Strap locks

[jazzyvee]

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.

[xlrogue6]

A cool new (well, to me anyway) option:
http://www.stewmac.com/Hardware_and_Parts/Strap_Buttons/Diago_Twistlock_Secure_Strap_Buttons.html

[lbpesq]

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

[pauldo]

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 
Brilliant repurposing idea!

[goran]

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

[cozmik_cowboy]

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

[adriaan]

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.

[adriaan]

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.

[gearhed289]

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.

[mica]

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.

[BeenDown139]

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.

[cozmik_cowboy]

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

[goran]

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.
[/quote]

Yea haven't tried the new S-locks.