Strap button screws (original) coming loose after installing Schaller-style locks.

[fakeneckplate'65]

Here is a trick I've learned from Rickenbacker CEO John Hall: put a drop of water in the hole. The wood will absorb it and the screw hole will tighten, and it will stay tight even after it's all dry.

But a toothpick is fine too.

How much water do you add to get the pick-ups straight?

 

[Bass Master General]

I previously tried the Grolsch thing but they gripped the strap to the peg so hard that the movement was causing the strap buttons to work themselves loose...

 

[Ender_rpm]

Now I've never put enough miles on a bass to wear out a Dunlop straplock, but this experience showed me that it IS possible!

Man, I've got sets going on 20 years old with no visible wear , I need to play more

 

[Bobster]

I use Ernie Ball Super Straplocks and have been very happy with the results. No problems to report. The side attached to the guitar has no moving parts. The catch attaches to the strap.

Strap Locks | Ernie Ball installation video here -

All the best,

Bob

 

[tubatodd]

Toothpick + tiny bit of Elmers

^^^ This! I had to do this on a couple of my basses. It worked perfectly.

 

[dwade]

this is the exact reason why it's not worth changing your pins.. unless of course you are forced to..

good story -

I was just at a music store with my $4000 Roscoe bass and looking for strap locks and the guy told me to stay away from the Dunlop straploks.. I asked him why? and he started giving me all these stories about how the way it holds onto the pin is terrible and all this and that and the bearings come loose... blah blah..

So I didn't know any better and meanwhile I wanted to buy the fender straplocks (I guess the same as the schallers) Well, they didn't fit my pins.. So then I tried the Dunlop ones which I also was told to use for Roscoe basses.. and of course it fit perfectly..

the point of this story is if I was to go with the Schallers'(fender) straplocks, I would have had to unscrew my pins and install the new ones that came with the straplocks.. I said to the guy "bullsh*#$% , I'm not taking off the pins of a $4000 bass and then possibly creating this exact situation here.. I knew I would probably strip or totally mess up the threads if I did that.. so end of story, I bought the dunlop ones.. and guess what.. no problems and I'll just buy them every 1 year or so if the ball bearings to apparently come loose after heavy use.. but I dont think thats a real issue.. Im also not steve vai with my bass either, and my bass isn't heavy at all.. the dunlops are so cheap anyway you can buy multiple and not break the bank at all..

so I just wanted to throw that in there since you went through with switching the pins.. which is fine on most cases as there are times you absolutely have to reinstall the pins.. but I always come from the mindset of once something's been drilled, dont mess with the threads if possible.. and your situation shows it perfectly..

meanwhile I have the dunlops on and I ain't worried about them coming off on a $4000 bass.. .

(until one day it does and i m going to find mr. dunlop haha)

I've had Dunlops for decades...... I put a drop of oil on the them once a year or so, just keep things moving. I'm a heavy 'perspirer'. Sweat gets into everything. Some of my straplocks are 25+ years old. All still work great.

 

[G On Bass]

Every bass I keep gets Dunlop straplocks. On the first installation I put woodglue or elmers in the hole before attaching. In the case of used basses where the pin hole may be too wide, it gets toothpicks as well as glue. I have never had a Dunlop fall out or unattach on me. Have seen multiple Schallers fail, usually when the users don't keep the nut tight.YMMV

 

[chris_b]

I've been hearing about Schaller strap button screws working loose since I started using strap locks. It seems that's what they do. It must be a design feature.

I've used Dunlop strap locks on all my basses since the 90's. The same button has been on all my straps for that long. None of them have worked loose or failed.

 

[tadawson]

I use Schallers, and whenever possible, use the original screws that match the holes in the body. Never had one come loose . . .

 

[Turnaround]

If properly installed and cared for, both Schaller and Dunlop strap locks will work without problems for years. In the case of the Dunlops, it is important to put a tiny drop of oil on the locking balls maybe once a year. I have yet to fnd any that have worn out, but have seen several ones that were really rusty to the point where they were no longer functioning properly.

On the older Schallers, the nut that holds the part to the strap has a tendency to work loose over time. It's best to put some thread locker on the threads when installing on the strap, snug it up tightly and let the thread locker fully dry before use. Even then you should inspect it regularly to be sure the nut isn't working loose. On the newer Schaller S-type, the problem of the nut working loose has been addressed by the use of a screw-on collar with a locking set screw that keeps the collar from working loose. It may be an improvement, though I have to wonder what keeps the setscrew from working loose? Perhaps some thread locker on the set screw is in order?

 

[wvbass]

If properly installed and cared for, both Schaller and Dunlop strap locks will work without problems for years. In the case of the Dunlops, it is important to put a tiny drop of oil on the locking balls maybe once a year. I have yet to fnd any that have worn out, but have seen several ones that were really rusty to the point where they were no longer functioning properly.

On the older Schallers, the nut that holds the part to the strap has a tendency to work loose over time. It's best to put some thread locker on the threads when installing on the strap, snug it up tightly and let the thread locker fully dry before use. Even then you should inspect it regularly to be sure the nut isn't working loose. On the newer Schaller S-type, the problem of the nut working loose has been addressed by the use of a screw-on collar with a locking set screw that keeps the collar from working loose. It may be an improvement, though I have to wonder what keeps the setscrew from working loose? Perhaps some thread locker on the set screw is in order?

I've actually had the set screw work loose on the new S-locks. So...

• If you use Dunlops, a drop of oil on the mechanism periodically is a good idea.
• If you use the original Schallers, a little thread locker on the strap nut is a good idea.
• If you use Schaller S-Locks, the set screw may or may not need a little thread locker. (The design is too new to be sure.)

Its almost like mechanical equipment requires periodic maintenance or something. Who knew?

 

[zontar]

I always warn people when they ask about strap locks--whether or not you use them--make sure the screws don't come loose.
If they dot he best strap locks int he world won't help you
Although the players that duct tape their straps to their bass or guitar won't have that problem, but I have no desire to do that myself.

(my first time playing in a band before an audience while getting ready the screw holding my strap knob went flying to never be seen again, I had my hand on the neck (It was a guitar) and so I caught it, but broke some strings in the process.
Fortunately there was another guitar I could use.