Alembic Guitars Club
Connecting => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: Glynn on January 27, 2017, 07:54:54 AM
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I have managed 51 years without strap locks - should I get them? Very wary of interfering with the body of my Alembic Orion 4 and I am rubbish at DIY. If I should, which ones?
Glynn
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Glynn, I too, was reluctant to switch to strap locks, but after trying them, I have found them indispensable. They are now installed on every bass guitar I own, except for one.
Here was my thread: http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=438.0
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I recently installed them on a couple of basses and yes, I like the peace of mind they afford a great deal.
John
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I have put Schaller strap locks on every electric I have owned or have care of, including a '53 Les Paul, a '59 Strat, & a '59 ES-330-TD. I will continue to do so, because I've seen the result of not doing so.
I use flip-top beer-bottle washers on acoustics.
Peter
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Glynn I have Schaller's on all of my Alembics. The hardest part is getting the lock on your strap and it's not that hard. Once on, I do recommend checking them periodically, to make sure that they are tight, because over time they can work their way loose.
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Glynn I have Schaller's on all of my Alembics. The hardest part is getting the lock on your strap and it's not that hard. Once on, I do recommend checking them periodically, to make sure that they are tight, because over time they can work their way loose.
100% agree. Preventive maintenance is a must, I have had the strap end of a Schaller lock loosen and fall off - once. Since then I periodically check and have found it needing to be re-tightened.
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Glynn I have Schaller's on all of my Alembics. The hardest part is getting the lock on your strap and it's not that hard. Once on, I do recommend checking them periodically, to make sure that they are tight, because over time they can work their way loose.
100% agree. Preventive maintenance is a must, I have had the strap end of a Schaller lock loosen and fall off - once. Since then I periodically check and have found it needing to be re-tightened.
The way I resolve this is once the leather in the strap has had a chance to compress I loosen the nut and add a drop of blue Loctite before retightening. With the straps I use it usually takes a week or so of daily tightening to fully compress the leather.
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I know a lot of people like srtap locks, but they make me nervous. I prefer a large strap button like those found on older Alembics and a thick leather strap. I put a large rubber washer on top to ensure the strap does not come off.
One of my basses has recessed strap locks. I don't really trust the locking mechanism, it looks to me like there are too many opportunities for it to malfunction, come apart from the strap, or mistakenly be connected incorrectly. I used it a couple of times and found myself constantly checking to make sure It was secure. So now I just use that one while sitting down and playing. I'm hoping I can replace the recessed locks with traditional large strap buttons, but that might not be possible due to the large holes required for the recessed locks.
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IMHO the only good reason not to use straplocks (Schaller) is if you always play in a seated position all the time and have a high quality guitar stand by your side.
I use them with all my basses and have never had one fail. Then again I'm not the type to be flinging one of my Alembics up in the air or spinning it behind my back in an attempt to look cool (which is exceeding difficult at my age... the looking cool part that is). Although I wouldn't call them fool proof and they do require a check on a regular basis, they provide me with a much greater sense of security than any other method d I've seen used
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Thanks a lot. Anyone heard of LOKXX strap locks - they seem a nice and simple system.
Glynn.
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Thanks a lot. Anyone heard of LOKXX strap locks - they seem a nice and simple system.
Glynn.
From a design standpoint, they remind me a bit of the Dunlops. Obviously they're a good product as legions of guitarists have used them for decades. I just feel safer with the Schallers. Even if the springs and locks give way, the strap button will still be held in the U of the strap lock simply by the weight of the instrument. Just an added measure of security and the only ones I use on my Alembics.
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I just feel safer with the Schallers. Even if the springs and locks give way, the strap button will still be held in the U of the strap lock simply by the weight of the instrument. Just an added measure of security and the only ones I use on my Alembics.
Had we a "like" button, I would be pounding it for this one!
Peter
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I prefer the Dunlops.
I had the Schallers, but that U-shaped part on the strap always made me nervous about scratching the axe with them, and Schaller must put a 50-pound spring on the things.
The flush-mounts are really nice . . . . . until you forget your strap, and realize that if you borrow a strap, there's NOTHING to hook onto !
Plus, the Dunlops have the smallest diameter to pass thru the holes in your strap ends. I had a Schaller set that would NOT go through a Levy's strap until I went to a leatherwork shop and had them enlarge the hole.
Joey
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I have a leather punch, Joey; I have also used a drill.
And the U on the Schallers stands off from the body a good 1/4" at least.
I have seen Dunlops release with an accidental bump. Yes, it's less common with their 2nd and later designs, but it's still a possibility I can't live with. Give me pull-to-release with the redundancy of the U, thanks.
But I'm glad the Dunlops work for you, and hope you never get converted the hard way....... :'(
Peter
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I take my old picks and cut them with my jewellers saw like a bread tab; they last for years if you use heavy picks and are repurposing; if you don't have a jeweller's saw a heavy-duty large hole punch and side cutters would do the same job...Tony
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I have schallers on all my basses and guitars. My series I shorty came with dunlops fitted which I wasn't comfortable with. Fortunately they had been installed in a different place to the original strap buttons so I could install some schallers into the original holes. I now have two sets of strap holding hardware on that bass.
I've never had a schaller fail but did change one set on my 1997 Europa bass as the button on the bass had a developed a flat spot on it and the spring on the strap end was starting to stick. The advice above about checking regularly for tightness is good as I have found that they don't stay that way forever.
I guess the most secure is the method Stanley uses which is to screw the strap to the body using a large washer and wood screw.
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A cool new (well, to me anyway) option:
http://www.stewmac.com/Hardware_and_Parts/Strap_Buttons/Diago_Twistlock_Secure_Strap_Buttons.html
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I saw those Stewmacs in an email they sent me a couple of weeks ago. To me, they look like you need an old strap with a seriously worn strap button hole to fit it over these. I certainly wouldn't want to try wrestling a thick, stiff strap, (like an Italia), over the Stewmacs. I'll stick with Schallers.
Bill, tgo
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I take my old picks and cut them with my jewellers saw like a bread tab; they last for years if you use heavy picks and are repurposing; if you don't have a jeweller's saw a heavy-duty large hole punch and side cutters would do the same job...Tony
#bass_strap_hack :D
Brilliant repurposing idea!
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Ok, let me revisit this post...
i had Schaller strap locks on my MK5 and now on my Anniversary 5, and after few gig I notice that the screw is untied, so since I was always using Dunlop, and never had problems with them, question is. Can I just buy Dunlop and switch them on my bass?
That U Schaller thing is unscrewing the screw. I just don't wanna think about strap locks as I do on Dunlop.
Thanks
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Ok, let me revisit this post...
i had Schaller strap locks on my MK5 and now on my Anniversary 5, and after few gig I notice that the screw is untied, so since I was always using Dunlop, and never had problems with them, question is. Can I just buy Dunlop and switch them on my bass?
That U Schaller thing is unscrewing the screw. I just don't wanna think about strap locks as I do on Dunlop.
Thanks
These are the new Schallers with the one-piece screw/button? I have experience with those, but am not enthusiastic about the change; it does look like that might be a problem (in over 4 decades of using the old style ones, both on my own instruments and those I had care of in my roadie days, that never happened).
If that is the case, check Stew-Mac; they sell several brnads that are clones of the old Schallers; replace the one-piece button and there's no need to go back to an inferior design.
Peter
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Ok, let me revisit this post...
i had Schaller strap locks on my MK5 and now on my Anniversary 5, and after few gig I notice that the screw is untied, so since I was always using Dunlop, and never had problems with them, question is. Can I just buy Dunlop and switch them on my bass?
That U Schaller thing is unscrewing the screw. I just don't wanna think about strap locks as I do on Dunlop.
Thanks
So the "button" that is screwed into the body gets loose? Sounds like perhaps the screw is not the right size (length and/or thickness). If you can find a slightly larger screw that fits the button, but at the same time bites into the wood, that might do the trick.
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Ok, let me revisit this post...
i had Schaller strap locks on my MK5 and now on my Anniversary 5, and after few gig I notice that the screw is untied, so since I was always using Dunlop, and never had problems with them, question is. Can I just buy Dunlop and switch them on my bass?
That U Schaller thing is unscrewing the screw. I just don't wanna think about strap locks as I do on Dunlop.
Thanks
These are the new Schallers with the one-piece screw/button? I have experience with those, but am not enthusiastic about the change; it does look like that might be a problem (in over 4 decades of using the old style ones, both on my own instruments and those I had care of in my roadie days, that never happened).
If that is the case, check Stew-Mac; they sell several brnads that are clones of the old Schallers; replace the one-piece button and there's no need to go back to an inferior design.
Peter
You can always use the old style Schaller buttons with the new S-Locks.
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I've used Schallers since the mid 80s. I like the sort of "double" protection you get with the U shaped part that goes on the strap. I know the Dunlops have worked fine for people for decades, but I'm wary of the little ball bearings. My most recent Alembic (Distillate Exploiter) came with recessed Dunlops, so I'm kind of stuck with them on that one. I don't love the concept of having them recessed because you're kind of screwed if you lose or forget your strap. There's nothing to attach a lock-free strap to. I leave a cheap, spare strap with Dunlop ends in the case for peace of mind.
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Compression of the wood cells is the primary reason for the anchoring wood screw loosening. This happens everywhere - the anchor screws on the machine heads, the nuts on the machine heads, all the controls and face-mounted output jacks, plus the wood screws that hold strap locks and strap pins. When those wood cell walls crush from the pressure over time, it acts the same at the screw loosening. Once it gets started, it shows up on the strap anchors faster, since there is torque and other forces involved.
I think the reason it seems more prevalent on the strap locks is that people tend to feel secure since they are "locks" and don't check the pressure of the wood screw until its really loose. With the strap pins, you interact with the pin and your strap more directly than with the lock.
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My most recent Alembic (Distillate Exploiter) came with recessed Dunlops, so I'm kind of stuck with them on that one
i thought i bid adieu to recessed strap locks with that bass but then the SII showed up with them. it's kinda nice to not have the contour of the instrument body broken up by a strap pin sticking out. they are really hard to line up if you're putting yer strap on at the same time yer tring to get it over your shoulders (rookie move i suppose). that one on the bridge end of the bass can be particularly vexing if yer in a hurry and tring to get it lined up by braille while keeping the instrument from falling outta yer hands, gouging the finish or hitting yer bandmate in the head. any kind of lateral tension makes them almost impossible to release. so ya really gotta leave the strap on the bass. which is ok, i suppose. getting that SII up over my head with the strap on it is getting to be a high-risk manuver these days.
schallers on the rest of the basses. each bass has its own strap so they hang with them. those "U" locks like to twirl themselves around at night when there's nobody around and get the strap all twisted. at least on my basses anyways.
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I've used Schallers since the mid 80s. I like the sort of "double" protection you get with the U shaped part that goes on the strap. I know the Dunlops have worked fine for people for decades....
Yep, the U is key; that and the pull-to-release instead of Dunlop's push ones. I don't think I've ever encountered the recessed Dunlops - but I have seen both the original design with the button protruding and the second design where it's kind of "protected" release from accidental bumps. More timjes than I like to think about.
Peter
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Ok, let me revisit this post...
i had Schaller strap locks on my MK5 and now on my Anniversary 5, and after few gig I notice that the screw is untied, so since I was always using Dunlop, and never had problems with them, question is. Can I just buy Dunlop and switch them on my bass?
That U Schaller thing is unscrewing the screw. I just don't wanna think about strap locks as I do on Dunlop.
Thanks
So the "button" that is screwed into the body gets loose? Sounds like perhaps the screw is not the right size (length and/or thickness). If you can find a slightly larger screw that fits the button, but at the same time bites into the wood, that might do the trick.
I think the screw is right size, because first it happened on the horn, I screw that up and then on the other screw, same thing was happening on my MK Deluxe, I think it's the way I move on stage. As I can see my bass doesn't have any washers between Schaller strap lock and wood.
I have Dunlop and two of my basses and that doesn't happen because it's different mechanism.
[/quote]You can always use the old style Schaller buttons with the new S-Locks.
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Yea haven't tried the new S-locks.