Recommendations for Strap Locks or Locking Guitar Strap

Re: Recommendations for Strap Locks or Locking Guitar Strap

Haven't used Schaller, but I'm happy with my Dunlops. Kind of funny, I just started using strap locks a few weeks ago. While bending down to power off my pedal board, the strap popped off the back of my Ibanez SZR720 and hit my way pedal. Thankfully it was I my a 2-3" drop and caused no damage, but it was a scare for sure. Just installed a set on a Samick LP copy I picked up over the weekend.
 
Re: Recommendations for Strap Locks or Locking Guitar Strap

From my neck of the woods:

GrolschRecycled.jpg

Big pro: they come with a free beer :).
 
Re: Recommendations for Strap Locks or Locking Guitar Strap

Wait are you using this on a real guitar or on a guitar hero controller?
 
Re: Recommendations for Strap Locks or Locking Guitar Strap

I use Schaller type strap locks and all my electrics. I really like them a lot
 
Re: Recommendations for Strap Locks or Locking Guitar Strap

+1 on the Dunlops. I tried the Schallers also, back in the day. Eventually gravitated to the Dunlops. And the first ones I put on (early 80s) are still serving me well.
 
Re: Recommendations for Strap Locks or Locking Guitar Strap

i use schallers and dunlop and grolsch. they all work fine. i have a strap on each guitar i own and almost all of them have some kind of strap retaining device.
 
Re: Recommendations for Strap Locks or Locking Guitar Strap

I have always used dunlops maybe 20 years or so never a problem. Put some on my new les paul and dropped it within 5 minutes- I caught it before it hit the ground (kids' still got the hands!). hooked 'em back up check to make sure they are engaged all seems good- off it comes again. Caught it again. Took them off, put on an old set that I've had forever, all goes well. Cool. Just a bad set. Next day pop, lester tries to decapitate herself again. Caught the guitar again, but bopped a filing cabinet. Left a mark, but no serious damage.

So for the next 20 years, Schallers for me. If the lock mechanism fails, there is still the cradle to hold up the guitar.

I still use them (Dunlops) on my super strats, but I'll never trust a them with a les paul. Don't know if its the weight (10+ pounds) or the angle they hang at, but they failed me thrice. F'em. Read similar account on mylespaul.com.
 
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Re: Recommendations for Strap Locks or Locking Guitar Strap

I had Dunlops fail on me too, and on a Les Paul. This was back in the early '80s, and I give them credit--I called them up, spoke to Jim himself, and he replaced them and sent me a whole bag of goodies to boot.

But for the last 20 years or so, I've been using the Schallers. I like the way the Schaller cradles the guitar. There are however, two issues for me. I only use leather straps, and sometimes it can be difficult to lock in the Straplock because the leather is too thick. And you do have to be careful that the nut does not come loose. A dab of clear nail polish is a quick fix for this.

Most of my G&Ls do not have Straplocks: the button they use is one of Leo Fender's better mousetraps. But when a new Gibson comes into the house, it gets a set of Schallers, the very first thing.

Bill
 
Re: Recommendations for Strap Locks or Locking Guitar Strap

Dunlops since the mid 90's
I have two straps with the mechanisms on them
and just get the pins for the guitars
either black or chrome
put them on every guitar as it comes in
had one strap lock seize up on a guitar once

I had sold my Carvin 5 string to my buddy
after a bit the rear lock stuck in
I think his dog wee'd on it

but you really have to take em off once a year and oil them
never had one come off, and that Carvin was a weighty rascal
 
Re: Recommendations for Strap Locks or Locking Guitar Strap

Schaller. I have both and schaller is better. The dunlop can fail if you arent super careful always. Its easy to use but not 100% reliable. Schaller cant fail. Once the pin locks in its not going anywhere. Search rakuten and get them cheap
 
Re: Recommendations for Strap Locks or Locking Guitar Strap

I don't like the Schaller that looks like a chess Pawn. The "cup" setup just scares me to death and looks highly unstable.

I had Dunlops on my Charvels, but didn't trust that ball-lock pin thing either. Didn't have one pop off, but didn't give it a chance, either.

Definitely a fan of the DiMarzio ClipLock straps. I've been using the same one since '88 and it's not let me down. However, they will eat the finish off the rear of a Les Paul where the buckle rides. May want to look at the longer ends if you're going that route.

I need more of them, but I'm not interested in paying $18+ for them (looking at $400 at those prices). I thought about getting the spare ends and just swapping straps, but I'm leery of the clips wearing down faster because of all that in and out. As well, I'm seeing those for a mere $5 less than an entire strap set.

It'd probably be cheaper to just get some inter-locking washers from the hardware store and stick with generic straps and default strap pins.

Or eyebolts like EVH :lol:
 
Re: Recommendations for Strap Locks or Locking Guitar Strap

Schaller. I have them on all my electrics. The only real thing to watch out for is that the nut doesn't come loose. Easily fixed by doing it up tight in the first place and perhaps using nail polish or loctite as suggested by Boogie Bill earlier, then all is good from there.
 
Re: Recommendations for Strap Locks or Locking Guitar Strap

Dunlops here,FTW!!!

.02

A coupla close calls over the years,but I try to keep an eye on 'em.
Nothing major (knock wood)...

Schaller body screw snapped on me when I was doing a spin(ugh!) forever ago,haven't touched them since...

The leather ones are pretty bad-ass,too but kinda hard to find sometimes...
 
Re: Recommendations for Strap Locks or Locking Guitar Strap

Dunlops here as well. I've never had an incident, but I always pull the strap after attaching it to make sure that it's actually locked. I occasionally have to re-lock one of the connectors, but I've never had one actually fail while playing.

Schaller OTOH I have had fail while playing. I tried them first because it's all my local shop carried at the time and had one fail when the 'U' connector rotated to be open end down. The front strap button suddenly let go, but I was holding the neck at the time and able to catch it before my Explorer was decapitated. I immediately switched to Dunlops and have been problem free in the 15 years since.
 
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Re: Recommendations for Strap Locks or Locking Guitar Strap

Schaller straploks for many, many years, I've never dropped a single guitar ever. And I jump around and thrash about like an idiot!

They don't stick out or hang on things like the Dunlop's do. IMHO they are a much better design.
 
Re: Recommendations for Strap Locks or Locking Guitar Strap

eclecticsynergy said:
+1 on the Dunlops. I tried the Schallers also, back in the day. Eventually gravitated to the Dunlops. And the first ones I put on (early 80s) are still serving me well.
Click to expand...

I went with the Dunlops as well. One of my favorite things is that they have a substantial traditional button, allowing you to use an ordinary strap in a pinch (I wouldn't trust the Schaller buttons in the same scenario). They also work really well with leather straps, this general style:

shopping.jpg

Put the lock into the lower buttonhole, then if you want to hike up the strap, just put the upper buttonhole on the button, then flip the lock around and put it in over the strap.
 
Re: Recommendations for Strap Locks or Locking Guitar Strap

i never used straplocks until a few days ago, when i bought a schaller. works ok so far. lol
 
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