Strap talk

[subversion]

Dear friends, just wondering what straps you use. I’ve recently acquired the D’addario Planet Lock strap (after much procrastination), here’s my take on it:

We all know how the conventional strap pin slit expands over prolonged use. This is really harzardous when we opt to stand & strap our prized guitar/ bass, then having the strap give way & watch the instrument fall to its death… tragic but avoidable. Especially when there are straps out there with a locking mechanism so that we do not have to rely on duct tape to secure the strap to our instrument.

The neat thing about the Planet Lock (PL) is that its patented plastic ends, accommodate strap pins of various sizes (at least all the sizes on the guitars I own…), even the buttons of my Strap Lock equipped Fender Tele (wohoo!). You can then execute your stage gymnastics without a worry. The plastic contraption which locks itself to your guitar has a rubber-padded surface so it won’t devour your guitar body’s finish. No scratches, no worries then…

The PL strap is convenient & transferable. You need only one strap for all your guitars so it’s a cost saving unit, as oppossed to installing Strap Lock mechanisms to all you guitars/ basses in order to use the strap. Not to mention the quirky strap pin radius which necessitates a minor filling in your guitar strap pin cavity. I have one other ‘locking strap’, it’s Dimarzio’s ClipLock which is impressive but unsightly. This strap is basically a 2-unit affair. Half of it is permanently screwed into your guitar, leaving unsightly flaps when the other half is released/ not in use.

The down side is its rather bulky appearance but after you strap it onto your guitar it looks diminished. Another point to note is the locking mechanism itself, you press a button & rotate a dial for its release. This can be tricky if you need a quick change. The PL retails for slightly less than $14.00 so do check it out.

http://www.planet-waves.com/gear_product_1.asp

 

[atee]

that´s pretty cheap for something that seems to work so well... and yea it´s a cheaper option rather than buying a strap for every guitar you have. however this would be limited to home use or small gigs - if you had to change your guitar sometime while gigging you´d definitely need another strap.

where´d you get it from? swee lee?

 

[subversion]

Yup- swee lee…

I wouldn’t worry about changing strap in the middle of a set, it seems cumbersome but it won’t take forever. I’ve donated mine to a friend who’s currently doing constant gigs, will get another very soon.

 

[shengjie]

I have been using Strap Lock mechanisms and D’addario Planet Lock strap on my basses and acoutics and find that it will cause the strap pins of my basses acoustics to come off...

Problem with such device is that you can´t really handle your guitar too rough. Yes, it prevents the strap from coming out, but it is actually pulling the strip pins and enlarging the pins holes. But normally, this "syndrome" will appears after 2 or more years of usage. This happen to both my acoustic guitar and my 2 bass guitars.

Up till now, there is no other solutions, but if you find that you strap keep coming out, give Strap Lock a try, but remember that one day, it may fail on you, cauing the strap pins to come off. But of course, with a few bucks, you can get it fix! Cheers :lol:

Just my two cents worth of advice....

 

[subversion]

that sounds severe. i´ve read that if you expose the strap pin cavity to lots of moisture, it´ll disengage them over prolonged use. either this or you love thrashing your guitar severely while having it strapped on...

this account is the first i´ve read...

 

[shengjie]

My cousin also encountered this problem with his acoustic guitar. He end up tying the strap to the neck with a thin rope. Anyway, I don´t thrash my guitars, so I myself is very surprise (and frustrated) with this problem. But I solve my problem using quite a bit of UHU Glue :lol: And I don´t think my problem is due to moisture as I play most of the time in air conditioned place and store the guitars in dry area...

 

[subversion]

i can´t really relate to the accoustic guitar anomaly- have not owned one since 1996...

anyway, if it involves the Strap Lock, then there are strap button issues to be aware of simply because this product´s strap pin is somehow smaller than the industry´s standard. many people i´ve talked to inserted a matchstrick as a ´filler´ before actually screwing in the strap pin. it´ll hold but it won´t last.

the Planet Lock is a relatively new product , i won´t undermine its credibility just yet... but it´s good to read a counter account.

 

[repulse87]

YoZ guys,

heres my feedback on the Planet Wave Lock straps. They have 2 versions, the earlier ones and the newer ones. The newer ones have an extra rubber region below the lock to as to not damage the guitar´s finish while u rub u´re straplock against the strap pin area. I bought both the earlier ones and the newer ones.

I gig almost every month, i usually practice sitting down but sometimes up with my strap. I first had the earlier strap and it tore through my Les Paul´s nitro finish. Yah... I don´t really mind then until wear was so bad I could see the mahogany. Then I bought the earlier version. Things seemed to have improved though but i´m not sure how long will it last. The rubber is starting to wear off and stuff... haha... is it juz me or wad?

 

[subversion]

The rubber-padded version are the ones in the stores now (like I mentioned in my initial post). Have not seen the previous version, must have been phased out…

 

[squidospyder]

Straps wise i stick to leather and nothing else (i'm a bass player). Some say they stink when you sweat, but err i don get to sweat very often when i play... I don't jump you see, leave the vocalist (and guitarist if he chooses to) for that haha... I'm just part of the background, good bass is often invisible... until you make a mistake

My current strap is a 4" (quite freaking wide) Levy's that i got at Davis. One word: its PERFECT for my heavy warwick...

 

[subversion]

hello everyone! take a look at this contraption here:

it's called the ERGO Lok Strap by Jim Dunlop. it's a simple solution to your disobedient strap problem. after attaching your strap to your instrument, attach these Lok Strap as an external contraption so your strap stays put. the mechanism is similar to Planet Lock's, albeit a little stiff. $2.50ea @ Davis... 8)

 

[BF109E]

All my straps, all 3 of them, are 4" leather straps. I love leather straps and have given up on all those thin fabric ones as they are a lot more comfortable (besides looking great) with my heavy Les Pauls and an equally heavy Suzuki bass.

So far, I have only fiited one strap lock on one of my leather straps. I don't do any stage acrobatics with my guitar so they work well. But as a safety habit, I always hold on to my guitar whenever it's strapped up.

8)

 

[marshall_law]

I use levy classic 50 strap. Those narrow in width strap. And i lock it with schallers. IMO, Schallers are better than jim dunlop's. They are easier to install and it is not the push release type.

 

[pooo]

I love the dimarzio clip locks. the cotten ones especially. kinda find that screwing it into the body makes it much more secure. not to mention it's comfortable too. I have them on all my guitars.

 

[guitar_phreak]

I got a DiMarzio clip lock 2 inch. And the screws can't fit the hole!! Apparantly the Ibanez screws are bigger.

(then I read Sub's post in more detail......"filling needed!!")

And I get a little put off by the clips hitting the guitar....

need something simpler....

 

[marshall_law]

The most simple way is to bring to a guitar tech. He should know how to solve your problem.