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Cheap strap locks
- Thread starter Luka
- Start date
I like Schaller strap locks, and i have them on all my basses and straps.
I took a chance on a very cheap set of Chinese knock-offs (less than $4 iirc). While they seem decent, the part that goes on the strap is noticeably thinner where it covers/surrounds the strap button. And they are NOT compatible with legit Schaller parts.
I took a chance on a very cheap set of Chinese knock-offs (less than $4 iirc). While they seem decent, the part that goes on the strap is noticeably thinner where it covers/surrounds the strap button. And they are NOT compatible with legit Schaller parts.
Buy a 4 pack of Grolsch beer. The kind with the wire trap holding the top. The red washer found under the top is the perfect size for locking the strap to the strap button. It will be a tight fit and if you keep the strap on the bass all the time it will never wear out. Plus, you get to drink two beers per bass lol
Just some screws? There's more to it than that. No, the cheap ones aren't as good.
- John
There is more than just screws. There is the locking mechanism that has a spring, pin and the housing that holds it all together that slips over the made just for it pin head that the screw hold to the bass, times two.
All made with strong metals and springs so that at the 500th pull off and on it still functions as it did the second time, and will continue to preform the same at 1,000.
With the cheaper ones you get the same parts but thinner metals that can bend or crack and a spring that will get weaker as you use it. I have seen all three happen, so you may or may not be lucky to get to 300 pull offs.
What he said.
I will also post my signature saying,
The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of a low price has faded from memory.
You want to trust your $200+ bass (what ever it is) to $4 clamps?
The tighter the fit, the bigger the issue IME.
If it binds the strap against the post, the post will spin & work the screw out. This happened to me on two Fenders & a B.C. Rich, so now I use oversized strap buttons, just like G&L, Ibanez, & ESP use:
^^Me too. In my case they are Daigo twistlock strap buttons.^^
Darn you! Now I want them.
The search starts this Monday.
Most likely Tuesday.
Wednesday for sure.
Maybe Thursday.
Friday traffic is horrible so definitely not then.
Here is my 2 cents...
My Schallers have gone on and off almost everyday for many years, two basses one strap. Practice daily, rehearse weekly, 3 set gigs twice a month. Never had a problem and I don't think I ever will. Nor do I ever worry or even think about it. I paid maybe $15 per set.
My Schallers have gone on and off almost everyday for many years, two basses one strap. Practice daily, rehearse weekly, 3 set gigs twice a month. Never had a problem and I don't think I ever will. Nor do I ever worry or even think about it. I paid maybe $15 per set.
- Dec 21, 2007
- 15,222
- 45,012
- Disclosures
- Lark in the Morning Instructional Videos; Audix Microphones
Anybody else feel weird about unscrewing and screwing back in parts? Myself I just use a good strap. Are those planet Waves Straps with the lockable hole any good?
Are you talking about Lock-It Straps? I think it's a sound idea. I tried to buy one in leather, but my local store didn't have any leather ones and didn't know when they would. After a year of periodically checking, I gave up and searched for another solution. I found the Diago Twistlock strap buttons. They are way cheaper than a specialized strap, having all the advantages of the Lock-It straps and, as far as I can tell, none of the disadvantages of the Dunlap or Schaller strap locks. Ironically, once I found the Diagos, guess what the store has in stock now.
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Close... I've seen people occasionally use these https://www.amazon.com/Planet-Waves...=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B001PGXKI2
The Diago buttons look next. I haven't really reached a point of concern yet tho. Nice to know options are out there.
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I've started using these:
They are neoprene washers. I had a Dunlop strap lock fuse itself to the strap pin on a guitar strap. Since then I've sworn off strap locks. I just use the regular strap pin and put the strap on, then slip one of these over the pin. Get the ones with a small hole and some are larger than others in size. The ones I use are about an inch or so across. I have them on all of my basses and the straps wont come off.
BnB
They are neoprene washers. I had a Dunlop strap lock fuse itself to the strap pin on a guitar strap. Since then I've sworn off strap locks. I just use the regular strap pin and put the strap on, then slip one of these over the pin. Get the ones with a small hole and some are larger than others in size. The ones I use are about an inch or so across. I have them on all of my basses and the straps wont come off.
BnB
- Apr 2, 2014
- 485
- 390
- 47
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Conklin Basses, Ashdown Amplifiers, Morley Pedals
I've had Schaller and Dunlop, I prefer Dunlop. You can grab a set of Dunlops for around $15-$20. If you have multiple basses like the rest of us, you can get buttons for your bass for around $6 on ebay or Amazon so you don't have to buy a whole set for every bass you have, unless you want to.
I do not think 20 bucks is unreasonable when it’s supporting the weight of an instrument that I paid... like... double for. I suck at math, but you get my point.
