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How many TBers don't use straplocks?

#121
I've used dunlops for years on all mine, but I recenbtly bought a very thick strap for my music man stingray and locks won't fit on it; now, I just leave the strap on and drape it over the base when it's in the MM hardshell case. Also, locks on a violin base will make it even more tipsy than usual. I keep them on all my Fenders at the moment.
 
#125
Bongolation said:
The main reason (of several) I despise them is that they are a danger to me and my gear and anything else in the vicinity, an ounce or two of metal flying around on the end of a 60" strap when getting in and out of the bass.

Almost any other option is better and safer.

If you're careful enough for this problem never to happen, you're careful enough not to need straplocks in the first place. :rollno:

More bass-geek, go-faster nonsense, a waste of money.
Click to expand...

Lol do you drive? If you are careful enough to not kill or destroy everything while driving them you might be careful enough to use strap locks. :D

Sometimes I use them. Other times I don't. I have had all types of strap buttons slip without them at least once. Always caught the bass though. Schallers frequently strip the strap button screw due to torque. Dunlops are fine IME.

I think the G&L/EBMM type strap buttons are the best. Fender "v-type" buttons tend to slip more frequently. Ric are the worst. Of course the strap plays a part in all this.
 
#126
jordy_on_bass said:
bassbenj,

Cliff Burton is one of my idols, yet I don't wear bell bottom jeans because cliff wore them. I think the straplock thing is even more superfluous than the jeans lol :P

I have lost a bass to the earth once and it sucked (when I was only a beginner of about 3 months) and even though it was a cheapy, it was a pretty painful experience. So ever since then I have had straplocks and not had a single incident of a straplock failing.

I was thinking about permanently putting a strap on, but I realised I couldn't do it as I switch between pick and fingers and with my corvette. I like to play it both low and high for finger style (most up high). For that reason, I sometimes use my strap from my blackbird to wear my corvette down lower. So Schallers are on both my basses. Now I need to find a nice 5 string fretless to put schallers on :p
Click to expand...

To be serious... I have had both Schaller and Dunlops well, not exactly "fail" but the bass came loose. In the Schaller case it was the usual thing about the nut coming loose and with the Dumlop it was the usual thing of not fully locking the mechanism. But I never totally dropped a bass from it.

And I've used standard strap buttons a LOT with everything from cloth bargain bucket straps to the highest end tooled leather (Tandy leather has some nifty kits cheap) and there CLEARLY is a problem. Not even jumping around or playing velcroed to the wall, it seems like that strap is ALWAYS popping off the button. The older the strap (regardless of price) the worse it is. And no, I've never damaged a bass when the standard strap button hopped off either. ( I guess I just must be fast! ;) )

The bottom line is that EITHER kind of lock solved the problem of jumping straps. Solved the problem of having deal with putting rubber washers on and off. Solved the problem of putting the bass away and taking the strap off quickely. Solved the problem of moving any strap to any other bass. I'm sure things could be better. The price of straplocks would be nice if it were lower. It adds up if you put them on all your basses. So I guess if someone want's to save the $20 by spending time fooling with rubber washers, that works out. But I'd rather not bother.

As for a nice 5 string fretless one of my recent buys was my G&L L-2500 at GC, used, $600, MIA 5 string fretless bass to die for! (knobs and switches were all loose but minor fix). They's out there!
 
#129
I have one that came with a Dunlop. It seems to work well. I have one without. It is difficult enough to put the strap on the thing so I don't think it will work itself off. Regardless I always have a hand on the bass. If it does work itself off then yeah, I'll install a lock.
 
#130
I've used Schaller strap locks for the past 25 years and have never had a failure of the lock or the strap button.Yes eventually the retaining screw for the button gets loose but that has always happened to me even with OEM strap buttons. I only use one strap for all my basses because it has a pocket for a wireless transmitter. Just wish Shaller would sell just the strap button. I probably have 5 sets of the Schaller locks that go on the strap sitting in a drawer somewhere.
 
#132
bass4u said:
I've used Schaller strap locks for the past 25 years and have never had a failure of the lock or the strap button.Yes eventually the retaining screw for the button gets loose but that has always happened to me even with OEM strap buttons. I only use one strap for all my basses because it has a pocket for a wireless transmitter. Just wish Shaller would sell just the strap button. I probably have 5 sets of the Schaller locks that go on the strap sitting in a drawer somewhere.
Click to expand...

You can buy them...
Allparts has them or you can buy the Fender Delux buttons which are the same...
 
#133
I have used them for over 15 years and would never not have them on a bass. If they aren't on there when I buy a bass, it's the first thing I correct and usually via the first setup by my tech. They are the cheapest insurance policy around. Never had an issue with them failing (schaller or dunlop). I'm guessing most accidents are caused by the player not the straplocks.
 
#134
I've played with two guitar players over the years who have dropped guitars due to strap locking systems that accidently released.

Personally I love a system that I can no longer find, and if anyone knows where to get them, I'd appreciate it:

No photo, but what they are is a piece of leather with a strap button attached to one end, the other end gets screwed permanently to the bass. You put your strap on the attached strap button which is a double button. The strap goes on the first level, and a little leather strip flips over and gets put on the second level, holding the strap in place. I've used it for 25 years and never once has it failed me...only problem: I only have one set, and can only set up one bass at a time with the system.

Anyone else know about this system and where to get them?
 
#135
Tried using straplocks yrs ago. They either didnt strike me as being as reliable as the method Id used before. Or theyre extra added length to strap button got annoying. Since most my basses have had the strap buttons on bodies back rather then on the edges. I use wider then average strap buttons and modify the strap hole so they can only go onto the strp button from the rear side. Only way to get them off is unscrew the strap button. Of course each instrument has its own strap, so no reason to take any of their straps off once theyre adjusted to desired length.
 
#140
I´ve never used them in 9 years of playing. I guess that´s just because I´m too silly to devote 50 € to new strap and straplocks. But I should learn from my mistakes bacause once I had a dangerous looking incident. I bought my first Fender (MIM Jazz) from a friend and he gave my a good, comfortable leather strap extra. One day I was rocking it at home and while playing I guess I lifted up neck too much and strap happend to fall off. Horn of the body crushed to my front teeth and broke off half of my incisor. Since then I wear my bass lower, just for a case :) But I´m planning to buy a MusicMan Sterling so I´ll definitely invest in new strap and Ernie Ball straplocks.
 

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