Strap-locks..

[midnite_man]

Re: Strap-locks..

I witnessed a Dunlop Lock bearing failure during a gig with my old band. Mid-song he just totally lost the neck of the strap and had to finish the song without it. It took some duct tape to get it so he could finish the show.

That could've been caused by not having the screw all the way down in the hole of the button so that the locking part with the ball-bearings seats all the way into the receiving part of the lock. Again, unless the screw that comes with the locks is the same diameter/size that's already in the guitar, the screw from out of your guitar will usually have to be ground down to be completely countersunk into the locking button when tightened down. Since I wasn't there witnessing the event as you did, I wouldn't know for sure. If the bearings actually fell out of the locking stem, it's hard to say why that would happen and could've been a result of improper installation.

Loctite doesn't marry you to a straplock, it just makes it secure. Removal of the Loctite gunk is easy enough to do. Loctite is meant to keep nuts secure on bolts, that's what it does. And the almost 20 year success on a strap that I've done hundreds of shows with is a testimony to that. I'm not sure why you fear the stuff so much; it does exactly what you want a straplock to do; keep things in place through a decent amount of vibration and outside force.

"Fear" is not the issue. Adding unneccesary goop to the look of your strap was part of what I was getting at, goop that I personally wouldn't want to look at every time I snapped my strap onto my favorite guitar. If you want to spend the time to clean the stuff off should you eventually want to change straps....hey, by all means, go for it. I only use leather straps on all my guitars....and leather will eventually wear out. In my life, I've only used the blue loc-tite while putting together car-engines and it works great for that. I wasn't even aware there was "red" loc-tite. Thanks for that info!
For installing Schaller strap-locks I've always and only used pliers and/or visegrips to facilitate a good, strong securement that's never let me down yet.
I've never had Dunlops fail me either, and all you need is a pair of pliers and a screwdriver to install them.
Both products work great, IMO; with proper installation, maintenance, and usage as the key.
Whichever one you decide to use, they are definitely a good piece of insurance to invest into.

....Bob

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: Strap-locks..

Since I wasn't there witnessing the event as you did, I wouldn't know for sure. If the bearings actually fell out of the locking stem, it's hard to say why that would happen and could've been a result of improper installation.

They did. We were picking them up off the stage after the gig. Not entirely sure why....it wasn't like we thought we could fix it. Maybe a safety issue perhaps, but that seems so unlike something we'd do at that point in our lives...

"Fear" is not the issue. Adding unneccesary goop to the look of your strap was part of what I was getting at, goop that I personally wouldn't want to look at every time I snapped my strap onto my favorite guitar.

I use, maybe, a full drop worth of the stuff. And even with that alot gets wiped off after the screw goes on. It's a totally clean operation. A little goeas a long way as they say...

For installing Schaller strap-locks I've always and only used pliers and/or visegrips to facilitate a good, strong securement that's never let me down yet.

I'm always jittery about pliers; anything that can sink threads into the nut or base I tend to stay away from.

I did have great luck with a bench vise holding the base and a standard adjustable wrench.

One other tip; cut the "flaps" so that the hole in the strap fits in flush without any excess hanging over. I usually measure the post against a socket, trace the outline, and use a razor to cut the hole in the strap. While the excess can actually work well to get caught in the threads and hold the nut on more securely, but it can't really be counted on for that use over time.

Man....two pages of posts about strap locks....such guitar geekness!

 

[midnite_man]

Re: Strap-locks..

They did. We were picking them up off the stage after the gig. Not entirely sure why....it wasn't like we thought we could fix it. Maybe a safety issue perhaps, but that seems so unlike something we'd do at that point in our lives...




I use, maybe, a full drop worth of the stuff. And even with that alot gets wiped off after the screw goes on. It's a totally clean operation. A little goeas a long way as they say...




I'm always jittery about pliers; anything that can sink threads into the nut or base I tend to stay away from.

I did have great luck with a bench vise holding the base and a standard adjustable wrench.

One other tip; cut the "flaps" so that the hole in the strap fits in flush without any excess hanging over. I usually measure the post against a socket, trace the outline, and use a razor to cut the hole in the strap. While the excess can actually work well to get caught in the threads and hold the nut on more securely, but it can't really be counted on for that use over time.

Man....two pages of posts about strap locks....such guitar geekness!

Yeah...no doubt.... :smack: ...did we take this one a little too far, 'bro?
:laugh2:
I like your suggestions, Skarekrough, and I may even try that red loc-tite method you wrote about on my Schaller locks. It sounds reasonable enough to me. It could be a breakthrough for me to help overcome my "Loc-Tite Phobia".......
Good tips, all!
Thanks, man
....Bob

 

[joelap]

Re: Strap-locks..

Schallers + 2 Part Epoxy... I can fling that guitar around without worrying one bit. (Don't do this on a guitar that you even value somewhat... I did it on a crappy Ibanez GRX.

 

[Kent S.]

Re: Strap-locks..

Yeah...no doubt.... :smack: ...did we take this one a little too far, 'bro?
:laugh2:
I like your suggestions, Skarekrough, and I may even try that red loc-tite method you wrote about on my Schaller locks. It sounds reasonable enough to me. It could be a breakthrough for me to help overcome my "Loc-Tite Phobia".......
Good tips, all!
Thanks, man
....Bob

Locktite is actually just a product line name made by a company, they have a BUNCH of different products, the red is a high temperature *locktite*, totally unecessary, but rather than to use three different locktite products I just use one the red, that's why I use the red (it covers all my mechanical needs), the red seems to clean up a bit better as far as the excess also (maybe not though). No special reason for using the red over the blue or black.

 

[Budweiser]

Re: Strap-locks..

The music store threw these in for free when I bought my LP.
http://www.americanmusical.com/images/d/p21719d.jpg

I know they're not heavy duty, but they give me piece of mind. I won't be doing any Steve Vai guitar throws anyhow.

 

[Tom M]

Re: Strap-locks..

I've used Dunlops for about 3 years now. I've had the same 2 sets, and have used them on 5 or 6 guitars, never a problem. I installed them correctly and always make sure they're secure before playing.

 

[Leather Rebel]

Re: Strap-locks..

I like Dunlops. Never had a failure or a problem. You can also countersink the buttons into the body for a really cool look. YMMV.

 

[B2D]

Re: Strap-locks..

I prefer Dunlop Locks for 14.99 a set and I consider them a mandatory requirement on all my guitars.

 

[AcidBurn]

Re: Strap-locks..

I'm always jittery about pliers; anything that can sink threads into the nut or base I tend to stay away from.

A 9/16 socket fits the nut for the strap perfectly. Thats how I just put two sets on yesterday.

 

[Ken]

Re: Strap-locks..

I've used both and prefer the Schaller locks. The screws on my set of Dunlops had their heads stripped by the post of the locking mechanism. I just need to use a little Locktite on my Schallers and I'm good to go.

Sorry to hijack the thread, but how exactly should I do the Locktite bit? Should I also put a little down in the hole for the strap button?

 

[strat_master]

Re: Strap-locks..

i firts used dunlops then switches to shcallers. I liek the shcallers more ive been using them for 2 years now. They go closer to your guitar rtaher than the dumlops whihc pop out more. Also i dont liek the complete flush mount strap locks by dunlop either. I say go with schallers. jUst drop in a few tooth pciks inside the hole and screw it in wont come loose hasnt for me yet.

 

[Kent S.]

Re: Strap-locks..

I've used both and prefer the Schaller locks. The screws on my set of Dunlops had their heads stripped by the post of the locking mechanism. I just need to use a little Locktite on my Schallers and I'm good to go.

Sorry to hijack the thread, but how exactly should I do the Locktite bit? Should I also put a little down in the hole for the strap button?

In all seriousness, follow the directions on the tube, it's that simple.
And no, I wouldn't put any down into the body screws, I'm mean you could, it won't hurt anything (that I know of...), but it's made for metal on metal.
A good soild connection of wood is what you want in the body screw, you could throw in some carpenter's wood gule if you wanted, that might fill the metal to wood gaps a bit better than the locktite.