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Straplock question

M0ses

M0ses

Sep 11, 2009
3,715
1,079
Los Angeles
#1
I've always been fascinated by the straplock debate. People spend, what, $20 on a pair of straplocks for each bass? But no one seems to be able to find the perfect set: they stick out to much, or the buttons are easy to press and they STILL worry about their bass.

Then there are people like me. People who use rubber washers, or as we fondly know them, those things you get with the beer. They cost almost nothing. But whenever they're suggested in a straplock thread, the straplock folks get defensive and accuse us of being cheap, saying "$20 is a tiny price to pay for the insurance you get."

Well, my rubber washer has never failed. Now THERE is some cheap insurance. I HAVE heard of straplocks failing, but I have never heard of rubber washers failing. Is this just because people feel too stupid to talk about it on TB? Well, this is your chance. I invite you, rubber-washer users, to please tell us about the time your strap fell off. If there is no one, well then, I guess I was right about you straplock users wasting your money all along :D
 
#2
TGP is all about the grolsch gaskets.

grolschstraplocks.jpg
 
#3
It's probably that the gasket trick is not tried by many people. I am definitely a bassist on a budget, but never tried any alternatives before ordering a set of strap locks. I don't doubt that the gaskets work, I'm sure given widespread usage both methods would have occasional failures.

Another thought that I had was finding a metal washer such that it would slide over the smaller ring of the strap button (closer to the body) but would not come over the top (which is wider on my strap buttons) and thread the washer and the strap before screwing in the strap button. Yes, this would "permanently" install the strap (until the buttons were unscrewed again) but I never take my strap off anyway.

I only have one bass, if that matters.
 
#5
M0ses said:
I've always been fascinated by the straplock debate. People spend, what, $20 on a pair of straplocks for each bass? But no one seems to be able to find the perfect set: they stick out to much, or the buttons are easy to press and they STILL worry about their bass.

Then there are people like me. People who use rubber washers, or as we fondly know them, those things you get with the beer. They cost almost nothing. But whenever they're suggested in a straplock thread, the straplock folks get defensive and accuse us of being cheap, saying "$20 is a tiny price to pay for the insurance you get."

Well, my rubber washer has never failed. Now THERE is some cheap insurance. I HAVE heard of straplocks failing, but I have never heard of rubber washers failing. Is this just because people feel too stupid to talk about it on TB? Well, this is your chance. I invite you, rubber-washer users, to please tell us about the time your strap fell off. If there is no one, well then, I guess I was right about you straplock users wasting your money all along :D
Click to expand...


One problem with your approach is that with a typical Fender hardshell case, the strap has to come off to case the instrument - I'm just sayin'...


- georgestrings
 
#7
Smallmouth_Bass said:
Whatever works! My Schallers have never failed either.

I think the main con about using the Grolsch washers is that the strap has to stay permanently on the bass. I have some straps that I'll use on several basses and, as mentioned above, they won't fit well in molded cases.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I've never has a Schaller fail in many years of using them - I did get in the habit of using a spot of blue locktite on the nut threads, and it takes care of any potential failure...


- georgestrings
 
#8
Ive never had a schaller fail on me. I use them on every guitar and bass i own and have 2 straps that are used on all of them. The nut that grips the strap loosened up once but i noticed it and proceeded to tighten it before doing anything else and it hasnt done anything since.
 
#11
You'll see failure with both, the reason being that it doesn't matter whether you duct tape the strap on or use the greatest strap locks in the world, there are other factors that can attribute to a bass drop. I've had cheap nylon straps break on me before, and I've seen the screws completely strip out of the body of the instrument.

Properly reinforcing the screw holes is your greatest ally in preventing the screws stripping out, especially with softer wood bass. I may even have to try out using those threaded steel inserts myself since one of my basses seems to have a nasty habit of eating the toothpicks I cram in it.
 
#13
I have a great straplock mechanism I bought at a music shop in Boston in the 90s (don't remember the name of the shop unfortunately, or the maker of the straplock.

It consists of a loop of leather similar to many straps, which replaces the post on the arm of the bass. This loop has its own post which the strap then attaches to, and another part of the loop then goes over top of the strap again onto the same post.

I've used it for about 15 years, always on whatever is my current main bass, and it has *never* failed me. I'll try and take a pic later and post it. It would be very easy to make this out of simple components - which I should probably do for my other basses!
 
#14
thatonedude02 said:
Another thought that I had was finding a metal washer such that it would slide over the smaller ring of the strap button (closer to the body) but would not come over the top (which is wider on my strap buttons) and thread the washer and the strap before screwing in the strap button. Yes, this would "permanently" install the strap (until the buttons were unscrewed again) but I never take my strap off anyway.

I only have one bass, if that matters.
Click to expand...

That's what I use on my basses. It's even cheaper than the rubber washer, and probably the most effective strap lock there is. Like you I never take my strap off.
 
#16
I use the little grolsh beer washers. They have never failed me in the year I have started using them. And they are much cheaper then straplocks for every bass I have. I have 4 basses and Never once since I started using them has a strap fallen off... And I only paid like 5 dollars for like a 16 pack of them off some beer brewing website. That also included shipping. Beats buying 4 sets of other straplocks thats for sure.
 
#17
HI

Ive been using Dunlop loks for 30 years w no issues. I certainly was using them before TB was invented. They work perfect for me. Also, u might notice that many luthiers offer them on their instruments standard equipment. I dont think any offer rubber gaskets standard!!

Rob
 
#18
Hi.

Floyd Eye said:
I've never paid more than $12 for a set of Schallers and I've never had a problem and I DON'T worry about my guitars/basses.
Click to expand...

^This.

On the 25 odd years I've been using them, no problems either.

No form fit case I know of will take the strap well if it's still connected to the instrument.

BTW, am I the only one who doesn't view washers of any kind as strap locks? For me something that is locked should also be opened without tools?

Regards
Sam
 

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