Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: richard on May 27, 2012, 08:18:49 PM

Title: Locking Guitar Straps
Post by: richard on May 27, 2012, 08:18:49 PM
My (rather heavy) Firebird Studio slipped off the strap for the umpteenth time at a gig on Friday. I caught it but I know that one day I won't. So I've ordered a Planet Waves locking strap. I've read that they can be a bit awkward if you have a strap button on the back of your guitar rather than on the horn but I'm more concerned about the safety of my guitar than my comfort.

Anyone used one ?
Title: Re: Locking Guitar Straps
Post by: Andrew W on May 27, 2012, 11:29:04 PM
I've used these (http://www.andertons.co.uk/misc-guitar-accessories/pid12542/cid590/jim-dunlop-straplok-plastic-strap-lock-price-per-pair.asp) in the past as a cheap solution and found them OK so if you don't get on with the strap they might provide an alternative. I wouldn't swing a guitar around my head with those strap locks but they stopped me dropping my weighty Les Paul Special lots of times.
Title: Re: Locking Guitar Straps
Post by: Philly Q on May 28, 2012, 12:11:54 AM
Yeah, those plastic straplocks work well - and the Planet Waves strap looks like essentially a posh version of the same thing.

Personally I've always liked Schaller straplocks, I'm sure someone else will pipe up for the Dunlop ones.

Now, how long before someone mentions those rubber rings from Grolsch bottle caps?  :wink:
Title: Re: Locking Guitar Straps
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on May 28, 2012, 12:49:33 AM
I'm sure someone else will pipe up for the Dunlop ones.


Yes - me!
Title: Re: Locking Guitar Straps
Post by: _tom_ on May 28, 2012, 02:31:31 AM
Schaller for me, because even if the locking pin fails then the strap should stay on.
Title: Re: Locking Guitar Straps
Post by: Pete24v on May 28, 2012, 08:18:18 AM
I've used Schaller ones for 15yrs, had many sets, the oldest set is 10yr old. None have ever failed on me.
Title: Re: Locking Guitar Straps
Post by: Bob Gnarly on May 28, 2012, 08:33:18 AM
My straplocks. Idea stolen from EVH. Carabiner  through the strap holes and your guitar is going no where.

(http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/vv239/barrydodds/DSC01130.jpg)
Title: Re: Locking Guitar Straps
Post by: AndyR on May 28, 2012, 08:39:59 AM
Now, how long before someone mentions those rubber rings from Grolsch bottle caps?  :wink:

:lol:

Not me, hate the stuff... but I do use these lawn-mower blades, or similar (I wouldn't want these particular ones, my current supply is black)(Although these green ones might suit Toe-Kee's swirly partscaster? :lol:):

http://www.islandworkshopsupplies.co.uk/product.php/site/froogle/sn/ALMQT028 (http://www.islandworkshopsupplies.co.uk/product.php/site/froogle/sn/ALMQT028)

Just cut the blade bit off. Enough for 10 sets of straplocks in a pack, approx £3.50. Never failed me yet... (the Schallers have done, many years ago, when I was gigging - and I found they made "clonking noises" that came through on guitar parts).

My nephew asked for the Dunlop things for Christmas (in a guitar support package that included straps, tuner, etc, etc... he wasn't quite as economical as that sounds!). When I found the Dunlop ones, I nearly got him a packet of ALM mower blades instead. I thought that might seem a bit naff, though. However, after the event, he reckoned I should have done :lol: (he might even have got some himself by now...)

Title: Re: Locking Guitar Straps
Post by: gwEm on May 28, 2012, 08:45:01 AM
I'm sure someone else will pipe up for the Dunlop ones.


Yes - me!
+1 all the way!
Title: Re: Locking Guitar Straps
Post by: AndyR on May 28, 2012, 09:09:03 AM
I'm sure someone else will pipe up for the Dunlop ones.


Yes - me!
+1 all the way!

I must admit, if I hadn't found the mower blade solution years ago (before these existed), I'd be using them as well.
Title: Re: Locking Guitar Straps
Post by: Philly Q on May 28, 2012, 09:24:38 AM
I'm sure someone else will pipe up for the Dunlop ones.


Yes - me!

That's who I was thinking of!  :wink:

Must admit I've always been "anti" the Dunlop system because the very first set of them I ever had was defective - there was something wrong with the spring mechanism and the locks would just drop straight out of the buttons.  I've tried them again subsequently and they were OK.... but I'm sticking with Schallers.

By the way, has anyone noticed that there seem to be a lot of copies of Schaller straplocks on the market now?  Maybe their patent has expired or something - if indeed patents can expire....
Title: Re: Locking Guitar Straps
Post by: Mr. Air on May 28, 2012, 09:54:47 AM
I like the Schaller ones. I've never had a problem with'em.
Title: Re: Locking Guitar Straps
Post by: richardjmorgan on May 28, 2012, 02:18:37 PM
Schallers or pop-top beer rubber bits for me.
Title: Re: Locking Guitar Straps
Post by: witeter on May 28, 2012, 04:39:47 PM
All my guitars are equipped with Planet Waves locking straps, they are yet to fail me live!
Title: Re: Locking Guitar Straps
Post by: Oli on May 28, 2012, 11:00:53 PM
I believe that DMoney is our resident Grolsh straplock user-- I'm a Schaller guy myself, but i've always wanted to recess the Dunlop ones into a guitar as it'd be a nice touch... perhaps when I get an SG, as I don't think the Schallers will be comfortable sticking that far out of the back of the guitar.
Title: Re: Locking Guitar Straps
Post by: Philly Q on May 29, 2012, 12:28:51 AM
... perhaps when I get an SG, as I don't think the Schallers will be comfortable sticking that far out of the back of the guitar.

I find the Schallers are fine on behind-the-neck strap buttons, there's enough room to get your thumb/hand under the strap at that point.
Title: Re: Locking Guitar Straps
Post by: TheyCallMeVolume on May 29, 2012, 07:35:48 PM
My straplocks. Idea stolen from EVH. Carabiner  through the strap holes and your guitar is going no where.

+1 I use this in both my Les Paul Trad and Explorer, I think it just works very well. I don't know how active you'll be with the guitar, but if there was one way to make sure your guitar does not go ANYWHERE, it would be this. And it looks pretty badass too!
Title: Re: Locking Guitar Straps
Post by: Copperhead on May 29, 2012, 11:33:22 PM
I've used the Dunlops forever. Tried the Schallers once but found them too fiddly to switch guitars in a hurry.
Title: Re: Locking Guitar Straps
Post by: Fixxxer_1988 on June 01, 2012, 06:59:19 PM
Without a doubt Schaller strap locks are the absolute best out there!
Title: Re: Locking Guitar Straps
Post by: northlane.josh on June 08, 2012, 05:59:37 AM
I've had schallers come out of the body before.

The ONLY ones I'll use are dunlop flush mount.
The look great, work great and the only instance where they can fail is if the mechanism becomes rusted.
Generally I change the buttons on my strap every 6 months or so.
Besides this they're foolproof and unless you play sweat sauna venues like i do, you'll be fine
Title: Re: Locking Guitar Straps
Post by: SrDeMaFp on June 09, 2012, 08:27:05 AM
Dunlop (the flush-mounts kick-ass but, scare the hell out of me to install!) and Grolsch gaskets for me.
Title: Re: Locking Guitar Straps
Post by: HTH AMPS on June 10, 2012, 10:35:40 PM
Schaller ones for me, have 'em on all my guitars.

Title: Re: Locking Guitar Straps
Post by: SrDeMaFp on June 11, 2012, 04:24:09 AM
And to any Grolsch-haters - I recently saw none other than Mr. Jeff Beck using 'em!
Title: Re: Locking Guitar Straps
Post by: richard on June 11, 2012, 06:49:48 PM
Got the Planet Waves strap and it works fine. Saves screwing around changing the hardware of the guitar. But - they should make two models of the this strap - one for Strat types (button on the horn) and one for Gibsons (button on back of the neck). With my Firebird the Strap is a bit twisted which it wouldn't be if the fitting was reversed on one end of the strap. Having said that, it's not really a problem and I feel much safer at gigs.