Author Topic: Strap Locks anyone ?? (Read 2448 times)

edwardofhuncote · « **on:** July 10, 2015, 01:25:44 PM »

So, in the spirit of getting the cart waaaay ahead of the mule on the heels of this upcoming custom order, I've been doing some reading on strap locks...

http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=4317.msg51920#msg51920

Right off the top I'll just say I don't care for them, and never needed them before.

That said, being something of a instrument repair hack, I'm quite familiar with the consequences of carelessness, so my nature is to exercise extreme care when hooking up. I never even leave my strap on a bass during set breaks. Heck, I don't even trust guitar stands. That said, sometimes stuff just happens... no matter how careful you are.

Personally, I like these D'Addario buttons:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/strap-buttons-for-fretted-instruments/daddario-planet-waves-metal-guitar-strap-buttons?rNtt=planet%20waves%20strap%20button%20&index=2

I put a set of the brass ones on my Persuader last year, and liked them so well that I bought three more sets for other basses.

Should I be rethinking this? It is going on a custom Alembic after all. Keep in mind, they'll be going on an Anniversary Omega body five-string. (which is a tad smaller than a Standard Omega body)

keith_h · « **Reply #1 on:** July 10, 2015, 01:48:04 PM »

Alembics come standard with Schaller strap locks. I've been using them since the late 70's without any problems. I like the fact that they are U shaped so if by some chance the pin comes out of the hole they will still hold the bass. The nut on the strap portion can get loose but all I do is add a dab of blue loctite when I tighten it and have never had one come apart. Personally I won't play any instrument I own standing up without some type of strap lock system.

If you want to be really sure you could use Stanley Clarke's method. He takes a long screw and a washer to permanently attach the strap to the bass.

Keith

gearhed289 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 10, 2015, 02:36:26 PM »

I'm totally with Keith on this, especially the U shaped part. I don't trust the little ball bearings on the Dunlop style. I also don't like when manufacturers recess those ones into the body. I did the washer thing here and there, but eventually put Schallers on all my basses.

sonicus · « **Reply #3 on:** July 10, 2015, 02:52:22 PM »

Schaller strap locks for me as well .

I use just a tiny bit of Blue Loctite 242 on the threads for the strap parts. Just a tiny bit . Have a nice rag handy if you need to clean up the strap a bit afterward.

http://www.loctiteproducts.com/p/t_lkr_blue/overview/Loctite-Threadlocker-Blue-242.htm

I do not advise using the Red Loctite for this application.

Wolf

bsee · « **Reply #4 on:** July 10, 2015, 04:09:26 PM »

The only issue I've ever had with Schallers is the screw backing out once, but I felt it wobble before it came totally out and now I regularly ensure the screws are in tight.

cozmik_cowboy · « **Reply #5 on:** July 10, 2015, 06:58:44 PM »

Schaller. On every electric I own or ever had care of. Period.
(Yes, including '53 Les Paul & '59 ES-330-TD).

Peter (who will pass on the vintage-correct sound of headstock hitting floor, thank you very much)

jazzyvee · « **Reply #6 on:** July 11, 2015, 01:26:39 AM »

I use the Schaller straplpocks on all my basses and guitars. Like Bsee mentions, I think you have to check the screw and the strap fixing regularly as they do work loose over time.
A college lecturers mantra to us during our engineering apprenticeship was, if it moves...... or gets warm........, yaw cn bet yawer bottom dollar it'll wear ewt and bray-eek...... check iiit.

(for the non UK guy's, thats me trying to write in phonetic brummie)

edwardofhuncote · « **Reply #7 on:** July 11, 2015, 05:14:24 AM »

Thanks for all the feedback fellas!

Well, clearly I'm in a minority on this one, and you guys surly have the experienced voice. =)

Since I've got plenty of time to ponder options, maybe what I should do is try a set of Schallers on my Persuader for a while this Summer and see if I warm to them.

Thanks All!

edwardofhuncote · « **Reply #8 on:** July 11, 2015, 05:24:21 AM »

And you're hilarious Jazzy! Next time you're oh-vahh hee-ahh, I'll teach you some Southwest Virginia Brummie that would baffle even my (ancestral) homefolks in old Huncote.

Brits & Americans - two peoples separated by a common language... indeed. =)

charles_holmes · « **Reply #9 on:** July 11, 2015, 07:13:12 AM »

I used Stanley's approach, I took my strap locks off, got two wood screws, four 3/4 washers (two for each end) and screwed them right into the bass and I don't ever have to worry about the strap slipping off the holder!!

lbpesq · « **Reply #10 on:** July 11, 2015, 08:42:15 AM »

Schallers are my first choice. The one exception is on guitars that have the strap button on the back of the neck. In this position I prefer the Dunlops as the Schallers tend to stick out more, are relatively sharp, and poke me in the tummy as I play. And, of course, I ALWAYS check the buttons and locking part on the strap to make sure everything is tight.

Bill, tgo

cozmik_cowboy · « **Reply #11 on:** July 11, 2015, 08:57:35 PM »

Interesting, Bill; that's the last place I would go with Dunlop, given their push-to-release design, and neither I nor anyone I roadied for ever had a complaint about pokage. And although I will admit I now have considerably more belly to push on the back with than you do, I went 100% Schaller 100 lbs ago. Besides, that U channel does make me feel all warm & fuzzy.

Peter

jon_jackson · « **Reply #12 on:** July 12, 2015, 08:28:57 AM »

I've done what Bill has on my SC, although I use the Schallers on all others. Like Bill said, the button on the SC kept poking me. I also use Locktite on the strap parts and the screw into the bass. Since doing so several years ago, I haven't had any issue with looseness, although the parts can still be disassembled when necessary.
Jon

jalevinemd · « **Reply #13 on:** July 12, 2015, 09:08:47 AM »

Schaller's all the way! For the small handful of my guitars that have a strap button on the back, I go with the rubber washer technique.

edwardofhuncote · « **Reply #14 on:** July 12, 2015, 09:20:14 AM »

FWIW, another famous Alembican emailed me privately, they use Dunlop straplocks *without* using the locking mechanism. They're physically larger buttons, making it very difficult to accidentally unhook your strap when used like that. But then so are the ones I currently use.

Of the straplocks I've looked at, I like the Schallers best... very solid *snap* when they engage, and as Keith and Coz pointed out, the U-shaped design would still hold even if the lock failed.

I dunno... I mean, bottom line - however unlikely, it's more hardware to fail, and another fastener to make sure is tight. Plus, as a matter of habit, I never, *ever*, let go of my bass anyway. I can't imagine the Vulcan-like mindset changing even with the added safety of straplocks in place, so there isn't really much to lose by trying them for a while.

As a humorous aside, I was talking to another guitar player about this yesterday, who often (for good-natured sport) questions my thing for finer musical instruments. They were like - Are you serious!? You're actually spending time thinking about what strap buttons to put on a bass!? My reply, Well... yeah, of course I'm serious... why would I not?

This just in folks - we're different. I have to assume that's how we all ended up here.