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Straplocks?

#21
KJung said:
Dunlop seem to be the overwhelming industry standard (they come on Sadowsky's, Ken Smith, MTD, Fodera, I think Alleva's now).

I really like the Dunlop 'dual design'. You get the Dunlop system imbedded in a standard strap button, so you can use a regular strap if you forget your 'dunlap loaded strap', etc.

Wonderful, and I've never had a failure with the Dunlop in decades of using them.
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...but if something bumps the spring clip retainer loose, or it just plain wears out, the instrument is on the floor.

Saw it happen to my guitar player, and as I said before, it damaged the guitar (snapped the G tuner clean off) to the point where he had to switch to his back up.

Thankfully, he is smart enough to bring a back up. ;)

The Schallers work fine with regular guitar straps too. My 89 Fender came stock with them, and I've never used the locks on that one, just a regular strp.
 
#24
I heard recently of guys using the rubber gaskets off those fancy beer bottles. I use Schallers and Dunlops. They can all fail if not inspected and tightened regularly. I use loctite 242 on the threads. Stay away from "Zeppelin" brand strap locks. They would not hold at all! I almost dropped my new SG reissue with those pieces of dung. Another brand I used to use and liked the best I don't see any more... "Wilkinson" (SP) They were chromed Uncle Mikes rifle swivels. Very cool.
 
#25
I use the Dimarzio Clip Locks on most of my basses.

p44063.jpg
 
#28
JoeBelc said:
I have been using rubber washers that I get at the hardware store for $.75 a piece. They are thick enough to be sturdy and a tight fit over the strap button. Strap stays on and they are economical to boot.
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I do something very similar - when i've finished a bottle of Grolsch Beer i use the rubber snap seal as my disposable straplocks....never had a bass fall, and always enjoy drinking to protect my bass...:D
 
#30
I've used Schaller and Dunlop. Those seem to be the 2 big names in the industry. I like both but for different reasons. The Schallers are nice and solid due to the design and the horseshoe shape of the locks. The Dunlops are very easy to use due to the push button release design, which is why I prefer them over Schaller. Both will do the job if installed correctly.
 
#31
JoeBelc said:
I have been using rubber washers that I get at the hardware store for $.75 a piece. They are thick enough to be sturdy and a tight fit over the strap button. Strap stays on and they are economical to boot.
Click to expand...

+1. I've used Schaller's for years, but for about 4 years, every time I get a new bass, this is what I use. Cheap and effective.

100_0867.jpg
 
#34
I was thinking about testing out one of the new PlanetWaves lock straps, the lock is built into the strap itself. Only headache is that the strap itself is narrow and not that comfortable. Does anyone have any ideas to add more padding to a strap, and special things I could order or build myself for more padding on the shoulders? The built-in lock system is a good idea as I could use it on any guitar and bass without any modifications.

http://accessories.musiciansfriend....80132&src=3WFRWXX&ZYXSEM=0&CAWELAID=299975414
 
#35
45 years, and never dropped a bass, but you guys got me ascared and so...Grolsch!

This is a great excuse to buy Grolsch beer, as if you need one. Gotta get more washers, honey, be right back....:smug:

Grolschbottletop.jpg


Thanks to Fender32 for the photos of Grolsch washers!

125-2536_IMG-1.jpg
 
#38
I've tried every straplock out there and had issues with all of them. Then I switched to fender washers (nothing to do with Fender instruments) which are little black silicone rubber washers, but you have to get them with the right size hole in the middle or else they don't do much. Recently I've swtiched to using the rubber gaskets found on bottles of Grolsch beer. They work really well. There are a couple other brands of beer that use them (in different colors from Grolsch gaskets); check your local BevMo!
 
#39
scottbass said:
I use Dunlops. I prefer their design over Schallers. I've used them over 20 years, thousands of gigs, zero dropped basses.
Click to expand...

And I am the exact opposite. 20+ years, Schallers, never had an issue.

Note: If you don't have the time to check that everything is tight with the Schallers every once in a while, go Dunlop or EBMM. The Schallers can unscrew over time.

I have recently switched a couple of basses over to the new EBMM strap locks and they are great. They are bulky and expensive which are the only drawbacks IMO. They look cool, I guess... if that means anything!

Try them all out or at least take a look at them before buying.
 
#40
I use Grolsch gaskets now too. Schallers were already installed on a bass I bought used -- I didn't like them and removed them. Schallers can rotate 360 degrees - for some people that may be a feature, but for me it was a flaw. If I wasn't careful, my strap would rotate upside down sometimes, changing the height on my bass. No big deal but then when the strap would rotate around again and 'fix' itself, the bass would drop an inch or two, and sometimes it could make me flub notes. It was definitely a distraction.

Bottom line, a strap lock is supposed to be solving problems, not creating new different problems. If I have to spend more than 10 total seconds worrying about something, it's getting removed.
 

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