Author Topic: Strap Locks (Read 758 times)

Glynn · « **on:** October 29, 2015, 08:24:27 AM »

What do people think of possibly installing strap locks on my Alembic Orion 4?
Never used them before and a bit reluctant to interfere with the instrument.
Loxx seem to have a good write up.
Glynn

lbpesq · « **Reply #1 on:** October 29, 2015, 09:15:51 AM »

I've installed Schaller strap locks on all my Alembics and other guitars. Love 'em! Never heard of the Loxx before. They look like a cross between the Dunlop strap locks, and the ragtop fasteners on my 1958 Triumph TR3. I prefer the Schallers - even if the lock fails,(which it never has in many years of use on numerous guitars), the Schallers will stay attached by gravity. One caveat with the Schallers, and any strap locks: regularly check to insure all the nuts are tight and haven't loosened up.

Bill, tgo

wayne · « **Reply #2 on:** October 29, 2015, 11:18:12 AM »

Yes.

Pick your flavor and use them.

(+1 for what Bill said - check the connections regularly)

C-Ya............wayne

keith_h · « **Reply #3 on:** October 29, 2015, 11:32:23 AM »

From my first Alembic they have all been delivered with Schaller strap locks included in the case. I wouldn't play without them. What I do is tighten the strap nut down over a few days as the leather compresses. After that I loosen the nut and put a small dab of Locktite blue on the threads and re-tighten the nut. I've never had one loosen up after doing that. I also give the button a twist and jiggle before hooking up to make sure the screw hasn't loosened. I used to do the same on my non-Alembics in my pre strap lock days.

Keith

briant · « **Reply #4 on:** October 29, 2015, 11:55:50 AM »

I've been using DiMarzio strap locks on all my Alembics for years. I'm not a huge fan of the button style strap locks.

briant · « **Reply #5 on:** October 29, 2015, 11:56:09 AM »

I've been using DiMarzio strap locks on all my Alembics for years. I'm not a huge fan of the button style strap locks.

lbpesq · « **Reply #6 on:** October 29, 2015, 06:02:21 PM »

One other thing about the Schallers; if your strap breaks or the locking part fails, you can still use a regular strap in a pinch. If your recessed strap locks, or a DiMarzio type system fails, you'll be doing the gig sitting down.

Bill, tgo

JuancarlinBass · « **Reply #7 on:** October 30, 2015, 05:09:55 AM »

Dunlop straplocks guy here. Except on Floyd-Rose trem guitars and all my non-alembic 5er basses (DiMarzio Cliplocks), and on my Van-Halen-ized 5150 clone guitar (Formerly an US-made Peavey Tracer), which has the hard way strap lock by using eye hooks and washers (washer-strap eye-washer-tightened eye hook). A little wild, yes...

cozmik_cowboy · « **Reply #8 on:** October 30, 2015, 08:36:15 PM »

I've installed Schaller strap locks on all my Alembics and other guitars. Love 'em! Never heard of the Loxx before. They look like a cross between the Dunlop strap locks, and the ragtop fasteners on my 1958 Triumph TR3. I prefer the Schallers - even if the lock fails,(which it never has in many years of use on numerous guitars), the Schallers will stay attached by gravity. One caveat with the Schallers, and any strap locks: regularly check to insure all the nuts are tight and haven't loosened up.

One other thing about the Schallers; if your strap breaks or the locking part fails, you can still use a regular strap in a pinch. If your recessed strap locks, or a DiMarzio type system fails, you'll be doing the gig sitting down.

Allow me to strongly second Bill's thoughts; all Schaller all the time! Keep them tight and they will not fail; Dunlops will. I also had never heard of Loxx, but a quick search shows nothing that makes me want to try them (and I'd worry about the plastic clip on the D'Marzio and, as with the others, the lack of redundancy.
An old friend just responded to my comment that I had no jazz box by insisting I accept a Washburn J5 on open-ended loan; my first question - OK if I put Schallers on it? I'm even thinking about breaking out the drill & putting a set on my classical (as I no longer have a lap in which to hold it.....)

Peter (Did I ever mention I like Schallers?)

briant · « **Reply #9 on:** November 02, 2015, 03:13:31 PM »

I've used the DiMarzio strap locks for 20 years and have never had one break or fail.

Glynn · « **Reply #10 on:** November 03, 2015, 12:36:13 AM »

Thanks for all the comments. Can anyone make a case for NOT using them? A friend of mine has never used them and says that from time to time he just changes his strap to maintain the tight fit.
Glynn

keith_h · « **Reply #11 on:** November 03, 2015, 05:10:26 AM »

I'm sure a luthier who needs the work could come up with a reason not to use strap locks.

With the strap locks I've never bought another strap after finding ones I like for an instrument. I still have my 70's Fret Sling that I use with my Jazz Bass and never had to worry about the hole opening up. Wish I could still get the Fret Sling. Oh well.

Keith

ed_zeppelin · « **Reply #12 on:** November 03, 2015, 08:55:13 AM »

Here's the earliest discussion about strap locks I could find, from 2004: http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=4415

Another from 2005: http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=4317

The most recent ongoing discussion: http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=438

Please understand that I'm only providing links to those threads in the interest of furthering the discussion, not as a comment on this thread itself. In other words; carry on.

I've noticed that two solutions nobody has mentioned in any of those threads is bread bag clips. I've had them on my G&L since the 80s. Or you can pop a couple of bucks for the Joe Satriani signature ... um, bread bag clips (what else do you call 'em?):

http://straptight.com/store/products/

Another approach that nobody has mentioned is using inserts/helicoils for the strap button screw. I've used threaded inserts (like every screw on an Alembic, except strap buttons), most often for bolting necks, especially Teles. We got them from Grainger's, but they only sell wholesale.

Now you can buy WBS Neck Lock Systems (I love how everything is a system nowadays. In fact, I just got out of ... Sleep system and had a cup of coffee from our ... uh, brewing system ...)

Looks like that about covers the extremes: Joe Satriani signature bread bag clips (or the free version ) or threaded inserts, which provide their own issues, like the softness of the brass (you can also use stainless steel inserts, if you know where to look: http://tinyurl.com/qdhf567 )

Or slap a big washer on either side of your strap tab and bolt that baby on with a hex-head lag bolt, like Stanley Clarke:

------------------------------------------------------------------
From http://www.alembic.com/info/fc_dragonsbreath.html

You're not imagining things, there are no strap pins or locks or holders of any sort on the bass. Stanley has always screwed his strap directly to the bass, and doesn't need any facility to remove the strap. A large woodscrew and washer do the trick, and are his ultimate straplock.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

JEFF Beck, Eric Clapton, Tony Levin, Duane Allman and countless other musicians bolt their straps directly to their guitars.

The general rule of thumb is that if something has to be taken apart, use inserts (again, they're all over our Alembics), otherwise stick with wood screws. YMMV.

I use Schallers, but I've noticed a problem that nobody else has mentioned: the tall knob on the straplock can get damaged or bent in a tight-fitting guitar case. That happened to my Jazz Bass, but I didn't do anything about it. The lock is still on there - bent - but it still works dandy.

(Message edited by Ed_zeppelin on November 03, 2015)

ed_zeppelin · « **Reply #13 on:** November 03, 2015, 09:56:52 AM »

>>> I'm sure a luthier who needs the work could come up with a reason not to use strap locks.

ed_zeppelin · « **Reply #14 on:** November 03, 2015, 10:22:39 AM »

This is how Epiphone deals with it: