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to strap lock or not to strap lock...

Do you use strap locks?

  • Yes, I use 'em

    Votes: 230 82.7%
  • No strap locks for me!

    Votes: 34 12.2%
  • Who cares - I want pizza ;-)

    Votes: 14 5.0%

  • Total voters
    278
Dis iz even betta:
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Last week I had a gig on which I used my Fender (a bass I rarely play these days). I'd always used the "Grolsch strap lock system" (rubber washers) with that bass but decided it wouldn't be a big deal if I didn't for this gig. Bad idea. After the second song I reached for the water bottle on my amp and... down went the bass. Ouch.
 
  • Like
Reactions: joenoone
This thread is so old, but I love that it's still going haha. I use strap locks on all my basses except my P bass. It's a master built relic and I didn't want to take out the existing strap..pins? knobs? never really though about what they're called! Anyways, I use the Grolsch rubber washers on that bass, and just leave the strap on all the time to avoid stretching the rubber washers. I also keep a few extra pairs in my case in the event one breaks (which hasn't happened), or something likes the idea and I can give them a pair (which has happened multiple times). I got a bag of 50 of them for around $6 on amazon. Can't go wrong!
 
Those Klusons look cool to my taste. I have the Schaller ones and they're okay, but on my '61 Gretsch Firebord Jet guitar it has thread on locks like the Klusons, only smaller. I'm debating to either get some Gretsch ones or Klusons for my Warmoth-meets-Lotus fretless project. The Klusons have a nice low profile on the strap. Plus with thread ons, any strap can be swapped, unlike the Schallers and Dunlops.
 
i've never used strap locks - i know it seems silly, but i don't like the idea of drilling the holes bigger. on the other hand, i can see where strap locks could be a very good idea. my husband adds strap locks to all his electric guitars, and i'm thinking it would make my basses more secure if i installed 'em.

thoughts? who here uses strap locks and who doesn't?
You will.
The day you decide to pull that tired old "spin your bass around your back and catch it"Rock 'N' Roll move,your bass will decide to go into orbit.
Or when you go to do the '"C'mon everybody put your hands in the air"move,your bass will make like a nuclear sub.
You will.
 
i've never used strap locks - i know it seems silly, but i don't like the idea of drilling the holes bigger. on the other hand, i can see where strap locks could be a very good idea. my husband adds strap locks to all his electric guitars, and i'm thinking it would make my basses more secure if i installed 'em.

thoughts? who here uses strap locks and who doesn't?

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I started using the Dimarzio cliplock. I gotta tell you. I put off trying one for a long time because I thought it looked like it was made out of cheap material like the cheapo $6 straps you can find. It's NOT. It's basically made out the same material used for seat belts in cars.

The biggest strength to this is it's like having a recessed strap lock system because the strap sits right next to the body. It doesn't stick out away from the body like a lot of strap locks do. And Ive had bad experiences with bending screws and once even breaking a screw with those types of systems. Because I jump around onstage and the farther the strap is away from the body the more stress it puts on the screw. They are fine if you don't move around and just want a locking system so you don't accidentally drop your bass. But if you jump around. The cliplock is the way to go.
 
As for the Kluson screw-type strap locks mentioned earlier in the thread (similar to Gretsch strap buttons, no?), I've found that tightening them in turn torques the button screw leading to stripping of the wood around the button-screw.

Depends on how tight you tighten `em! ;)

The Klusons come with a felt washer that goes between the strap button and the bass body. It does a good job of protecting the bass's finish. I tend to screw the buttons in pretty firmly during installation (even using a drop or two of glue if there's any doubt...), then only screwing the caps on finger tight.