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Straps/Strap Locks

S

Shortbigtoe

Feb 25, 2008
48
0
#1
I have been trying on different straps but the music stores around town only have a few that don't really cut it. I was just wondering if there is a strap that anyone here would probably never replace. The one I have is really small and it comes loose a lot. And while I'm at it, does anyone use strap locks? Any good ones that I should look at if I wanted to buy?
 
#2
I discovered the Comfort Strap about a year ago and it is all I use since that discovery. It is padded to cushion your shoulder. The leather that attaches to the strap nuts are thin enough to allow me to put a strap lock on.
 
#4
Get a good leather strap that has a weaved adjustment on the end (you've seen them before). Get one 3.5/4" wide and you'll never go wrong.

If your strap is good, and your strap buttons are secure, and you're not throwing your bass over your shoulder and catching it, reg. strap buttons ought to do you just fine. :)
 
#6
Yeah, I loved the feel of the leather padded straps but the only ones they had where like 100 bucks. The only reason I would get a strap lock is so I don't have to fumble to get the strap hooked up everytime I put it up or something.
 
#7
You know, I've never really needed strap locks on anything other than a Les Paul. The neck side strap will slip off if the strap hole is soft or old because your left shoulder tends to be outside of where the action is--unlike a J or P style bass.

Otherwise, it's just another piece of hardware to deal with:
A: The weight of the instrument is going to be at least a centimeter further away from its body. This puts more strain on the strap button and may cause it to wiggle loose prematurely.
B: Sometimes straplocked guitars won't fit in their cases if the straps are on. Of course I remember to take the strap off, but sometimes my buddy will try to help me out and spend a few minutes wondering why he can't shut the case.

Just something to think about if you are considering putting straplocks as a matter of course. I used to do that, but now I'll only do it if I'm really having a problem with nearly dropping a guitar.

EDIT: Sorry, sometimes I forget about exactly what the original poster was talking about. Yeah man, if the strap's coming off, try a strap that seems like it has a stiffer hole for the button. If you're too wild and crazy for that, maybe the locks are for you.
 
#8
Strap locks are the same size as regular strap nuts but with a hole in it. You can take the big piece off and keep it on your strap so you can just snap it on. The reason I want a pair of strap locks is cause I have a B.C Rich and the nuts are on the back instead of the tip of the horn and near the input jack so it slips off the strap nut A LOT.
 
#9
I found a wide (about 4 inches) no-name leather strap at a GC a while ago for about $30 and it's great. Distributes the weight really well and it's kind of suede on the back side and doesn't slip on my shoulder. So, you can find a good wide leather strap for a reasonable price. They are out there.

Some basses I've had (one was an older G&L) had strap buttons that were big and shaped in such a way that I had to fight to get the strap on and off them. So, I never put strap locks on it. Some others (a Peavey Fury for example) had these little "cone" shaped strap buttons, and the strap could slip off if you breathed on it wrong. I used Schaller strap locks on that bass and others and they work great. I've never used Dunlap locks but I hear they are fine, also.
 
#11
I've been using Levy's straps and Dunlop Straploks for years now and have never had an issue with any of them. The Levy's do have the "woven" adjustment to them. Even though this one is only 2 1/2 inches wide it's never felt like the bass was too heavy. Maybe it's because of the suede backing that keeps it from sliding around and shifting the weight.

strap.gif
 
#13
i have strap locks on one of my basses and i love the security of knowing that my bass will not slip off it's strap. this has happened numerous times over the years and i've always been able to catch them but one of these times my luck will run out. the only problem i had with putting strap locks on my other basses is they are pretty expensive ( not as expensive as repairing a damaged instrument, but still ) since i never detach the strap, but instead lift it up so the strap can go over my neck and shoulder and keep it in the same position all the time i went to a hardware store and assembled some strap locks from a socket head screw and some washers and spacers made of nuts. you can paint them if you want ( mine gloss black ) and for a couple of bucks you have straplocks.
 
#16
All my basses have Dunlop straplocks on them. All my straps have Dunlop straplocks on them. So everything works out great and I can pick up about any strap and fit it on any bass.

The Levy's straps are VG, IMO. I have several. Also Moody and Italia Leather straps are nice, but both have increased dramatically in price over the past few years. I've used three of the Comfort Strapp / Brooklyn Gear neoprene straps for years and liked them a lot. However, I just traded them off for three of the Sadowsky straps and I think I like the Sados even better! The Sado pad is placed closer to the end of the strap than the CS / BG models, so it rides fully over your shoulder when playing.

So I can recommend Levy's, Italia, and Sado straps in no particular order. I'd probably go with the Sado over the other two a bit, but simply because I have several basses I play regularly and it uses a slide adjustment whereas the other two use the slotted type.

Just my $0.02.

Hope this helps!



dcr
 
#17
I've posted this on another (Essex) thread, but here's my hillbilly straplocks. $0.19 at the hardware store... including tax! If my strap ever comes off I'll eat my bass. :D It allows me to use my super cheap, super flimsy strap without worrying.
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#18
Use the widest leather strap you can find.

Cheap straplocks = washers. Find washers the right size (with a hole large enough so it slips over the smaller end of the strap button, but not the larger end). Remove the strap button, slide the washer over it and screw it back in. You should barely be able to slip the strap hole over the washer and it won't ever come off unless you want it to.

Maybe cost you twenty cents. EDIT: geoff beat me to it, but it works just as well (if not better) than straplocks. They will NEVER come loose on you and your bass will always fit in any case too.
 
#19
johhn smith said:
the only problem i had with putting strap locks on my other basses is they are pretty expensive ( not as expensive as repairing a damaged instrument, but still )
Click to expand...

I'm not seeing the logic in this statement....Are you worried about the resale value without the stock strap buttons? Do like I do and save them in the case. The Dunlop Straploks have the same footprint as the regular buttons on my Fenders, the Schecter and Ovation so there's no modification required.
 

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