Dropped Les Paul > word to the wise and new LP owners

[turtle]

hey guys just wanted to share an unfortunate event that happened to me. i dropped my lester right off the strap. im advising everyone new and old to get strap locks. i have them on one lester and never got them for my #2. now i have them on both. luckily i have the tiny-ist little nick on the right headstock horn. really tiny but the fact i spent about 10 seconds sh*&*&-ing my pants and about an hour making sure i didnt crack the neck ,heel, headstock, everything . its not worth it. i know im probably the only idoit who didnt put them on the guitar but i must post this anyhow. thanks all.

[Tim Plains]

Lucky...

I put Shaller's on all my guitars but I don't think strap locks are for everyone. Especially home players & collectors that want to keep them 100% stock. You can buy those $3 plastic twist locks and they work great. The only thing to worry about with those is if you use a thick strap, you may eventually see a ring forming on your guitar. There's also the Grolsch trick.

[djroge1]

I believe it's good advice. Although, I've seen my 78 slide (in slow motion) that was leaning against an amp after a gig fall face first onto a concrete floor. I freaked at first, but that was some 28/29 years ago now.

[turtle]

yeah are nine i know what you mean. i like the look of the original ones better then the dunlops i bought for it. i saw the plastic ones but i figured i would either loose them or something so i spent the cash to get good ones for my les paul. i used to use schallers all the time but the shop only had dunlops. plus i like that the buttons are bigger and fit a strap good without straplocks incase you forget it at a gig and you need to borrow one. oooops.

[turtle]

I believe it's good advice. Although' date=' I've seen my 78 slide (in slow motion) that was leaning against an amp after a gig fall face first onto a concrete floor. I freaked at first, but that was some 28/29 years ago now.[/quote']

was it damaged???if not we have good luck or karma or something. i cringe when i think of it > ive seen quite a few snapped headstocks

[NeoConMan]

i dropped my lester right off the strap.

im advising everyone new and old to get strap locks.

I happen to believe every word this guy says on the matter....

 

 

http://www.rattlesnakeroadhouse.com/Schaller.html

[bobv]

Neo's method, with pictures (I didn't use the washers; should have though). Works for a Les Paul, too - ask me how I know that...

 

http://forums.gibson.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=3964

[deepblue]

Honestly....When I read these types of stories I get a sick feeling in my stomach.

I cant imagine.

[KSG_Standard]

I've been playing for over 30 years and I've never dropped my guitar (knock on wood), but I use one of the oldest tricks in the book...I almost always have at least one hand on the guitar...just in case something happens.

[solacematt]

There's also the Grolsch trick.

 

You caught my attention with Grolsch, haha. Care to explain that one, my curiousity has been peaked.

[Mr. Robot]

Thanks Turtle. Great advice. I am about to take delivery of my first Lester, might get them to put some straplocks on it given the weight of the Traditional.

[cdntac]

My Byrdland has Dunlop strap locks on them. Not sure what model though. A piece attaches to the strap and it just snaps into the button on the guitar.

 

They release quite easily by pressing them together but seem quite sturdy and durable.

[tulsaslim]

I've noticed that Gibby is putting strap locks on some LPs 'stock'. They should put strap locks on every guitar they sell but until they do it's up to you to do it. It's probably the best $15 you'll spend on your guitar.

 

Now, if everyone would train themselves to put their guitars in the case during breaks (instead of putting them on a stand) everyone would be better off.

 

After the 2nd drunk decided it was just fine to stumble across the stage during a band break- knocking over everybody's guitar in the process- I learned to put my guitar in the case during breaks. I still don't know why it took two drunks doing it before I caught on. Stupidity, I guess.

[TexasFM3]

Bro,

 

Been there done that... got the large bare wood chip to prove it... Since my incident I have fit all my Guitars with the Dimarzio ClipLock Strap...

 

Musiciansfriend has them for about 15 bucks...

 

Fantastic straps and the clips hold like no other... I have had even the Shallers give out on me on stage!

 

I live by these straps after that incident

 

just my two cents!

 

FM3

[loneguitar]

Ditto, all of mine have them

[dmeds]

"I felt a great disturbance in the Force. As if a million voices cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced." Now I know why.

[HiLifeRocker]

for about 10 years all I trusted on my IBZ/Jacksons/Strats were DiMarzio clip-locks...never an issue! When I got into Epiphone LPs & Gibson Les Pauls (read: afforded the Gibsons!), I didn't care for the narrow DiMarzio strap. I didn't think the plasic clips looked that good with the LPs either. I switched to a wide leather strap fitted with Dunlop Straplocks on all Epiphones & Les Pauls without issue.

 

Be warned - on some LPs the top strap screw may be a smaller diameter hole - and you'll have to account for that with a carefully selected drill bit that *almost* matches the screw diameter. Or have a tech do it.

[marantz1300]

Got my Lester Classic yesterday.Got strap locks today. Then read your post!

[Silverbursted]

Some guys think "battle scars" are cool, to me stupid just makes my stomach hurt. No brainer even for the home player to spend $15 to protect your investment.

[jameswithesg]

Some guys think "battle scars" are cool' date=' to me stupid just makes my stomach hurt. No brainer even for the home player to spend $15 to protect your investment.[/quote']

 

battle scars are cool, and do give character, never the less they should be avoided, strap locks are a necessary investment for a beloved instrument

[Foxboron]

"I felt a great disturbance in the Force. As if a million voices cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced." Now I know why.

 

ey! write who you quote from Obi Wannabe Kenobi

[jeffbeck]

"turtle",

I'm sorry to here about your incident.

I use the Schahller locks as well and highly recommend them, they're certainly worth the $20.00.

-Mark

[joeypinter]

later for strap locks. what i have done for the last 30 years or so with ALL the lesters i've had is remove the strap button by the neck because that's the creepy one, then i drill a hole the same size as the INSIDE part of the button on the guitar strap, stick the small end through the reinstall the whole thing. now that strap will NEVER come off.

i don't think "button" is the correct name but i'm sure you know what i mean.

[dmeds]

FoxBoron wrote:

 

ey! write who you quote from Obi Wannabe Kenobi

 

Point taken. I suppose I'm just a "Padawan" and new at this. :D

[Bender 4 Life]

I've used one form or other of straplocks ever since I broke the headstock OFF, (yes Big O big F big F)

a late 60's SG by dropping it in '89.

For twin sidemounts, as in LP, Tele, etc. I use Schallers, because when positioned correctly, the horse shoe

over the post will hang on, even if the spring pin fails.

My guitars with the backmount, SG ,Flying V, and Sheraton, get Dunlops to keep the pin cap from

poking me in the belly.

 

as far as collectors..........anybody with several guitars has a tool & parts box........mine has all the origional

buttons, just in case I ever want to swap back.(actually more because i'm a packrat that keeps everything)