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Strap-lock

Hawk600

Hawk600

Dec 19, 2015
333
307
Florida
#1
Hello TB! Totally new and green guy here that decided trying learn bass @ 55 years old. :(
I need some help with a used Squire Affinity P Bass with damaged (bridge area) strap-lock.
I can buy a new strap-lock set but the issue is that the hole is now larger than the screw so I was wondering if there are any other strap locks with a bigger diameter screws or I would need to find a way to fill up the hole with maybe epoxy or wood filler.
Also the body finish (black) is very scratched up with a lot of scuffs so I was looking for any solution to at least make it look better than it is.
I appreciate any input.
Thanks!
 
#2
The proper solution is to drill it out to a larger size, glue a dowel in, then drill the new screw hole into the dowel. The traditional alternative involves a mess of toothpicks and Elmer's. Both work, but don't blame me if you use the latter approach and it falls out. ;)
 
#3
bholder said:
The proper solution is to drill it out to a larger size, glue a dowel in, then drill the new screw hole into the dowel. The traditional alternative involves a mess of toothpicks and Elmer's. Both work, but don't blame me if you use the latter approach and it falls out. ;)
Click to expand...
Thank you for the quick reply Bholder, the dowel solution seems right, I will try it, is any special type required or any craft store dowel will make it?

Another newbie question if you don't mind (and maybe not related to this forum, sorry) G string is sounding identical to D and the tuner confirms it, do you think is a intonation adjustment issue or because the string might be to old? If intonation I can try set it up but I need find a step by step.
Thanks again!!
 
#5
Any hardwood dowel of the right diameter will work. Seriously, if you do toothpicks right, they do pretty well, too, you just have to wedge them in there so there's more wood than glue before screwing in.
 
#6
Hawk600 said:
Thanks, the hole is almost fitting the original screw just slightly loose, I was wondering if I could something insert something along with the screw like electrical tape or so to make is a little larger and therefore holding on the hole...sorry if this too newbie attempt :) w/out the strap the bass keeps sliding off me .
Click to expand...

Take a few toothpicks, coat in wood glue, insert (jam) in screw hole, snip off excess, and re-introduce strap button & screw while the glue is still wet. No need for anything more sophisticated than that at the moment. Best part is that I bet you have a PH screwdriver, glue, and toothpicks in your house already!

Riis
 
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#7
I just jam a load of matchsticks in mine when it works loose, snap them off, then screw back into that. I usually use the non live end of the match. No glue. They've never worked loose from there, unless I've removed the screw for some reason.
 
#8
Thank you folks! In my case I used a combination of your tips, elmer's wood glue and a wood hashi (chopstick) tip.
I first enlarged the strap lock cavity a bit and filled with glue than hammered the grooved hashi tip inside until the 4th depression.
Just waiting it to dry very well before drilling a new hole. I also bought a set of Elliptical Strap Button given the good reviews.
Thanks again for all your help.
hashi.PNG
 
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#9
Yes - matchsticks and toothpicks (especially the flat ones) work just fine to repair a stripped out hole, especially with a dab of white glue.

I also found using these oval strap pins to be just as effective and a lot easier that strap locks - use with any strap. They should have been done like this from the beginning.
Invalid Link Removed
 
#11
bholder said:
The proper solution is to drill it out to a larger size, glue a dowel in, then drill the new screw hole into the dowel. The traditional alternative involves a mess of toothpicks and Elmer's. Both work, but don't blame me if you use the latter approach and it falls out. ;)
Click to expand...
I have a friend that pulled the pin out of a Les Paul recently. I didn't see what had been plugging it, but the hole left behind was huge and looked like it used to have a dowel in it. Either the dowel wasn't glued and pulled out, or somebody tried to use a bunch of toothpicks. Fortunately, the guitar didn't bounce due to the faulty repair.

Toothpicks work fine, but it it takes more than one or two, it is probably time for the dowel solution. Either solution should probably involve Titebond. (I'm too used to Elmer's being the white glue kids used to eat in kindergarten, although I know they make wood glue, too.)
 
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#12
Bassamatic said:
Yes - matchsticks and toothpicks (especially the flat ones) work just fine to repair a stripped out hole, especially with a dab of white glue.

I also found using these oval strap pins to be just as effective and a lot easier that strap locks - use with any strap. They should have been done like this from the beginning.
Invalid Link Removed
Click to expand...
Funny, I just picked up a bunch of those too, they work and they're cheap!
 
#13
Hawk600 said:
Thank you folks! In my case I used a combination of your tips, elmer's wood glue and a wood hashi tip.
I first enlarged the strap lock cavity a bit and filled with glue than hammered the grooved hashi tip inside until the 4th depression.
Just waiting it to dry very well before drilling a new hole. I also bought a set of Elliptical Strap Button given the good reviews.
Thanks again for all your help.View attachment 773255
Click to expand...
Whutsa "hashi"? Fancy chopstick?
 

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