Strap Locks Or Locking Straps? Options

[Headbanger]

In the end, I decided to put Schaller strap locks on both of my electric guitars, my Fender Strat and My Epiphone Les Paul. Three reasons.


1) The Epiphone locks were difficult to remove...and one broke during the process (Pics below)

2) Having Schallers on both Guitars meant interchangeable straps.

3) I found two Schaller locks (minus their buttons) in my guitar bits and pieces box..I think I took them off another Fender that I had about 20 years ago, because I didn't know how to use them..I don't ever remember screwing them to a strap ..I may have even put the strap hole over the round locker knob and thought they where a disasterous invention : (no google in those days).

I ordered two new Schaller strap locks and buttons from the UK and two Schaller strap buttons from Germany (for the bits I found.)
All came this week and I had an interesting strap lock/button changing couple of hours, which I thought may be worth sharing with GMC'ers, as it wasn't so straightforward as I thought it would be.Exciting pics below with exciting explanations!!


Epiphone Strap locks..showing how a clip had broken off during strap removal.


I tried to fit the Schaller strap button to my Epiphone but the screws that they had arrived with were too thin and just pulled out of the old screw holes...I realised I had to use the original Epiphone screws with the Schaller buttons. The problem was that the Epiphone screws wouldn't fit into the Schaller holes (pictured).


So... I drilled them........A drilled Schaller button (right) a standard (non drilled Schaller left) Both upside down.


After I drilled the hole I realised that the Epiphone screw heads wouldn't fit through the top of the Schaller button holes either....so I ground them down on my grinding wheel until they fitted. screw head ground down pictured.


After drilling and grinding...the buttons where ready...Pictured above.


The Fender wasn't a problem..although I replaced these two huge strap buttons and was able to re use the Fender screws without modification.

I told you these pictures were full of excitement!!!!

It was however worth the effort...Both guitars are now re buttoned with Schallers...without having to re drilled either guitar...Thankfully.
These Schallers are so easy to use compared to the Epiphone strap locks or even the normal button only ones.

The Guitars with their new strap locks fitted..I don't usually hang them with straps already on...in fact I don't hang the Epiphone at all..she sleeps alone in her case..




Maybe one day someone will find this info useful...if not it would make good bedtime reading for an insomniac..

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[Digimortal]

That video is basically the same thing as the local portland rubber straplock system I was talking about. A bit more "heavy duty" from the looks of it, but it works EXCELLENTLY and only cost about $4. Love it. But....I didn't get any beer with mine!

I have used the Grolsch 'straplocks' since i started playing guitar 20 years ago (i'm from Holland, Grolsch country). Funny to see them mentioned here.

Here is my strat with the Grolsch system :



I use Dunlop's now on most of my guitars though.

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[dcz702]

If this is a repeat subject, I apologise.

I wanted to buy some strap locks for my guitars and whilst searching, I came across some straps which have locking devices already installed on them..like spring loaded clips on both ends, therefore eliminating the need for the traditional metal strap locks. Does anyone have any advice on this subject please? If I had to replace my strap buttons...would that be a straight forward replacement for the existing buttons?

I have another question...deviating slightly...I want to put a strap button on my Dean acoustic steel string..on the neck heel maybe...anyone got any tips or advice ?

I've used both shaller and dunlop. I prefer dunlop the feel really secure and I put them on all 3 of my guitars so when I switch I just use one strap. The shaller locks seems good to I had them on my fender but I replaced them with dunlops just so I could. use one strap. The shaller use gravity of your guitar to hold it they lock in to place and are u shaped so one you stand they roll and the button sits in the bottom of the u shape the dunlops need to be pressed in and yo here a click to release just press in and pull out. The screw for the dunlop is a bit bigger but I didn't need to drill just take I piece of dry bath soap and roll the screw on it to give it a little grease then slowly screw and carefully screw in. I did it on a Gibson lp and fender deluxe first try no problem.

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This post has been edited by dcz702: Mar 15 2013, 02:16 AM

[Cosmin Lupu]

Since this post is up for discussions again I will admit that I have removed all the strap locking devices from my guitars - I also admit that since quitting Voodoo, jumping around on stage has decreased close to 0

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[Darius Wave]

I use Schaller strap locks. I never had issue with them. The only thing to be careful is to keep the screw cap tight on the strap (it likes to roll off after some time). Cool thing about it is You can buy the mount-in-the guitar parts separately. You can then have one strap that would fit all Your guitars or Two straps with different length adjustments to use whenever You like.

Good, thick strap made of leather also make sens but only if You don't remove it all the time. I have a guitar that never fell of (at leas for the last 5 years) but the strap is on the guitar all the time. Many cheap straps have leather endings but if You remove it every time You put Your guitar to the case, they start to wear-off.


I had some Warwick Strap-locks once but they sucked because the locking system was based on some little bullets which were hiding while You press the "button". Once the guitar has fallen on the ground, the button hit the ground and the bullets were locked forever.

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[Headbanger]

I've used both shaller and dunlop. I prefer dunlop the feel really secure and I put them on all 3 of my guitars so when I switch I just use one strap. The shaller locks seems good to I had them on my fender but I replaced them with dunlops just so I could. use one strap. The shaller use gravity of your guitar to hold it they lock in to place and are u shaped so one you stand they roll and the button sits in the bottom of the u shape the dunlops need to be pressed in and yo here a click to release just press in and pull out..

Sorry but I think you're mistaken about how the Schaller locking system works:

The Schaller locks also have a locking system other than gravity...with the button on the strap you pull a barrel outwards to allow the insertion of the guitar strap buttons and then when in position the (spring loaded barrel) locks into the recess on the top of the guitar button keeping everything secured with or without gravity.

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This post has been edited by Headbanger: Mar 15 2013, 10:19 AM

[Cosmin Lupu]

I use Schaller strap locks. I never had issue with them. The only thing to be careful is to keep the screw cap tight on the strap (it likes to roll off after some time). Cool thing about it is You can buy the mount-in-the guitar parts separately. You can then have one strap that would fit all Your guitars or Two straps with different length adjustments to use whenever You like.

Good, thick strap made of leather also make sens but only if You don't remove it all the time. I have a guitar that never fell of (at leas for the last 5 years) but the strap is on the guitar all the time. Many cheap straps have leather endings but if You remove it every time You put Your guitar to the case, they start to wear-off.


I had some Warwick Strap-locks once but they sucked because the locking system was based on some little bullets which were hiding while You press the "button". Once the guitar has fallen on the ground, the button hit the ground and the bullets were locked forever.

Man... those Warwick straps were the worst for me Almost ruined my old MMM baritone

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