FAIL!! Schaller Strap Locks

[Tweaker27]

I've used Schaller strap locks for 15 years of hard playing on every bass I own.
Never had an issue.

 

[orange joe]

OK; when you said how you just managed to catch the bass, that implied it fell right out of the lock, which wouldn't happen if that pin flew out unless it was upside down.

and yeah, i've seen this before, that little knob unscrews itself from the plunger pin. in use on the instrument though, if that happens the lock doesn't fall off, in fact the opposite, you can't get it off unless you can grab that little threaded bit with your fingers or pliers to pull it up.

off the bass, yeah, the parts go flying.

Well no it did not fall right out of the lock.I was taking it off when it happened so I had a firm grip of the neck when I took it off.I can see how my wording of " i managed to catch it" would imply that it happened randomly while playing like the OP and the only way that would happen with these locks would be if the u was facing down as you mentioned.In that case the gravitational pressure would be on the locking pin.I apologize.I was sitting down,pulling on the pin, taking the bass off when it fell apart.Sorry for the misunderstanding man.I guess by "managed to catch it" what I should have said was "I was lucky enough to have been taking it off at the time".Don't drink and talkbass guys or you'll end up sounding like a-hole like me.1k apologies

 

[Spectrum]

My Ric came with Schaller buttons on it, which is the only reason I've used them. IN my experience there were two problems with this system:

1. The nut that holds the device onto the strap needs constant attention as it keeps working itelf loose.

2. The friction between the button and the lock device tends to work the button lose from the upper horn on the bass. I've had to toothpick it to fix it. I should not have to put toothpicks in my bass because of strap locks.

There is the additional inconvenience of needing to keep a unique strap for this particular instrument.

My other basses and guitars all have regular strap buttons, and I use rubber washers over them to prevent them from coming off. These washers are like 35 cents each at Home Depot, and they work. I can use any strap on these instruments without using a wrench or any of that nonsense. I much prefer rubber washers to any kind of special strap lock system.

 

[orange joe]

that means you had that "U" cup pointing down, didn't you?

U-cup facing up, a pinch of mild loc-tite on the nut, a pinch of wood glue on the screw, done.

+1 to @Zooberwerx's point that you can't actually tighten that nut enough to be permanent, since the strap material itself squishes under it. that's why the loc-tite is essential.

that said, i ditched mechanical locks a long time ago, it's the grolsch washers for me.

were i the type to throw guitars around my back like the pop-punk kids i'd use big plate washers in front of straps permanently mounted to the instrument.

At this point I think I may just follow suit and hit up my local beverage center for a couple of bottles of grolsh.Cheers

 

[gpx1200]

wow, some of the coments in this thread are just asinine, first off if you think you are above rutein tightening of screws maybe you need to see your bass hit the floor a few times, do you have someone tune your basses for you to??
and to say that you don't have the finger dexterity to work a complicated strap lock but you can play a bass ***?!?!?
a strap lock is like any other piece of equipment if you keep using it with no maintenance or just install it wrong in the first place it's going to fail on you, these devices are supposed to help you out not think for you.
I thighten my strap ends on good and tight with pliers and make shure I use screws that fit the hole right, I also coat the inside of the screw holes with epoxy wood glue and let it dry before I install the screws, I've never had a failure or a nut loosen up but I still check then all the time. my basses never hit the floor!

 

[packhowitzer]

I've used dimarzio cliplocks for about 20 years and never had an issue. they're probably not for everyone, but they work very well for me.

 

[jason_cfh]

Grolsch bottle gaskets, inexpensively failing since...never.

 

[Johnny Crab]

OP:

No.
My first "strap lock" was a fat sheet metal screw and large flat washer holding the very early leather strap locks(late 70's?) securely to a 1964 Gibson Thunderbird. Dunlops since then.

OTOH, my guitarist brother uses Schalers and has had them pull out of the body, come apart, lose pieces, etc. Dunno why he stays with them. The Dunlop strap piece has been on my strap for over 6 years, only the basses get "new" Dunlop strap buttons installed on them.

 

[David Jayne]

Grolsch bottle gaskets, inexpensively failing since...never.

Except in these parts they're bright red. I prefer the black 'fender washers' from the hardware store.

 

[stingrayK]

So from all the posts I have read, I didn't see anyone answer whether Schaller will help.

 

[hsech]

Schaller will not fix the instrument. If there is any implied warranty it would be to replace the single strap lock piece that failed. Personally, strap locks are not rocket science. I don't see how one can not work.

 

[Lo-E]

I've been using Schallers for over 20 years. At least a dozen sets of them in that time. Never had a failure.
I'm not saying it's impossible that the OP had a defective set. Any company - even one with a very good track record - can screw the pooch once in a while, but based upon my own experience, I'm inclined to believe there may have been some operator error involved here.

I have had some straps that were very thick and needed to be modified slightly in order for the Schallers to fit well.
OP: Is it possible that the strap was bunched up by the threaded area of the lock or too thick for the nut to thread on enough? I'm not trying to be a d*ck here, I'm actually trying to help. In some cases, I needed to make the hole in the strap bigger to allow the lock to attach well. I used a 3/8" leather punch to enlarge the round part of the slot at the end of the strap and it made it much easier to get the nut threaded on well. Could you have just had too much strap bunched up under there? If you don't have a punch, a local shoemaker could probably hook you up for a couple of bucks. Or, you could use an exacto knife and carefully enlarge the hole.
I've always done okay tightening the nut with an adjustable wrench, but if you move around a lot or find the nut tends to loosen, you may need to apply a little bit of Loc-Tight (the weakest formula) to the threads to add a little security. I'm sorry your bass was damaged. It sucks, but, honestly, I've only ever found those strap locks to be a good, reliable design.

 

[David Jayne]

So from all the posts I have read, I didn't see anyone answer whether Schaller will help.

I really doubt it but call them and see.

 

[Lo-E]

2. The friction between the button and the lock device tends to work the button lose from the upper horn on the bass.

This is one of the only things that irks me about Schallers. I apply paraffin to the buttons every once in a while, and that helps, but I'd rather not have to. The Schallers also squeak a bit, but they're still my go-to strap lock.

 

[hsech]

So from all the posts I have read, I didn't see anyone answer whether Schaller will help.

At the very least, strap locks are a user installed item. Even if they were factory installed on the bass, the strap piece of the locks would still be user installed. Don't expect any help.

 

[stingrayK]

I figured as much. I definitely see how it would be easy to blame the user. If you knew me, you would understand my meticulous nature.

The locks came with the bass. Along with an original Fender strap. The strap is just your everyday Fender logo item.

Again, anything mechanical can fail. I like the washers and directly screwing it into the bass. Just hard to put the bass in a hard case like that.

 

[hsech]

Schaller are fail in strap-"lock" form. Rubbish.

In every strap lock thread/debate it's amazing how many Schaller users have had issues, and how many proponents say they're great if you check this and tighten that and maintain the other. I've had nothing but problems with Schaller strap "locks" and that's with very limited, and proper, use. Way safer with a plain strap, and I move myself and my bass very actively onstage.

- they come unscrewed over time with use, fall apart and drop your bass.

- they scratch the finish of the instrument.

- they unscrew the pin from your bass, which falls out and strips the hole while dropping your bass.

- they might not engage fully, and thus fail.

- they ruin the strap, or won't even fit on some nicer/thicker straps.

- they won't fit in many hard cases with the strap lock on, thus necessitating removal and the more you engage/disengage them the greater the chance of the eventual failure.

- they poke a hole in the bottom of gig bags if you leave them on.

- they require you to have the related mechanism on each bass or strap you wish to use.

- time and money wasted in purchase, installation and use.

- etc. etc. etc.

- Pros? Very false sense of security.

So you never check even the basic things on your bass before you play?

 

[hsech]

Input jack tight? Check. Strap locks secure. Check..................

 

[stingrayK]

By the way, GaryCorby, I am going to bed now. Probably won't respond to anymore posts tonight.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

I've literally seen vastly more guitars falling off their straps from just two guitarists I've played with than all the stories I've heard over the years of strap locks of any brand failing combined. They were used to it so they always caught them, but it drove me so crazy I bought and installed Dunlops for both of them. I've owned both Schaller and Dunlop and greatly prefer Dunlops, but either is a safer bet than not using anything. It is possible that a strap lock might fail- it's far more likely occurrence that a strap will come off the pin- it's literally designed to do that. Just remember that installing strap locks doesn't mean you no longer have to pay attention to that connection on your bass.