Strap locks, who’s using what brands?

[Tom Bomb]

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These redesigned s-locks are great. Much easier to manage. No problems with the old ones either, once you get the hang of 'em.

The art of getting them to release on cue revolves around being able to take the gravity out of the equation for a second. In zero gravity, they come away effortlessly. There is a knack to it, unless you do it after you've ducked out of the strap. Then it's a doddle.

I have only used the Schaller style. Several have failed making it difficult to get the strap off quickly. I know there are many brands. What do you use, and why? Thanks

 

[Djadja]

Over the years I’ve used Schaller style or Dunlop and never had an issue with any of them (a drop of locktite on the nut on the Schallers).

Then… I had a Fender branded Schaller knock off fail on me Tuesday at a rehearsal. I looked down and the ball you pull to open it fell off. On that version it is impossible to screw back on while the strap is attached and very difficult to get off. From what I see online, that is its most common/only failure and the difficulty in getting it off the bass is a serious frustration. My son-in-law is a mechanical genius and was able to get it off in less than 5 minutes. In doing so boogered up the threads on the pin and offered to fix that but I decided to go with a new strap lock instead.

Searching it seems there are basically 4 different designs used - Schaller, Dunlop, Loxx, Ernie Ball plus the old fashioned washer type. Reading through posts and reviews, each type has true believers that love them and detractors who had one or more fail and so hate them. Each type has had failures, some due to user error and depending on the type, more due to design or production flaws. Son-in-law felt the Dunlop is the best design from an industrial point of view and the one he would choose. It also seems to have the fewest design/production failures from what I could see.

Here’s the rub… when one of the Dunlops, Loxx, or Ernie Ball failed, if the player wasn’t paying attention, the bass or guitar ended up on the floor. When the Schaller fails, you end up with difficult removing it. The instrument does not drop.

I ordered a new Schaller S model.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

I used Schallers for decades. About 5 years ago, I switched to silicon washers and haven't looked back.

this is the way. these work as well as anything and there's no need to unscrew this and fiddle with that. oh and they're INEXPENSIVE

 

[marchone]

I don't care for the extended height of any strap lock system. Even Loxx. In addition, they rattle. I went back to rubber washers till I saw on Fender type strap buttons they came up like a cone. Still secure but unsightly IMO.

I found stiff nylon washers on Amazon of the right size. They require a pie shaped snip out of one to make it flexible enough to slip on the strap button shaft. And they remain flat.

They work better than anything else I've seen.




https://www.amazon.com/Washer-250Pcs-

The largest one here is the one that fit best on Hipshot and Gotoh passive strap buttons. It has a 10mm interior diameter and is 20mm wide.

 

[Auer]

 

[Swings]

Link Removed

Mine are are definitely _tarnished_ nickel, but they are functional.
They have developed a bit of looseness where they seat on the strap, a combination of regular use over the years and also, having put them on and taken them off the strap a couple of times for reasons.
No biggie but sometimes the bass will sympathise with the resonance of the lock clipped on to the horn end of my strap at the and buzz.
Fine with standing , when sitting for practice the locks aren’t bearing weight

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

Dunlop Flushmounts are my favorite, but I use Grolsch rubber washers on most of them. They come with free beer too

 

[Maxi Funkl]

Ernie Ball

 

[mmbongo]

Here's what you do.

Install Dunlop straplocks, but DON'T put the strap parts on the strap. Just install the buttons on the bass. Then put your strap on the bass like normal. THEN put on a rubber washer. THEN lock that down with the D'Addario clip locks. THEN pop in the Dunlop strap parts without the strap so you basically have a big removeable washer installed. If the first two fail, the big washer will catch your strap.

I'm a genius.

 

[Pop C]

Dunlops on all my basses and guitars. I've used them for many years. I like to lube them with Pro Gold-Pro Link chain lube, which dries and doesn't attract dirt.

 

[DaveParker39]

Dunlop. One of my guitars has them countersunk, I'll probably get them countersunk next time I have a build.

 

[Vic Winters]

Dunlops across the board except acoustic. The only issue I've ever had was a screw backing itself out a bit and being loose which is easy enough to remedy. I never had a drop.

 

[skyline_01]

Another nod for Schaller. I have them most of my basses and never had an issue.

 

[HowieD72]

I can't decide so: I have Schaller S locks on one, Dunlop flush mount on one, rubber washers on one & I'm getting a set of Hennessey Euro Loks with a recent purchase, so that will go on my last bass. Maybe one day I'll decide which one I prefer.

 

[PeeeBass]

I've been using Schaller (now Fender makes the same type) since 1983.
Back in my guitar days. I saved up forever for a Memphis Les Paul copy.
Had it for about 6 months. I bent down to pick up a pick I dropped.
Strap came off, Guitar dropped. Headstock hit the floor and snapped.
Ever since then, EVERY bass gets them.
Schallers were the first I bought. Never had a reason to change.
Occasionally I need to tighten the washer, but they've never failed

 

[Keither]

I've been using Schaller since the late 90's. Also have the newer version which I think is better no complaints.
In the past I've bought a couple basses with dunlop locks and liked dunlop equally. Schaller doesn't require modification and seems a little less prone to failure.

 

[bwildt]

I’ve been using the Fender rubber washers

Grolsch rubber washers on all of them.

I use the rubber washers. All my basses have their own straps (just the inexpensive nylon webbing things). The straps never get removed, so the I don't have to pull the washers on and off.

 

[psyched]

I must be in the tiny minority who likes DiMarzio cliplocks. Easy to get the strap on/off, never had one fail across a few guitars and basses over at least a decade. Admittedly there's a limited palette of choices (and I believe it's mostly geared toward the pointy-headstock players, no shade intended), but I don't mind the trade-off for the sense of insurance.

 

[Gluvhand]

I must be in the tiny minority who likes DiMarzio cliplocks. Easy to get the strap on/off, never had one fail across a few guitars and basses over at least a decade. Admittedly there's a limited palette of choices (and I believe it's mostly geared toward the pointy-headstock players, no shade intended), but I don't mind the trade-off for the sense of insurance.

I like the clip-locks a lot but the straps don't come in a width I'm comfortable with. I had one on my old Precision for years but prefer at least a 3" strap these days.

 

[E Buzz]

I use these exclusively...nothing mechanical and use the original screws to install w/o issue...EDITED to add you can't get them from StewMac any more, but they're sold in the UK and come in 2 weeks to the US...OR Gotoh oversized strap buttons.