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Can anyone educate me about straplocks?

#21
Dunlop straplocks have become pretty much the industry standard, and are used as OEM equipment on many to the top basses in the industry (Sadowsky, Fodera, MTD, Smith, etc., etc., etc.).

The newer 'dual use' Dunlops are basically standard strap buttons with the Dunlop straplock system inside. So, you have the best of both worlds... and can use a regular strap if you have to.

The idea that someone could actually push one of those little buttons on stage by accident seems strange to me. I probably know 30 bassists who have been using the Dunlops for 20 years +, and have never heard of a failure.

Highly recommended.
 
#22
Stacatto said:
Red rubber locks, a byproduct of Grolsch. Place strap over button, attach Grolsch lock.

GrolschRecycled.jpg
Click to expand...

Byproduct? Maybe Mr. Grolsch found some red rubber straplocks in a music store and decided they could come in handy for sealing his beer bottles. Anyway, this kind of brilliant engineering makes me proud to be Dutch!
 
#23
Munjibunga said:
I prefer Schallers over Dunlops for the reasons others have cited above. I've heard too many horror stories about someone accidentally bumping the button on the Dunlop, only to have their bass go crashing to the floor. Schallers have little cups that cradle the pin, making it nearly impossible for the bass to fall off.

Also, the comment about the Schallers being closer to the body is correct. It makes me nervous to have the lock hanging out there away from the bass. The problem with switching to Schallers on a bass that's already equipped with Dunlops is that the screw that holds the pin on the bass is smaller on the Schallers, so you have to do the old Elmer's 'n' toothpicks in the hole. No problem, though.
Click to expand...

+1

I have schaller on all my basses
 
#24
I use Dunlops on all my Fenders and starps, but really like the Music Man locks I have on my Stingray; they're substantial, true, but very solid. Plus, you can still use the button for those thick leather straps that do not easily accomodate straplocks.
 
#26
With a new strap, you don't need strap locks. When the strap hole is really worn you might need to worry a little. I like using strap locks on some guitars, and others I leave the strap on. Dunlops and Schallers both work fine, and come off easy if your guitar won't fit in the case nicely with the strap.

I was wondering if anyone tried those washers that turn within themselves to close the hole over the strap button. How well do those work?

I've had a few worn straps slip off over the years, and also screws pull out. Luckily haven't dropped a guitar though. (Knock wood, or maybe I shouldn't do that) When this happens, I will put strap locks on that strap if I want to keep using it. I also like to replace the screw with a 1-1/2" fatter diameter screw. I have to drill out the strap button for this, and predrill the strap button hole for the new screw. I don't change the screw unless it needs it. I've seen lots of plactic inserts in used guitars and I would rather just go with a better screw than do that.
Sometimes I leave the factory button, and add a washer from the back side, but as others said, this makes a permanant strap that only comes off with a screwdriver.
 
#27
I've seen people drop their instruments due to straps falling off. The most recently was Steve Kilby of The Church. You'd think after 30 years of playing he'd have that figured out by now. ;) Bass fell off mid-song, a tech had to run on stage and fumble trying to re-strap his bass back onto him while he sang. Crazy stuff.

I always just use two washers to permanently hold my strap to my instrument. Considering the retail cost of new strap locks (almost $20 for some) you can put that cash towards a nice strap ($30 for a swanky Italia leather on sale) to permanently bolt to your instrument.

PROS: Cost $0.50, your strap literally will not come off without unscrewing the screw.

CONS: Your strap literally will not come off without unscrewing the screw. Cannot easily swap strap from instrument to instrument.

italia_strap_05.jpg
 
#28
I always buy a set of Dunlop's with every guitar/bass. Then I Epoxy the screw into the bass. The screw never works loose and I have never dropped a guitar. I have been using them since they came out with them...jeez must be 30 years.
 
#29
I use schallers. I've seen dunlops fail twice (thankfully it was never one of my basses, happened to two seperate guitarists). And that's in, ohh, 9-10 years of playing :p .

I do quite like the dunlop lok straps if a quick fix is needed (also very useful for an SG when neither the dunlop or schaller straplocks are much use).

Link Removed

The downside with those is they don't find on basses which use larger pins. But, they are generally just a stop gap for me.

Interested in trying the EB ones.
 
#31
unfortunately I think schallers are the best too, though i think the design isn't so good. . . though you can't put them in a hard case w/ the strap on and they are bulky. also the hardly give you enough thread to securely fasten the strap. it would be nice w/ another 1/8" to put a locking washer on there . . .

I've often wondered why I have so many problems w/ the screws stripping because I leave the strap on in the gig bag and then rest the gig bag on the floor w/ all the weight on the straplock (and the little foam of the gigbag) . . .
 
#32
I use Schallers generally. On the Burns I have I used Dunlop
because of the front strap button placement, the Schaller
digs ito you stomach.


My complaint about the Schallers is that I don't think the
shank of the screw is quite long enough to be secure, I had
a few instances where the screw itself got loose and had to
be retightend. Replacing it with a longer screw is difficult as the
screw head is machined to fit into the body of the straplock male piece.

I ended up redoing the screw hole by the bridge, but a longer
screw would be a big improvement IMO.

Also, the do not fit the stock Italia strap I bought, the body
thread of the lock is too short to accomodate both the washer
and the nut on a strap that thick.

As noted above, I need to break out an Exacto knife. I wish
Italia inquired whether I used straplocks or not and what
brand as they are all custom made and it should be a standard
option.

(I just emailed Italia and suggested the option they be fitted
to the commercially available SL's if needed. )
 
#33
Thor said:
My complaint about the Schallers is that I don't think the
shank of the screw is quite long enough to be secure, I had
a few instances where the screw itself lgot loose and had to
be retightend. Replacing it with a longer screw is difficult as the s
crew head is machined to fit into the body of the straplock male piece.
Click to expand...

I agree - this seems like an obvious thing for them to fix as most people have a problem w/ it.

I believe Warwicks use a similar strap lock w/ a longer screw and wider fatter threads.

I got so frustrated w/ the screws coming loose on my P that I just used JB weld. . . hasn't come loose - but may never come off :eek::eyebrow:
 
#36
KJung said:
The idea that someone could actually push one of those little buttons on stage by accident seems strange to me. I probably know 30 bassists who have been using the Dunlops for 20 years +, and have never heard of a failure.

Highly recommended.
Click to expand...

+1

I've also been using Dunlops since 1988, never an issue or failure, never bumping, no screws loose ever. They use nice big oversized screws for a reason!
Unlike every used bass that has come to me with Schallers always have loose-screws or holes that are almost stripped out because they use a screw that is always smaller than the oem strapbutton screws. Then there's the Schaller retaining nut for the strap that always loosens and falls off, I have personally see this many times at shows watching other bands. I always find and pick up schaller pieces from the stage and save them to give them to other players I see using schallers.

I wonder what could folks possibly bump into that pushes a button that's recessed? If you're hitting something, then the likelyhood of you mashing the end of your bass and damaging the finish is greater, so ya sounds like bs to me too.
 
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