Strap locks: what kind, if at all?

[rumblesaust]

Brilliant and really looks finished like it came from the factory that way!
How did you cut the back of the valve so cleanly?

Razor blade.
Your local tire dealer will sell you a valve for dollar I am sure . They cost about 25c each in bulk

 

[Brother Bones]

Do you use strap locks? Strap locks that you screw into your bass? Straps with a built-in locking mechanism? A washer? Extra large diameter strap buttons? Some other locking system? Or nothing at all but stock strap buttons and your strap?

Buy yourself a 4 pack of Gröelsch beer. There's 2 sets of strap locks and 4 bottles of damn good beer!

 

[Tom Bomb]

Proof positive: Birds of a feather rock together

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[zontar]

Proof positive: Birds of a feather rock together

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Unfortunately I see

Video unavailable
This video contains content from WMG, who has blocked it in your country on copyright grounds

 

[Tom Bomb]

Give this one a shot ​

Unfortunately I see

 

[skycruiser]

Just saw these at Sweetwater’s site...same “washer” concept, right? And there’s financing available!
View attachment 3973303

I use these, work great.

 

[zontar]

Give this one a shot ​

Okay--that worked.
Kashmir- Page & plant
But I didn't see any beer or strap locks--maybe I missed it.

 

[zontar]

I use these, work great.

Those & there are Ernie Ball ones as well.
Same thing

 

[Tom Bomb]

I missed it.

Never mind. Not the end of the world
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[13bass]

Dimarzio cliplock with elastic strap. Helps a great deal with shoulder pain, almost eliminates it even in 4 hour gigs.

 

[Tom Bomb]

New sticker. Took a shine to the LP Special. May get another strap yet so only the buttons have found a home, so far. Straps galore here anyway. No hurry Really nice provision — screws and felts — for a speedy and seamless mod. This is the old school variety. Suits me just fine
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[Spectre Gunner]

I've used four different types of strap locks and they all get the job done but there are minors differences in their use. Here is my assessment.

1. Fender: They use a ball lock design which is very common on military equipment including aircraft. Easy to attach/detach. The only downside is that they're somewhat bulky.
2. Schaller: Good quality and nice packaging. I find them a little awkward to use because of their c shaped cup design. Otherwise, the Schallers are excellent.
3. Rubber Washers: Does the job and cost much less than metal strap locks, but they are difficult to put on and take off. Good to use if you don't plan to remove or change straps very often.
4. Dunlop: This type is the easiest to use, is compact and recommended if you change straps often. My favorite.

I find that all the metal types can be a pain to install on a strap but that is because the straps I use all have tight holes or thick leather. I really have to work at it and new leather straps are the worst.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

Dunlops on all 3 basses, my Strat, and my acoustic. Dedicated strap for each and with some slight mods to the bass cases never remove them.

 

[Stevorebob]

…I find that all the metal types can be a pain to install on a strap but that is because the straps I use all have tight holes or thick leather. I really have to work at it and new leather straps are the worst.

A hole punch to enlarge the strap hole eases installation. And the result is a better fitting, more secure strap to strap lock connection.

 

[13bass]

I’m really liking the Dimarzio straps I got, low profile looks like just a strap and nothing else, and they are an easy click on and off.

ClipLock® | DiMarzio

 

[Spectre Gunner]

A hole punch to enlarge the strap hole eases installation. And the result is a better fitting, more secure strap to strap lock connection.

The smallish hole and thick leather make it a bit of a challenge. What I do is force a pair of needle nose pliers into the leather hole to stretch it out. Then there is the thick leather which leaves little to no room to get the nut started, so there is that. Once it is started I secure it with a ratchet and socket.

I'm in the process of changing all my basses and straps to a single strap lock brand so I can swap straps between the basses as needed.

 

[68Goldfish]

On my fenders I use the Dunlops and the Spector's have Shaller's. I actually prefer the Dunlops for ease of use. To me pushing the button on the Dunlops is just easer than hassling with pulling the thing out on the schaller's.

 

[factory presets]

On my fenders I use the Dunlops and the Spector's have Shaller's. I actually prefer the Dunlops for ease of use. To me pushing the button on the Dunlops is just easer than hassling with pulling the thing out on the schaller's.

I use a sort of pinching motion on the Schallers. Where the fingertips roll down onto the locking nut. That way there's no tension (or friction) between the lock and the peg. Actually find it easier to hold the shaft more horizontally and roll down with the sides of my fingers. But everybody's fingertips are probably different. Easy enough to learn once I worked out the problems I was having getting them off.

I can't imagine how that would happen accidentally. Which makes me more confident with my S-locks

 

[Tom Bomb]

There's a knack to it With one quick shake — putting the axe ostensibly into a zero gravity situation — while holding the button with one hand and the neck or the horn with the other, you'll be free in a jiffy. Then, with all the weight off, the second's a cinch
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[dougjwray]

The issue for me is that I move basses back and forth between gig bags and cases, and getting a bass with a strap on it into a form-fitting case isn't easy. So, since the Grolsch washers aren't easy to put on and take off, I use them on basses which will be probably spend most of their time in a gig bag, and these on basses which will go in gig bags or cases:

https://www.amazon.com/DAddario-Accessories-Guitar-Strap-50BAL00/dp/B07B8WT83C/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1VELYLQBKUKHT&keywords=planet+waves+guitar+strap+locking&qid=1647389922&sprefix=planet+waves+guitar+strap,aps,59&sr=8-3

I tried the ones with the little wheel that turns to lock the strap on, but they have a rubbery plastic which is in contact with the bass, and which eventually crumbles.
The Grolsch washers are nice because they work with any strap in the world, while the locking straps come in limited solid colors and patterns.
I was also thinking about moving to the over-sized strap buttons. That's a simple, elegant, cool idea.
Finally, I laughed out loud when I first saw the Fender version of the Grolsch washers at a guitar store. They even use the same shade of red! A classic example of a big corporation blatantly copying a classic underground, DIY move!