Hey gang,

I picked up a new strap and some Schaller locks. I've been reading over and over how important locks are, but I didn't realize you basically need to dismantle part of your strat to put these on, correct?

My question is, do I even need them? I'm a beginner and still learning, I just thought it would be useful to play with a strap as well as sitting down. And how much danger is there having a newbie like me try to put these things on?

Thanks all.

if they are the schaller strap locks that come on the deluxe strats, then you just screw out the old strap button and screw in the new one that takes the lock. no big deal as long as your careful.

Wait until someone confirms that the screw is the same size though. im pretty sure they are, but not 100%.

Are they necessary, no but if your anal about keeping your guitar in as good condition as possible, and someday one of your mates is playing it, the strap falls off and the guitar crashes to the ground, taking a chunk of paint and wood out of it in the process, you learn very quickly that strap locks are a good thing to have. Luckily it was a cheap epiphone, but it was my first guitar, my dad worked hard to get it for me and i was really upset about it getting damaged in such a stupid way.

If you dont want to change the strap buttons, use these things:



I use them on my guitars that dont have schaller locks and they seem to do the job as they have never come off accidentally.

You can also use the rubber part from the top of the pop lid Grosch beer bottles if your super cheap!

http://www.couchguitarstraps.com/blog/?p=3

i put the ernie ball chrome straplocks on my new strat. i just unscrewed the old strap buttons, and screwed in the new locks using the same screw. then i attached the other parts to the strap, and i was done.

just take your time screwing in the new parts, and don't over-tighten or you may mess up some of your finish.

Are they required? Second gig of my life coming to a close, just after doing the "hold the guitar vertical whilst you're in a power stance to bash out the last power chord" position, followed by the "let go of the guitar and throw your hands in the air" pose only to find the top hole of my strap had come loose in the vertical position. Guitar headstock went crashing to the ground, which put a split in the body next to the neck join (damn you physics and your fulcrums) . I can't recommend locking straps ENOUGH. Get them on every guitar.

But if you don't want to do that, you can do the home version which I have on a couple of my guitars. Take the strap holders off, find a washer which middle hole is bigger than the smallest part of the strap holder and smaller than the biggest part of the strap holder and put them on, then feed the strap in behind that, then screw it back onto your guitar's body. That sucker is never coming off. Got that tip from Billy Sheehan at a clinic he did here in perth.

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My Rig: Guitar into Pedals then into Amps and out into Speakers.

Strap locks are not manditory or a requirement; however, I have had an unfortunate accident for which a guitar of mine was damaged. Every guitar I have owned since then has had strap locks put on it.

As far has Schaller Strap locks, all you should have to do is unscrew the old strap buttons and install the new locking buttons. Screw on the locks onto the strap itself. A quick mod that should take less than 8 minutes and possibly save some heart ache down the road.

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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

Schaller Straplocks go on ALL my electric guitars.

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Chet Feathers

Authorized TonePros Dealer
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F/A Official Southpaw Compliance Certification Tester http://faamps.com/

http://www.facebook.com/cafeathers


I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

If you don't feel comfortable modding the guitar, why not pick up a Planet Waves Lock Strap?



I have one on my '72 Tele Deluxe, and I've been very happy with it.

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I really like all them "Aster" guitars. You know, like the Stratoc, Telec and Jazzm.

After the screws that came with the fender straplock pack I bought didn't fit my MIM fender, I found a planet waves strap with built in locking mechanism. It's a very simple strap and there are limited choices but does the job of holding my guitar on. Best of all I didn't need to do a bunch of drilling to add strap locks.

ok....get locks...mine dropped on my toe and it 'aint been the same since and that was two years ago......

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Your Fender HSS Standard Stratocaster in Electron Blue was made at the Fender Ensenada Plant in Mexico in the Year: 2008.
Final Assembly Date: July 30th, 2008
Model Number: 013 4700 587
Serial # MZ8031252

Big thumbs up on these. Easy on easy off and secure as can be. Less than 30 or even 20 depending on the color. No mods to the guitar either. I just love these straps!

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http://www.facebook.com/UCtheband
2012 American Standard Strat Charcoal Froast
2009 Standard Strat Sunburst Brown
Blues Junior Tweed NOS
2007 Line6 Spider Jam

Well better safe than sorry.

Thanks guys! I may return the locks and get a Planet strap. If they're as solid as you say, it should be more than enough for me purposes.

I use Schallers too on all my guitars, but not due to the fear of dropping the guitar.

I prefer to change the straps quickly and when packing up I don't have room in my hard shell case to store a guitar with the strap on. Schaller locking buttons have a great quick release mechanism.

Current strap buttons on fender and squier guitar s seem very good quality and judging how much pain in the rear is to take the strap off purposely every time I don't think it will fall off.

Well, I haven't read the other responses here so please forgive me if I add anything terribly redundant but....

To first answer your question of "do I even need them"; the first time your strap comes off and your guitar crashes to the floor...either taking a chunk out of the finish or even snapping the neck or head stock...let's just say you won't have to ask that question. No....95% of the time you don't really "need" them but that -one time- that you don't use them and you have to get a new neck for your precious instrument, you'll wish like hell that you had of used them. To me this really falls under the whole "would rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it" thing.

As I'm sure others have indicated, there are a number of makes/models of strap locks to choose from. Personally I use the Schallers as well and I love them. No...you don't have to "dismantle part of your strat to put these on". Dude, if your using the Schallers I think you're talking about...all you're doing is changing the strap buttons! Two strap buttons, two Phillips head screws...that's it. Just don't over-tighten the screws when you put the new ones on..."just snug" is usually tight enough. Personally I don't even have the strap part of the locks bolted to the strap itself (I lost those stupid little nuts years ago)...I just put the strap over the buttons then put the locks on...works just fine for me.

Sorry...not trying to be rude here but this isn't brain surgery...it's a really simple (albeit important) upgrade.

Peace,
Jim

I put strap locks on every electric guitar I owned after one fateful day nearly 20 years ago involving my prized Korina Gibson Explorer.
I have used Schaller, Dunlop and the Fender/Schaller (I think) versions. I've never used Ernie Ball cause I think they're fugly and I don't care for the Dunlops.
I have never had a size issue. I did strip a hole once so I broke the tip of a toothpick off, dropped it in the hole and attached the strap lock. No problems.

If you care for your geet, I'd invest in something.

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Fender 50th Anniversary Strat
Fender Road Worn '50s Strat
Fender Highway One (HSS) Strat (D standard tuning)
Fender '72 Tele Deluxe
Fender Hot Rod DeVille 212