Guitar straps and strap locks

[Atomic_Sheep]

Ok so what are strap locks for? Are they designed just to prevent the straps from ever coming off? Will any guitar strap be compatible with them?

[Newc]

Button-style straplocks such as the Dunlops found on the USA Charvel Production models include both the receiving cup (which looks like a regular speaker-shaped pin) and the lock which fastens to the strap. The lock has a shaft with spring-loaded pins/balls that seat into a recess inside the receiving cup.

They also include two large washers that completely close off the hole in the strap so it can't slip off.


Other locking strap designs have a U-shaped cup attached to the strap that slides over the pin mounted on the body.


Then there's the DiMarzio ClipLock which looks like those child restraints in grocery carts. Those are the best IMO.

[Grandturk]

Depending on the material your strap is made out of - you may have difficulty attaching the strap portion of the straplock. You're basically inserting through the hole and then bolting or pinning the assembly together. If the strap material is thick like heavy leather, you may have some trouble.

[Atomic_Sheep]

Interesting issue I didn't really think about. I'm going to get the Schaller strap locks and this strap:

http://www.dslstraps.com.au/product_...products_id/15

I think it looks thin enough?

[Nightbat]

Then there's the DiMarzio ClipLock which looks like those child restraints in grocery carts. Those are the best IMO.

I'd trust those least,... from experience in a different field

Riding my bike in full gear I use one of those hipbags for keys, wallet, etc
One day the clip had broken, luckily when I noticed it. it fell off my waist pulling into a gasstation

For this reason you won't see me with a guitar hanging from a clip-lock

[Sinistas]

I've never heard of anybody having problems with them - perhaps Dimarzio uses better materials.

[Atomic_Sheep]

I wouldn't get DiMarzio simply because of looks, just not my cup of tea.

[skorb]

Then there's the DiMarzio ClipLock which looks like those child restraints in grocery carts. Those are the best IMO.

dude these are plastic junk and they look terrible

please

steer the guy right and tell him to get Schaller StrapLoks with the cup you mentioned, those are the best locks on the market hands down, just from a simple physics analysis of how they hold the guitar up and prevent it hitting the floor with more strength than any other design.

[mjtripper]

I've had dunlops fail on me and when they do there is nothing to hold the strap on. If a schaller fails the cup and gravity will keep the strap on assuming you don't unweight the connection. Get the real schallers though, I had one of those guitar center schaller knockoffs once and the cup piece just shattered one day. The last schaller I purchased still had made in germany stamped on the bottom of the cup.

[Tim_B]

Interesting issue I didn't really think about. I'm going to get the Schaller strap locks and this strap:

http://www.dslstraps.com.au/product_...products_id/15

I think it looks thin enough?

I've got Schallers on everything, even leather straps around 3/16" thick.

All it takes is a little patience, and occasionally cutting out a bit more leather from the hole in the strap to make the lock a good fit.

It's better spending an extra 10 minutes fitting the best strap locks you can instead of spending weeks getting your broken headstock repaired
( IMHO, of course )