Ren Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 Hello everyone on the forum. My first post (inspired by my purchase yesterday of a standard Les Paul in cherry sunburst!!!!!!. Second time around though as I bought a Les Paul Custom back in 76 but sold it to go to India to find my navel (which I did!) though looking back I really wish I'd found a way to keep the guitar as theyr're now 3.5K! Anyway, my question: when I picked up the guitar I asked the dealer for some strap locks and he sold me some Schaller ones. However, upon removing one of the original Gibson ones, I found that the thread diameter on the Schaller ones is a little smaller. I therefore did not fit them in fear of them stripping the original thread. Can someone please tell me what alternative I can use. Thanks for any advice. Cheers, Ren. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zaphod B Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 You have several options, I think. 1. See if you can make your straplocks work with the original screws. or 2. Fill the original screw holes with plastic wood and re-drill them for your strap lock screw size. or 3. Use the old carpenter's trick for sizing down wood screw holes - drop some carpenter's glue in the hole, drop in a couple of wood toothpicks trimmed to the same depth as the hole, install the new, slightly smaller screw, allow to dry overnight before putting any load on it. (Yes, it works.) or 4. See if another brand of straplock has the same screw size as your originals or 5. Forget the straplock and install a big stainless steel washer between the original strap holder and the body. (Not elegant, but it works too.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hydra26 Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 I use schallers on all mine. I just use the screw that comes with the locks for the back strap button. works fine even though it looks smaller. On the front button The screw that came with the gutiar threads through the lock fine for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeRom Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 For my guitar the screws that came with the Schallers fit just fine but zaphod b has some great suggestions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raptor Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 With straplocks the screw size for the tail pin (the one at the very back of the guitar) is often hit or miss with Gibsons. It used to be that either Schaller or Dunlops would go on the Gibson USA models with no problem, but the Historic Reissues always had a larger screw at the tail of the guitar. Use a little carpenter's glue and a couple of toothpicks as suggested, although the other suggestions work fine as well. Remember that straplocks need maintenance too. With Schallers, usually they will loosen on the strap, so check that regularly; or put a tiny drop of threadlock on when you tighten the nut. Dunlops have a push button and ball bearings that lock the strap to the guitar. The ball bearings can get dirty and jam, so you put the pin in, let go and wham the guitar drops. So you need to keep Dunlops clean and oiled so the work properly. I prefer Schallers because the U shaped cup acts as a failsafe if the pin does not engage. With Dunlops, you can accidently hit the button and cause them to release unexpectedly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ren Posted January 16, 2008 Author Share Posted January 16, 2008 Thanks to everyone who has responded. Now I know the score. Think I'm going to go down the toothpick lane. Just seems a shame and surprises me that Gibson themslves don't address this problem and that I'm left to bodge a solution (though I appreciate it can be done nicely). Thanks again to everyone. Ren. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveinspain Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Hi, this is what I use... It's inexpensive (under$10.00), sturdy and works great on any eletric guitar.... The back side has a protective rubber backing with recessed screws... Works on the original pegs no modifications needed :-) Hope this helps, Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trouble n Hand Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Would that scratch the finish though?:P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveinspain Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 No, not at all... The only contact with the guitar is the rubber backing... I have been using it for a few months now with no marks what so ever... Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveinspain Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 As you can see in this photo the only part that touches the guitar is the rubber backing. The swiveling strap connection allows the locking shoe to sit flat on the guitar... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raptor Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Be careful of the rubber backing. A lot of rubber materials will eat into the nitrocellulose finish. Do you know if those are nitro safe? Also a normal guitar strap will rub through the finish in time. Even if they are nitro safe, those rubber pads will wear through the finish eventually. I should have mentioned that I also use a plastic (Dunlop made I think) strap lock that goes on the end of the pin after the strap. You then rotate it 180 degrees to lock it. They have a little loop on them and I tie a little piece of ribbon through the hole in the strap and the loop on the lock, so they are always there ready to use. I started using these, when I decided I didn't want to plug the larger holes in my CS LPs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riffster Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 This is what I use, probably the cheapest of all... http://www.zzounds.com/item--DNP7007SI They fit right on top of the strap, just a twist and they are good to go. I use a carving leather strap and they fit fine over it but if you use one of those super padded straps it may not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raptor Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Stiffhand, those are like the ones I have been using on my CS LPs. Only difference it the ones I use have a little slot/loop where I can tie it to the strap and not lose it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeRom Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 The Planet Waves strap is a cool idea, but you have to use their strap, which I don't like. I have soft leather strap that I really like so the PW's are out of the question, at least for me. Besides, the Schallers were only 15 bucks plus they are all metal. Great strap lock idea though. Those Planet Waves guys ... always thinking :(/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveinspain Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 I hear you... For me the Planet Waves works as I only use it for when I am practicing at home or at my guitar class... I suppose if I get a nice expensive strap later on I will get the clip over the top of the strap type... I just don't see making modifications to the guitar as an option... Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riffster Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Raptor I have a set of those as well the round ones as opposed to the pick shaped dunlops but I do not know the brand so I could not find a picture/link. I bought the round ones at Gruhn but hey seem to be an off brand, the dunlop version seems sturdier but I definitely like the round shape with the slot much better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zaphod B Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 My preference is the Schallers - like Raptor said, they have a failsafe engineered in, and they're made of metal, by damn. I do have the Dunlops on one of my guitars but my confidence level in it is not very high. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenacious T Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 Use the screw that came off the Les Paul....use a bench grinder to remove a tad bit on the entire diameter of the screw, just enough so it will fit thru the Schaller button & your set. The amount that you have to take off the screw head is minimal. When done, you have the original Gibson screw holding in your new Schaller strap locks. Works perfectly & there is no way the modified screw will pull thru the button as you have only taken of a small amount of the screw head. Did it on my Epiphone Les Paul & it works perfect. The screw size is exactly the same on the Gibson. Anyhoo...for what it's worth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slash#101 Posted January 19, 2008 Share Posted January 19, 2008 do u know the bottels of grolsch the beer well the big bottels well u get a wee rubber ring and it fits perfictly and it saves my guitar from falling off my strap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
girlsgirlsgirls Posted January 19, 2008 Share Posted January 19, 2008 I've been using schallers for years and never had a problem. I just use the original screws from the guitar and they've always worked fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AS90 Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 I have used these for years, I have them on all my guitars and they have never let me down. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-DUNLOP-Budget-STRAP-LOK-Locks-with-FENDER-PICKS_W0QQitemZ320208705228QQihZ011QQcategoryZ7266QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zaphod B Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 All this talk about straplocks made me realize that I had a bunch of guitars sitting around without them. Went to Guitar Center and bought 5 sets of Schallers. On the two Gibsons that I installed them on, I did reduce the hole size with glued-in toothpicks at the bottom of the body. The Fenders use the same size screws at both locations. Another thing to note about Schallers vs Dunlops: To remove the Schallers you have to PULL the spring-loaded pin - something that is impossible to achieve unless you intend to do it. To remove the Dunlops you PUSH the spring-loaded pin - something that can be done inadvertently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thundergod Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 yeah, schallers are better, i use them in all my guitars and have never failed me, also they look really good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zaphod B Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 Thundergod, that's some beautiful flame on the upper guitar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oscar the Grouch Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 Hello, I'm looking for a strap locks for my les paul std. 2012. I would like to keep the original screws of my gibson if possible. Anybody tried this? which brand / model? Thanks Oscar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.