Schallers too, so we can all switch instruments when the occasion arises and keep using our own straps with the strap length and all still set up just right for the player.
Not perfect, but I’ve got a couple of hundred invested in Schallers by now, so I’m all in I guess...
Originally, Warwick strap locks almost made my bass fall on the ground - lucky to catch it before that. Twice. And Bass was new - that happened when Bass was 1 week old, so straplocks was new also. Now, after more than a Year with Schaller, no Problem.
So, Schaller for me.
So, Schaller for me.
Bingo. It ain't like a good strap is very expensive...there should be a dedicated strap for every plucked
instrument on hand...banjo, guitar, bass, mandolin, etc...and one can pick a strap that matches or
contrasts the look of the given instrument depending on their style.
The opposing problem is when a strap lock has pulled out of a guitar due to whatever the heck the last
player was doing before they broke it...just picked up an acoustic tenor guitar today that had
the rear strap mount pulled completely out...so I've got to repair the area and replace the mount.
Decided to go non-standard...will provide pics when complete
My Jazz bass strap pins needed changing due to being damaged and I went for the Dunlop Dual Design straplocks. The bigger strap pin meant I could still use other straps with my bass. I have had the same straplocks a few years now and they are still working very well.
