Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: indysmith on October 05, 2007, 03:53:38 PM

Title: straplocks
Post by: indysmith on October 05, 2007, 03:53:38 PM
bloody edwards keeps coming off its strap.
I'm looking for some decent straplocks that will fit the holes without me having to do any drilling or suchlike - it's proving difficult to get a straight answer out of the internet as to which straplocks will fit typical LP holes, so i thought i'd ask you lot, who probably have some experience as to what works...
Thanks a bunch guys
Title: straplocks
Post by: badgermark on October 05, 2007, 04:09:13 PM
I use these. (http://www.guitar.co.uk/accessories/straps/913-jim_dunlop_straplok_lok_strap)

Cheap and do the job. Not a hard job to plug up and screw in new strap knobs anyway.

A matchstick, wood glue and a screwdriver (an electric one is best) is all the tools you need.
Title: straplocks
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on October 05, 2007, 04:21:09 PM
Indy - I like the Dunlop dual design ones
I fit them to my guitars unless asked otherwise
Come in all colours

(http://www.musicarius.com/catalog/images/DSL-BLACK.jpg)
Title: straplocks
Post by: apmaman on October 05, 2007, 04:25:26 PM
^
got a set on my Epiphone les paul. They work a treat.
Title: straplocks
Post by: MartinS on October 05, 2007, 04:26:42 PM
I use these (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320145320824) - cheap and cheerful!
Title: straplocks
Post by: Lord Blakers on October 05, 2007, 04:40:31 PM
I use these:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/STRAPLOCKS-CHROME-SILVER-Strap-Locks-System-Guitar-Bass_W0QQitemZ270172493261QQihZ017QQcategoryZ20831QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Cheap and work bloody well. You can use the original screws, you just might need to take a bit off the head (drill with a round sanding bit works well).
Title: straplocks
Post by: indysmith on October 05, 2007, 04:42:50 PM
thanks guys- i like the look of those lok straps (and the price; which is something i have to think about nowadays living on about a fiver a day)- could use them on different guitars too! - do they come in pairs or should i order a couple?
Title: straplocks
Post by: MartinS on October 05, 2007, 04:47:50 PM
The Lok Straps are OK. They do the job, but you do need to keep an eye on them as they can open themselves after a while. But then there's no modification needed.
Title: straplocks
Post by: bucketshred on October 05, 2007, 05:02:03 PM
The best straplocks in the world are the rubber ring no a Grolsch swing top bottle.

Pop your strap on and then slide one of them over the strap button, works a charm and never fails on me.

Also, you get beer too! 2 birds and one stone in regards to your money problems

Andy!
Title: straplocks
Post by: indysmith on October 05, 2007, 05:07:32 PM
lol - that worked. i didnt even have to get out of my chair to do it :D nice one
Title: straplocks
Post by: mecca777 on October 05, 2007, 05:07:44 PM
Quote from: bucketshred
The best straplocks in the world are the rubber ring no a Grolsch swing top bottle.

Pop your strap on and then slide one of them over the strap button, works a charm and never fails on me.

Also, you get beer too! 2 birds and one stone in regards to your money problems

Andy!

I concur! Since someone turned me onto this solution I've never used anything else. They're reliable, cheap and come with a free beer. What more do you want? :)
Title: straplocks
Post by: _tom_ on October 05, 2007, 06:10:45 PM
I've always used the Schaller style ones, never had any problems with them. The grolsch rubber rings seems to be a good idea though, I read about that in total guitar ages ago.
Title: straplocks
Post by: JDC on October 05, 2007, 06:31:55 PM
and when you got the strap locks on, you wanna go into the garden and see how many guitar throws you can manage
Title: straplocks
Post by: Philly Q on October 05, 2007, 07:07:50 PM
Schallers, all the way.  The various Schaller copies probably work fine too, but I'm a snob.

Everyone says Dunlops are good, but the locking mechanism goes inside the button and I had a set once which kept slipping out - they were, in fact, Strap Not-Locks.  I don't trust them any more.

I'm sure the Grolsch rubber rings work well too, but I don't want to drink the horrible stuff to get hold of them.
Title: straplocks
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on October 05, 2007, 07:13:43 PM
Quote from: Philly Q
Schallers, all the way.  The various Schaller copies probably work fine too, but I'm a snob.

Everyone says Dunlops are good, but the locking mechanism goes inside the button and I had a set once which kept slipping out - they were, in fact, Strap Not-Locks.  I don't trust them any more.

I'm sure the Grolsch rubber rings work well too, but I don't want to drink the horrible stuff to get hold of them.


The Schaller are great as long as you
1) keep the nut tightened on the strap bit
2) Dont forget your strap and have to use those tiny buttons with an old, soft, worn out strap
Title: straplocks
Post by: Will on October 05, 2007, 07:17:47 PM
Terry said not to use the dunlops due to the fact that they stick out from the body, so when there is force on the strap it has a lever effet on the screw inside the body. and to use schallers. (I am sure that was what he said, may have a dodgy memory... :roll: )
 
With the Schallers I think the screws are a bit smaller than the hole for a les paul, so I just filled it with matchsticks and put it in.

Also on my Gibson, he did the matchstick thing, and glued them in... its SOLID!
Title: straplocks
Post by: indysmith on October 05, 2007, 07:32:09 PM
Quote from: Philly Q

I'm sure the Grolsch rubber rings work well too, but I don't want to drink the horrible stuff to get hold of them.

You don't like grolsch!? whats wrong with you man? My favourite lager by far.
I've had 3 bottles of wychwood goliath, 2 st peters organic, 1 kopparberg pear cider, and 3 grolsch tonight. Goliath is blatantly the best, but the grolsch sure as hell holds its own as far as lager goes.
Title: straplocks
Post by: MDV on October 05, 2007, 07:55:12 PM
Schallers.

Great little peices of engineering. I use them on all my guitars (with 3 straps with the other bit of the lock on them that I change beteen my strats and LP, explorers and my legra needs a 180 degree rotation of one of the end of the strap, so it gets its own).

The reason they're so good is they're simple and will take decades to wear out, if they ever do. No moving parts but that central peg, you see.
Title: straplocks
Post by: Philly Q on October 05, 2007, 09:09:07 PM
Quote from: FELINEGUITARS
The Schaller are great as long as you
1) keep the nut tightened on the strap bit
2) Dont forget your strap and have to use those tiny buttons with an old, soft, worn out strap

True, true.  Fair points.  

I guess that's when I rush out and force myself to drink a bottle of Grolsch. :wink:

Quote from: indysmith
You don't like grolsch!? whats wrong with you man? My favourite lager by far.
I've had 3 bottles of wychwood goliath, 2 st peters organic, 1 kopparberg pear cider, and 3 grolsch tonight. Goliath is blatantly the best, but the grolsch sure as hell holds its own as far as lager goes.

I find Grolsch has a funny aftertaste, just not my thing.  I'm not really a big drinker at all to be honest.  I like cider though - the Kopparberg pear is good, and the blackberry (OK, it looks a bit funny having a pink pint).
Title: Re: straplocks
Post by: dave_mc on October 06, 2007, 03:00:16 PM
Quote from: indysmith
bloody edwards keeps coming off its strap.


+1

 :lol:

EDIT: i have schallers on my legra and they're great (despite it taking me about a week to figure out how they worked...  :lol:  :oops: ). I must check to see if they're a direct swap for the edwards.
Title: straplocks
Post by: Mr Ed on October 06, 2007, 03:11:36 PM
I've got the typical Schaller ones on my Ravelle but on my Strat I tried something different and went for these Marvel ones:

(http://www.axesrus.com/axeknobs_files/marloss.jpg)

Go to this page and search "marvel" - http://www.axesrus.com/axenob.htm
Title: straplocks
Post by: blue on October 06, 2007, 08:11:54 PM
i've got Dunlops on all my guitars.  don't know if they're better or worse than the Schallers, but they've always worked for me.
Title: straplocks
Post by: apmaman on October 06, 2007, 08:54:02 PM
Im surprised no one has said Dimarzio straplocks.
Title: straplocks
Post by: blue on October 07, 2007, 03:50:28 AM
the thing with the dimarzios is you have to leave this long bit of nylon hanging off your guitar.  i think the advantage of, especiallly , the dunlop system, is you can connect any strap to it.  this is where i think it scores over the schaller with it's narrower strap button.  the dunlop is basically a standard strap button that happens to accomodate a locking mechanism!!
Title: straplocks
Post by: Jonesy76 on October 07, 2007, 11:01:34 AM
Schallers +1

Use them on all my expensive guitars, and they have the advantage of being able to swap from strap to strap really easilly.  I have a habit of cooking with a guitar strapped on (practice when you can!) and my Schallers have never failed yet when I swing my guitar around behind my body a la Bruce Springsteen!
Hint for Les Paul owners with straplocks.........
Don't use the Schallers screws as they're too small - simply use a mini-drill (dremel or suchlike) to take a bit off the outside of the Gibson screwhead and they fit the Schallers fine, which then means they fit their respectives holes in your guitar without the need for matchsticks.

Just found these Wendpin ones too..........cheaper than the Schallers and work brilliantly  http://www.axesrus.com/axenob.htm
Title: straplocks
Post by: badgermark on October 08, 2007, 09:24:30 PM
I'm tempted by the Schaller's, how do they work though? I hate the dunlop design, sticks way too far out and mine wobble a lot.
Title: straplocks
Post by: AngusYoung01 on October 08, 2007, 09:36:53 PM
I use the Schaller metal ones that you sway your strap buttons for - the 'kin own  :D
Title: straplocks
Post by: _tom_ on October 08, 2007, 09:55:25 PM
Quote from: badgermark
I'm tempted by the Schaller's, how do they work though? I hate the dunlop design, sticks way too far out and mine wobble a lot.


Well this is a pretty cr@p picture but this is the general idea of how mine work. You pull the thing up to raise the pin then slide it on and the pin goes down a hole in the strap button. The thing that you pull up is tensioned by a spring so it wont accidentally come off.

(http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/5232/straprg3.jpg)

Oh and the attachment bolts to your strap through the usual hole.
Title: straplocks
Post by: Philly Q on October 08, 2007, 09:59:46 PM
Quote from: badgermark
I'm tempted by the Schaller's, how do they work though?

Pictures (http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Hardware,_parts/Electric_guitar:_Strap_buttons/1/Schaller_Strap_Security_Locks/Pictures.html#details) speak louder than words (might need to scroll down a bit).  

The mechanism that attaches to the strap has a spring loaded pin that you pull up as you slide the strap button into the horseshoe-shaped collar.  The pin then drops inside the strap button, holding everything in place.

(Edit: Tom beat me to it!  :lol: )
Title: straplocks
Post by: badgermark on October 08, 2007, 10:01:33 PM
Thanks Tom, you make me smile.

I shall think about it, I have no tools other than a screw driver and a soldering iron right now, so they have to be super easy to whap on a Mexican Fender.
Title: straplocks
Post by: Will on October 08, 2007, 10:09:21 PM
thats all you need  :)
Title: straplocks
Post by: bobthemerciful on October 08, 2007, 11:07:54 PM
Schallers every time for me. The Dunlops are an elegant design, but it only takes some kak to get in those tiny ball-bearings and one day they don't engage properly and you drop your pride and joy. As happened to a guy I saw a few years back who had a lovely Les Paul sunburst, which ended up with a nasty broken headstock. Upset me nearly as much as him!! In 23 years I've never had to worry about the schallers. I make sure the nut is tight on the strap every now and then and thats it.  :D
Title: straplocks
Post by: Brow on October 09, 2007, 12:25:42 AM
I have the Schaller type 1s on most of my 'main' guitars.

My Gibson LP and Gordon Smith Graduate 60 (LP Clone) have Schallers and share a strap.

My Fender Strat and the 'BrowCaster' have the Schallers and share a strap (aswill my new Strat when I get it).

My Charvel has 1 of those Dimarzio straps on it where the strap bit un-clips and leaves the 2 bits permanantly screwed into the body (a cr@p explanation I know!  :lol: ).

My Telecaster and MusicMaster have their own straps and I use the Dunlop 'Over The Strap' Plastic buttons shown earlier on those.

My Gretsch has screw on strap buttons, which are just screwed down tight over some cheap imitation leather strap that I had knocking around :)
Title: straplocks
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on October 09, 2007, 12:35:47 AM
Quote from: bobthemerciful
In 23 years I've never had to worry about the schallers. I make sure the nut is tight on the strap every now and then and thats it.  :D


The fact you check the nut is why you dont have problems
I have seem my share of broken headstocks due to the nut coming off because players don't keep tabs on things like that.

With the Dunlops - I always tell players to give it a "wiggle" once they have put the strap onto their guitar

I stock both the Schaller and Dunlop systems.......
Title: straplocks
Post by: dave_mc on October 09, 2007, 12:11:10 PM
man i'd have killed for that schaller diagram tom drew about 3 months ago... was too embarassed to ask how they worked!  :oops:  :lol: Luckily I did manage to figure it out myself, only took about a week...  :lol:
Title: straplocks
Post by: badgermark on October 09, 2007, 01:31:10 PM
I picked up some Schallers, such a cool piece of design, all makes sense when you can see them for real.

Gonna attempt an installation onto my tele. If they don't fit I'll cry.

Edit: Ahah! Victory is mine. Nice and solid. Bit rattely though.
Title: straplocks
Post by: Philly Q on October 09, 2007, 01:37:28 PM
On the subject of Schallers, has anyone got any top tips for making the correct-size holes in the strap?  

I tried to get a 10mm hole-punch, but no-one seems to make them.
Title: straplocks
Post by: Kilby on October 09, 2007, 06:26:58 PM
Quote from: Philly Q
On the subject of Schallers, has anyone got any top tips for making the correct-size holes in the strap?  

I tried to get a 10mm hole-punch, but no-one seems to make them.


I would suggest a circle cutter that you get in art shops, it's like a compass but use a small knife blade (though you will have to tape the end of the strap down to do the cutting).

In the subject of schallers, I would suggest using a locking washer (one of those ones with a crinkly inside edge) or even a rubber washer to help lock the shaller nut.

I wanted shallers for years but never botherd till I got my Ric and they come with Schallers factory fitted (and have since used them on my other guitars)
Title: straplocks
Post by: badgermark on October 26, 2007, 08:18:33 PM
The nut on my Schaller's keep coming loose. Now I check them often so no mishaps yet. What's the best straps to use with these bad boys? I use the Levys standard straps (the synthetic strap (polypropylene or nylon maybe) with the big leather ends) and the nuts are just on the threads.

I'm afraid I'll drop something again. Love the strap locks though.
Title: straplocks
Post by: Antag on October 26, 2007, 08:25:58 PM
Quote from: badgermark
The nut on my Schaller's keep coming loose. Now I check them often so no mishaps yet. What's the best straps to use with these bad boys? I use the Levys standard straps (the synthetic strap (polypropylene or nylon maybe) with the big leather ends) and the nuts are just on the threads.

I'm afraid I'll drop something again. Love the strap locks though.

I use Ernie Ball (http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/Catalogue/ViewProduct.aspx?productId=364) straps - the leather end is much thinner than the Levys (like, half the thickness) so you get get several turns of the nut.

IMO the important thing with the Schallers is to use the right tool for the job when attaching to the strap - not your fingertips, & not pliers, but a #13 spanner :)  They never come loose if tightened properly.

Levys work well with the Dunlop system as the thickness of the strap end means that the clip sits flush with no room to move/rattle etc.
Title: straplocks
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on October 26, 2007, 08:36:25 PM
Quote from: Philly Q
On the subject of Schallers, has anyone got any top tips for making the correct-size holes in the strap?  

I tried to get a 10mm hole-punch, but no-one seems to make them.


Try Turtles tool in Croydon or look on ebay

Or as you are near to me - pop in cos I have one
Worth having - makes a lot of difference

To keep the nut on the thread - try loctite threadlock - its a blue liquid that dries hard and stops nuts and bolts from shaking loose- great stuff
Title: straplocks
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on October 26, 2007, 08:41:46 PM
Quote from: _tom_
Quote from: badgermark
I'm tempted by the Schaller's, how do they work though? I hate the dunlop design, sticks way too far out and mine wobble a lot.


Well this is a pretty cr@p picture but this is the general idea of how mine work. You pull the thing up to raise the pin then slide it on and the pin goes down a hole in the strap button. The thing that you pull up is tensioned by a spring so it wont accidentally come off.

(http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/5232/straprg3.jpg)

Oh and the attachment bolts to your strap through the usual hole.


Would you believe I see musicians who put the horseshoe round the wrong way so it doesn't cup the button and take the weight of the guitar!!
Kind of defeats the object of a good design

Same kind of players who benefit from the label on the bottom of a beer bottle that says open other end .
Title: straplocks
Post by: Muttley on October 26, 2007, 10:26:40 PM
Quote from: badgermark
Thanks Tom, you make me smile.

I shall think about it, I have no tools other than a screw driver and a soldering iron right now, so they have to be super easy to whap on a Mexican Fender.


I use the Schallers too.  All you need is a screwdriver to fit them
Title: straplocks
Post by: indysmith on November 04, 2007, 05:16:11 PM
Quote from: FELINEGUITARS
Would you believe I see musicians who put the horseshoe round the wrong way so it doesn't cup the button and take the weight of the guitar!!
Kind of defeats the object of a good design

Same kind of players who benefit from the label on the bottom of a beer bottle that says open other end .


LOL - muppets. i got some schallers yesterday. I'm relatively pleased - super cool design - probably should have come with instructions though. The rattling is there, but doesn't really bother me. The nut has come loose in just a day though (it's on a big thick leather PRS strap.) I'll have to find me a proper no.13 spanner and some threadlock. that'll stop me from chipping my teeth aswell...
Title: straplocks
Post by: sgmypod on November 04, 2007, 05:46:16 PM
Am quite pleased with the dunlops that came on my Feline..work great...and don't let me drop the guitar
Title: straplocks
Post by: Philly Q on November 04, 2007, 08:18:26 PM
Quote from: indysmith
that'll stop me from chipping my teeth aswell...

Please tell me that was a joke.  Shudder...  PDT_007

But seriously, you really do need a spanner or something to make sure the Schaller straplocks are attached safely.  Get it really tight so you can feel it squeezing the leather of the strap (...why do so many things connected with guitar maintenance sound vaguely pervy?).

I have a screwdriver with a set of box spanner heads - extremely useful for straplocks, pots, tuners and even truss rods.
Title: straplocks
Post by: indysmith on November 04, 2007, 08:31:46 PM
no. it wasn't a joke.
I'll go see if i can find a decent spanner set tomorrow
Title: straplocks
Post by: Will on November 04, 2007, 08:47:14 PM
try buying a little tool kit, like the type you get at petrol service stations for a fiver.
It does me fine, other than when I wanted to change a little allen bolt on my Kahler trem, so I am now stuck with a 20 piece hex set too
 :)
Title: straplocks
Post by: Philly Q on November 04, 2007, 09:21:05 PM
Quote from: Will
It does me fine, other than when I wanted to change a little allen bolt on my Kahler trem, so I am now stuck with a 20 piece hex set too

That was the worst thing about the Kahler, all those different-sized Allen bolts.  And the heads were forever getting stripped too.
Title: straplocks
Post by: dave_mc on November 05, 2007, 03:04:59 PM
Quote from: indysmith

LOL - muppets. i got some schallers yesterday. I'm relatively pleased - super cool design - probably should have come with instructions though. The rattling is there, but doesn't really bother me. The nut has come loose in just a day though (it's on a big thick leather PRS strap.) I'll have to find me a proper no.13 spanner and some threadlock. that'll stop me from chipping my teeth aswell...


did they drop straight in to the edwards?
Title: straplocks
Post by: indysmith on November 05, 2007, 03:16:36 PM
Quote from: dave_mc

did they drop straight in to the edwards?

yeah - just use the original screws, throw away the ones the straplocks come with
Title: straplocks
Post by: indysmith on November 05, 2007, 06:02:34 PM
alright i got some spanners from argos (they only charged me 4.99 for a 9.99 set - booya) and tightenned up the straplocks to the extreme- lets see how long that lasts :D
Title: straplocks
Post by: dave_mc on November 05, 2007, 10:58:53 PM
Quote from: indysmith
yeah - just use the original screws, throw away the ones the straplocks come with


so you mean run the original screw through the schaller strap-button, and then use the straplock thingummybob on top of that?

Sorry, I'm registered retarded when it comes to DIY. Seriously, I can just about change strings, and when it's a non-floydy guitar, I normally have to reference my dan erlewine book for help...  :?  :oops:  :lol:
Title: straplocks
Post by: indysmith on November 05, 2007, 11:24:23 PM
Quote from: dave_mc
Quote from: indysmith
yeah - just use the original screws, throw away the ones the straplocks come with


so you mean run the original screw through the schaller strap-button, and then use the straplock thingummybob on top of that?

Sorry, I'm registered retarded when it comes to DIY. Seriously, I can just about change strings, and when it's a non-floydy guitar, I normally have to reference my dan erlewine book for help...  :?  :oops:  :lol:

you got it mate. just about the best tenner you can invest in your LP i think!
Title: straplocks
Post by: dave_mc on November 06, 2007, 08:06:21 PM
and that's safe enough etc.?

(just checking :))
Title: straplocks
Post by: indysmith on November 06, 2007, 08:15:19 PM
Quote from: dave_mc
and that's safe enough etc.?

(just checking :))

yes it's a perfect fit. no worries.
Title: straplocks
Post by: dave_mc on November 07, 2007, 03:47:37 PM
Cheers, that'll save me a lot of bother then. Plus you can use whichever strap you like, which is nice.

:)
Title: straplocks
Post by: Woogie on November 07, 2007, 05:43:05 PM
My Les Paul screws were too long for a set of schallers I purchased so they don't fit over. Saving that set for my next strat ;). On my Legra, I have schallers too and they seem pretty damn good. Don't worry about safety :).
Title: straplocks
Post by: dave_mc on November 07, 2007, 06:33:38 PM
oh, i have schallers on my legra too, i just meant if they were safe enough when you weren't using the "correct" screw. :)