What Are Your Opinions On Straps and Strap Locks?

[Ting Ho Dung]

I have a Monaco Elite and a Studio Custom I'd like to fit. What are some good brands also brands of straps, material, width etc. Do you have a strap and strap locks for each guitar or do you swap guitars on the same strap? Best place to buy them?

Thanks,

--Michael

[Jakeboy]

I have used both Dunlop and Schaller and like both. I have had 2 Shallers fail in differ ways...the first fail was the screw simply breaking off in my Strat body....yup, the screw itself snapped in half about 10 minutes before a gig. Obviously, the steel-tempering on that screw was bad....the other set just wouldn't lock....the pin wouldn't take. I still recommend them both.

Straps are Italias or my Hamers, a cool Jody Hart for my Tele, a Perri Leather for my Strat, and a cloth Fender for my open G tele....

[morningstar]

Dunlops are the way I go unless the guitar is too nice to overbore the pin screws and already has Schallers. I keep extra wide extra long bass Comfort Strapp straps with Dunlop and Schaller ends. Never had any issues with Dunlops. I had a set of Schallers that had a nut on them that would not stay tight, and I ended up catching the guitar a time of two.

morningstar

[Bennyboy-UK]

I like the ones with the knob in the middle that you pull out to unlock them. I'm using a boggo levy B/W checked strap at the mo, and switching it between guitars because it looks good, it's a bit slippy, on my mockingbird which is a little bit neck heavy but realistically fine. Since I sold my LP about 6 years ago I dont need the foam wide strap I've got as a backup.

That said, I do like sandwiches.

[Ting Ho Dung]

Also used the square plastic bread bag closures many a time. They work great and simply snap on! Zero cost, and very dependable for normal playing needs.

That's a great tip. I'll have to keep a few around. Is there anything that can be done with a Busch Beer tab? Beer and sandwitches is good.

[tobereeno]

I use Dunlop flushmounts. I don't like strap buttons, and it lets me switch guitars in a set without switching straps very easily. You just have to make sure that when you click it in, it's firmly seated. But they do last - my strap (male end) is over 10 years old and no wear or sloppiness in the fit.

Big "amen" on that, Tobe. I first put flushmounts in my Wingwie Strat, then a Charvel and, finally in the rest of my guitars. I do NOT like the way Dunlop buttons push the strap away from the guitar body, especially on Standards. None of my guitars are collectable, anyway, so I go with function over form.

I find strap displacement from any button undesirable, exactly!

I only use one strap, a leather padded overpriced Gibson thing. For the tail end, I have two straplok ends in two positions. It works for every single guitar I have, and certainly simplifies things, especially at a gig. I have a couple others but all have Dunlop things installed, so the only problem I can see is if I have to borrow someone's guitar but need to use my strap.

[Frank]

I have both also. Checking for a secure lock and making sure the Schaller nuts haven't backed off, and the screws are tight in the guitar is part of every pre-gig setup.

[BadgerDave]

I use Dunlops on Hamers, usually without the locking pins on the straps. The buttons are big enough to hold under all but extreme situations. For guitars that come with the tiny stock strap buttons (like Gibsons), I like to replace them with these:

Available from StewMac for under $3.00 a set (less if you buy in quantity), Simple and as effective as Schallers or Dunlops unless you're swinging your guitar by the strap or doing ZZTop gyrations. No chance of the inadvertant mechanical errors the others are susceptible to.

[Brownsound]

Im all about the Shallers. I think the horseshoe design is just more inherently secure. The rotating this is if you get lazy and dont check your straps frequently. If they are snugged up on the strat with a drop of loctite you are good for the duration.

[perrynoiacity]

I just recently put a DiMarzio strap system on my Californian. For years I used Schallers, which were ok, I like the DiMarzio setup and will probably switch my other guitars to it soon.

[Morris Davis]

I have 2 el dorado straps I like very much.

[Ted]

I prefer Planet Waves locking straps: http://www.planetwav...LockStraps.Page

I own three of those and they are the best for me. It's a zero-modification, very dependable solution and they aren't expensive.

However, you migh need to verify they fit to your guitar. For example, they won't work on Epiphone Flying Vees, because the upper strap button on those is too close to the fretboard. Luckily, my 7-string Epi came with Dunlops.

Z, This is a really cool thing!

[gorch]

...

Z, This is a really cool thing!

When Germans talk about straps and straps locks there is no question left.

[Ting Ho Dung]

Did somebody photoshop that cookie? For shame.

[gtone]

...

Z, This is a really cool thing!

When Germans talk about straps and straps locks there is no question left.

Hot wife there Dirk!

[gorch]

Can't tell its another Barbie though your signature playfully fits to it. Take your ride to hell...

[blackfbiv]

Im all about the Shallers. I think the horseshoe design is just more inherently secure. The rotating this is if you get lazy and dont check your straps frequently. If they are snugged up on the strat with a drop of loctite you are good for the duration.

Loctite, or a drop of cyanoacrylate glue... Heck even a dab ofclear fingernail polish will prevent a whoops!

[Studio Custom]

I like the Schallers. The horseshoe will only move if the nut becomes loose, to prevent that a dab of Locktite during installation and a dab of clear epoxy after ensures my nuts are frozen solid. Additionally I hold the horseshoe with pipe wrech and tighten the nut with large wrench to ensure its as tight as possible. I've never had a problem but undertook the precautions based on folklore, 20+ years later no problems with the same strap.

[Mark]

A #10 fender washer works great,,, also the rubber gasket from a Grolsch beer bottle. ( my fav skunk beer)

[tbonesullivan]

I just realized that for some reason I prefer Schaller locks on Gibson style guitars, like those that do not really have an upper "horn" or have a strap button on the back of the neck joint. I had dunlops on my heritage millennium, and it was bothering me for some reason. Also the lower strap button was getting stuck inside the padding on the case somehow. So, yesterday I took them out and put some wood glue in the holes to build them up a bit.

All of my hamers have dunlop dual-design buttons, which are the original equipment. The same goes for my Carvin guitars and basses, which came with dunlops. So, 6 guitars with schallers, and 10 with dunlops. all 4 electric basses have dunlops

[lincsman]

Used Shaller locks since early 90's never had a problem,once the nut is done up and locked thats it job done.

[benjammin308]

Couch straps and Dunlops. I always give the strap a tug after attachment to make sure that it's fully engaged and won't pull out. If there is any problem at all a drop of lightweight oil in the spring mechanism on the strap part will free it up and make it work better. I've never had a failure on a properly lubricated one.