I was thinking about taking my new Am Std Precision to its first gig last night - then I suddenly noticed: no straplocks. When did Fender make this decision? Every USA guitar/bass has had them for the last 20 years or so as far as I am aware.

My bass straps are set up for them so my USA Dlx Precision got the gig. I did feel stupid though for not noticing before. Rats - now I need to think about taking a screwdriver to my new pride and joy.

Not the case mate. Theres plenty of US made guitars that dont have them, from all manufacturers. Non of the American Vintage range and few of the signature series guitars have them. Neither do the standards or highways.
Never mind Gibson, Washburn and all those others...

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No no and no

Easy enough to install after your purchase.............. Mike

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The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.

Agree - I have fitted them to all my G&Ls over the years and my Squier backup bass. I also have a couple spare as 2 G&Ls are up for sale. I was really making the point that I hadn't even noticed the change in the Standard until 2 hours before a gig, and just felt a bit silly.

I also hate taking a screwdriver to a piece of wood that has just cost me a decent chunk of my savings.

Peace!

Sorry, in my haste I got it wrong and you are correct. I also left out the word "Fender" (but as this is the Fender Lounge please forgive me). I was thinking of the Fender USA/American Standards and Deluxes and derivatives thereof.

The American/USA Standards used to have them fitted; or at least the ones I bought did.

Thanks for the advice.

so you had 2 hours before the gig , some spare locks to hand , why not just fit a set , 2 screws ,and you're sorted

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X2.


No screwdriver required!!!


(designated driver, maybe)

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Will

A Grolsch would go down well.

a. This wasn't really about straplocks, just my amazing powers of non-observation. How could I not have spotted the lack of the things? Rhetorical question - I put it down to age and infatuation with a really good new bass.

b. My G&L SB-2 is a heavy piece of ash and in 5 years worth of gigs with it, straplocks have never let me down. The new P bass replaces the G&L.

c. It might have been 2 hours before the gig but I didn't have 2 hours to work on the bass. Last night was particularly fraught - but that is another story. At least we had a couple of good sets once we got going.

d. When I bought my USA Deluxe Precision and Victor Bailey Jazz both came with straplocks as standard - gold plated even on the VB. Rather than mess around with perfectly good instruments, that was the point where I decided to go with the flow. The basses suggested the standard, not me. Do Fender make basses for dorks?

e. The John Mayer incident was nothing to do with straplocks but yes, quite funny. At least he finished the song.

I should admit the American Standard P is a bit of indulgence for an old man and I have no need to rush things with perfectly good alternatives set up and ready to go. Perhaps next weekend when we have a proper stage to play on...

Peace.

Dont be suprised if you change your mind after the first time you have your guitar hit the floor when a strap comes loose.

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"My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives." Blazing Saddles...

Thank you for all your advice. I will just have to trust my own engineering judgement and gig experience on this - or stick to jazz work where I am sat down anyway.

As I am in my 60s I think my joints are going to fail first, anyway. :lol:

That's classic I never dropped my Strat in 38 years. I can't stand them. I just used the plastic bread bag closer things. They come with bread too!

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Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal

I use them plastic things that dumbflop sell, when I can be bothered.



Perfectly good and never let me down.


I dont like the schaller things. Its like having the tower of a mosque sticking out of your guitar.



VS



I definitley see Schallers inspiration.

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No no and no

Strap locks are a personal choice and one of the easiest ways to protect your guitar from straps coming undone from the buttons while playing. I personally had an old guitar of mine drop to the floor, thank goodness it was in my living room on the carpet and I was fast enough to catch the neck (that time). I have used strap locks on every guitar I have owned since. I have not had one drop due to the strap coming off or out of the locks.

To the orginal poster, Fender has been putting them on select guitars for a number of years, just not on every Fender. I feel they are well worth the money and a easy modification to do, usually in less than 5 minues.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head