Strap Pin Constantly Comes Loose

[mrtanner42]

Any advice?

I "bounce around" a lot when I play, particularly at gigs. My strap pin constantly is coming loose. I've tightened it as much as I dare without fear of stripping the wood, but it keeps coming loose.

It is a Fender Jazz Deluxe bass with Fender/Schaller strap locks.

I tried putting wood-glue in the hole, but it didn't help. Is the only solution to keep a screwdriver in my case and check the pin on every break?

 

[Fishface]

Do you have a little felt or rubber washer under the strap pin? Is the screw too small?

I have this happen 'maybe' once per year.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

Wood toothpick (or two) dipped in wood glue, insert into the screw hole. That'll do it.

 

[AaronVonRock]

Use the toothpick method with wood glue. I've done that to both my basses and have never had a problem with loose strap pins again.

 

[Rugaar]

Take the screw out, add a couple drops of wood glue and stick a couple flat toothpicks in there, break them off level with the bass and reinstall the screw.

edit--Beat me to it. Nice job.

 

[timber22]

+1 to what everyone else said. Has worked many times for me.

 

[darrenmt]

Yea the mentioned method has always worked for me.

 

[JimmyThunder]

i did this trick just last night.

 

[Kmonk]

I had the same problem. I used a toothpick and Gorilla Glue. I did this over a year ago and it has never come loose. You have to be careful with the glue though because it expands as it dries and will come out of the hole and get on the finish if you use too much.

 

[jbybj]

I had the same problem. I used a toothpick and Gorilla Glue. I did this over a year ago and it has never come loose. You have to be careful with the glue though because it expands as it dries and will come out of the hole and get on the finish if you use too much.

That's why you use wood glue instead of gorilla.

 

[hrodbert696]

I've filled the hole with a thin dowel and gorilla glue and never had a problem with it. Stronger than traditional wood glue. Sure, just be careful about not overdoing the glue.

 

[JimmyThunder]

is the glue really necessary? does the screw not bite enough without?

 

[rmars]

is the glue really necessary? does the screw not bite enough without?

This has been argued here on TB ad nauseam. The glue will bond the wood together (toothpick, body wood) and when it cures it hugs the screw a bit better as it fills in any voids. Wood glue or your basic Elmers works.

 

[BawanaRik]

Take the screw out, add a couple drops of wood glue and stick a couple flat toothpicks in there, break them off level with the bass and reinstall the screw.

edit--Beat me to it. Nice job.

I thought I was the only savage with toothpicks and elmers.

I hate to admit how many times I've done this. There must be a better way . But with this many people using this method maybe not.

 

[Zooberwerx]

I thought I was the only savage with toothpicks and elmers.

I hate to admit how many times I've done this. There must be a better way . But with this many people using this method maybe not.

A bass is essentially a bunch of pieces of wood held together by glue....what's one more?!?

Do re-install the screw while the glue is still wet.

Riis

 

[mongo2]

I just jam an appropriately sized dowel in the hole and break it off a bit short and push it in so it's a little recessed in the hole and then install a longer screw so it bites into fresh wood about 3/4 inch or so at the bottom of the hole. I've never used glue and I've never had a subsequent failure but by all means use glue if you're more comfortable with that.

 

[Batmensch]

I thought I was the only savage with toothpicks and elmers.

I hate to admit how many times I've done this. There must be a better way . But with this many people using this method maybe not.

Sometimes the simplest fixes work the best.

 

[elBandito]

If there was a better way to fix it, people would have done it by now.