common designs you feel are flawed

[WarriorJoe7]

I slant my neck up while playing. It's easier on the left wrist and actually easier on the right wrist too, and it usually balances better. So for me the body is waist level and the neck is usually almost up at should level. To check balance of a bass I just strap it on. That's the easiest most practical way for me to test it.

 

[pilotjones]

To check balance of a bass I just strap it on. That's the easiest most practical way for me to test it.

It could be argued that that's the only valid way to test it.

 

[BadB]

Here's a fun excercise: Try to picture a bass with ALL of the features meantioned in this thread (where they don't contradict). What does it look like? Photoshop it!

Picture a J body, recessed strap locks, no pickguard, Musicman HS pickups and preamp( they would have to be angled, see below), a substantial bridge that locks down and adjusts for string pitch and has tuners, a deep and tight neck pocket, contoured heel, compound radius fretboard, fanned frets, and anchors on the headstock to accommodate double ball end strings. Pretty much a Dingwall Super J with a few modifications. Damn, I hope that fanned frets are the bees knees.

 

[WarriorJoe7]

Picture a J body, recessed strap locks, no pickguard, Musicman HS pickups and preamp( they would have to be angled, see below), a substantial bridge that locks down and adjusts for string pitch and has tuners, a deep and tight neck pocket, contoured heel, compound radius fretboard, fanned frets, and anchors on the headstock to accommodate double ball end strings. Pretty much a Dingwall Super J with a few modifications. Damn, I hope that fanned frets are the bees knees.

Well this is just IMO, but recessed straplocks are a mistake just incase you lose your strap in a jiffy. You definitely want the straplock option but have it be so that it isn't required. Some of the other options you mention are just personal preferences, so it sounds like this may be the perfect bass just for you (honestly this is how it would be for everyone though.) But I still (humbly) disagree with the recessed straplocks. The rest sounds great.

 

[Brad Johnson]

I have a few basses with recessed straplocks and I have yet to show up at a gig without the proper strap... because I check for it every time I go out. It's a good habit to get into.

 

[#include <MK>]

Ok, you've done all the prechecks before heading out to a gig. What if you lose a strap lock, or your strap goes missing at a gig?

 

[Jazzdogg]

I have a few basses with recessed straplocks and I have yet to show up at a gig without the proper strap... because I check for it every time I go out. It's a good habit to get into.

I never detach the strap from the [bridge] strap lock on any of my basses (they remain attached, even when they're stored in a HSC), so forgetting a strap is essentially a non-issue for me. However, I dislike the fact that the strap locks protrude far enough to chew up the inside of my hard-shell cases - so I find the idea of recessed strap locks very attractive.

Aside from limiting one's ability to attach a strap conventionally, are there any other potential downsides to recessed strap locks?

 

[BadB]

Well this is just IMO, but recessed straplocks are a mistake just incase you lose your strap in a jiffy. You definitely want the straplock option but have it be so that it isn't required. Some of the other options you mention are just personal preferences, so it sounds like this may be the perfect bass just for you (honestly this is how it would be for everyone though.) But I still (humbly) disagree with the recessed straplocks. The rest sounds great.

That is a very good point, but I like them because they allow for a cleaner look and I feel that there is less stress on the screw.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Ok, you've done all the prechecks before heading out to a gig. What if you lose a strap lock, or your strap goes missing at a gig?

Why would my strap go missing at a gig?


Seriously, I keep my eye on my gear, possibly more than most people. In more than twenty years of use I've never "lost" a Dunlop straplock. That would require an extremely sturdy C clip to fail and even without the C clip it still works. If the shaft bearings fail, guess what? I carry a spare set of strap hardware in the bottom of my amp bag. Seriously.

If my strap goes missing it usually means I have a much bigger problem... that my basses have all gone missing. Or my car. Or me.

I take two basses to gigs. Most have the same type of strap lock, the others use a standard strap. I carry a 3.5" wide Levy's leather strap with Dunlops as my main strap. I also carry a Comfort Strapp with Dunlops in the second bass' gigbag. I also have a 2" wide Levy's leather strap without straplocks AND a fabric strap too... just in case.

All of these are in my gigbags or amp bag. And I also take a second amp bag becuase I carry a spare Markbass LMII on all of my gigs... with some spare parts in that bag too.

In short, I'm prepared. Beats not being prepared. I know that if I don't have working straplocks on the recessed basses I have to sit down... so I make sure I have them. I know I can't just borrow a strap from just anyone on a gig. By the same token I've lent people straps on gigs several times.

So, back to your hypothetical situation... if the planets somehow align and I lose BOTH gigbag's side compartments, ALL of my straps AND my amp bag, I guess I'd have to sit down... provided I didn't also lose my basses. And to avoid that in the future I'd probably buy several inexpensive straps and along with the extra Dunlop hardware I have, leave them in each of my vehicles.

Just in case.


You may think I'm exaggerating the level of redundancy I've stated but IMO it's no joke showing up and realizing you forgot something. I like to show up, get paid and go... the less drama the better. IMO there's really no excuse for not being prepared so I don't try to make one.

 

[Brad Johnson]

I never detach the strap from the [bridge] strap lock on any of my basses (they remain attached, even when they're stored in a HSC), so forgetting a strap is essentially a non-issue for me. However, I dislike the fact that the strap locks protrude far enough to chew up the inside of my hard-shell cases - so I find the idea of recessed strap locks very attractive.

Aside from limiting one's ability to attach a strap conventionally, are there any other potential downsides to recessed strap locks?

Yes. If you stand your bass vertically on a hard surface you no longer have a strap button to make contact with that surface. That can allow the bottom of your bass to become scratched.

Of course I use stands and never do this. I take two... just in case.

 

[#include <MK>]

Why would my strap go missing at a gig?

I just thought it was a funny but possible situation, for some. Things happen that you may not always expect and what someone thought was a cool idea ends up being rather silly given the right circumstances.

 

[Arx]

Well this is just IMO, but recessed straplocks are a mistake just incase you lose your strap in a jiffy. You definitely want the straplock option but have it be so that it isn't required. Some of the other options you mention are just personal preferences, so it sounds like this may be the perfect bass just for you (honestly this is how it would be for everyone though.) But I still (humbly) disagree with the recessed straplocks. The rest sounds great.

That is a very good point, but I like them because they allow for a cleaner look and I feel that there is less stress on the screw.

I just thought it was a funny but possible situation, for some. Things happen that you may not always expect and what someone thought was a cool idea ends up being rather silly given the right circumstances.

Agreed, I was looking for the recessed locks when I built my bass, but ended up grabbing the dual purpose ones, and am kind of glad I did.

I thought "No biggie, I always check to be sure I have the right strap with my anyways" Then I left my bass at work one day (well secured) and decided I was going to play my backup the next day.. Oops, where's my strap. I should just buy another strap, but I'm cheap and lazy. I just threw a junk strap on it, and was ready to go. Wouldn't have gone so smoothly if I had the recessed ones. I have spare buttons, but I was grabbing it at the last minute to go jam with some friends, and didn't have 20 minutes to figure out where I left the spare buttons and put them on.

As far as stress on the screw goes, I think that it's insignificant. I've never heard of anyone breaking off a strap button.


-Nick

 

[Brad Johnson]

I just thought it was a funny but possible situation, for some. Things happen that you may not always expect and what someone thought was a cool idea ends up being rather silly given the right circumstances.

It is quite possible for some. Lots of things are possible for some. I'd rather not be like those people who aren't prepared... it's just a matter of choice.

Barring an alien attack, a zombie-inducing virus, PMS or things of that ilk, it's actually very easy to ANTICIPATE the supposedly unexpected when it comes to something this simple. IME IMO. OTOH if you know you won't make the effort, for whatever reason, best to keep things at that level. Hell, maybe just screw the strap on permanently. I know people who do that.


Ever notice how many things seem to happen to people who are either too cheap or too lazy to anticipate or address problems? I do... and I doubt that's a coincidence.

BTW I've never heard of anyone breaking off a recessed straplock. OTOH I have heard of people who had loose strapbuttons and in some cases eventually the screw broke. Now what?

 

[Arx]

It is quite possible for some. Lots of things are possible for some. I'd rather not be like those people who aren't prepared... it's just a matter of choice.

Barring an alien attack, a zombie-inducing virus, PMS or things of that ilk, it's actually very easy to ANTICIPATE the supposedly unexpected when it comes to something this simple. IME IMO. OTOH if you know you won't make the effort, for whatever reason, best to keep things at that level. Hell, maybe just screw the strap on permanently. I know people who do that.


Ever notice how many things seem to happen to people who are either too cheap or too lazy to anticipate or address problems? I do... and I doubt that's a coincidence.

BTW I've never heard of anyone breaking off a recessed straplock. OTOH I have heard of people who had loose strapbuttons and in some cases eventually the screw broke. Now what?

Well, if they left the button loose, I'd chalk it up to bad maintenance. Even if it has happened, it's certainly rare, and I think forgetting the strap may be a lot more common.

Another case I have run into was a friend of mine who once broke a strap during a show. (it had a nylon adjuster which cracked). She borrowed a strap from another guitarist, no problem. Sure, she could have had a spare on hand, but really, who expects to have to replace their strap mid-show.

-Nick

 

[WarriorJoe7]

Ok so I thought I'd add to my list

1) Bridges that don't quick release
2) oversized headstocks
3) straplocks that are recessed

 

[Arx]

Ok so I thought I'd add to my list

1) Bridges that don't quick release
2) oversized headstocks
3) straplocks that are recessed

lol.. Agreed x3 (though I wouldn't turn a bass down over #3)

-Nick

 

[jakrees747]

has anybody mentioned the jag bass and its ludicrously placed active/passive switch? ive bashed mine though aggressive playing so many times i have broken the button

which is fine because i never use the active anyway.

 

[WarriorJoe7]

has anybody mentioned the jag bass and its ludicrously placed active/passive switch? ive bashed mine though aggressive playing so many times i have broken the button

which is fine because i never use the active anyway.

Note to self... Keep all the controls in one area

 

[Brad Johnson]

Well, if they left the button loose, I'd chalk it up to bad maintenance. Even if it has happened, it's certainly rare, and I think forgetting the strap may be a lot more common.

A problem caused by people being to cheap or lazy to anticipate it isn't much of a problem IMO. And "bad maintainence" can also be chalked up to the same thing.

Most people carry a bass in something. What's a good reason not to put a strap in that same something? What's a good excuse for not keeping a spare one? It's like taking only one instrument cable and hoping that if it breaks, someone else who's more prepared will come to the rescue. Otherwise you're screwed. Or using active basses and not carrying spare batteries.

Another case I have run into was a friend of mine who once broke a strap during a show. (it had a nylon adjuster which cracked). She borrowed a strap from another guitarist, no problem. Sure, she could have had a spare on hand, but really, who expects to have to replace their strap mid-show.

-Nick

And if they weren't too cheap or lazy to carry a spare strap...

I've never had a strap break on a show but is that the only reason to have a spare? No.

I'm sensing a theme here.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Ok so I thought I'd add to my list

1) Bridges that don't quick release
2) oversized headstocks
3) straplocks that are recessed

A lot of #1 type bridges allow for through body stringing.

#2 what's worse... possible neck dive or dead spots?