Robben Ford Discussion

[sfhalo]

Daved:

I just bought a Tokai Les Paul.........very nice Korean-made LP for the money. I'd appreciate a recommendation for a straplock.............9-10 lbs of beautiful guitar falling on the floor doesn't cut it! What do you have on Robben's LPs. Thanks very much.

[Daved]

Briefly, my personal strap lock opinions:

Yes, use them, even if you are a "stand-frozen-in-one-place-&-position" performer. It is far too easy for guitar straps, (Even brand new ones, but especially those older, well worn, favorite good-luck straps that can be so hard to part with) to come off your guitar at the wrong time. A strap lock will significantly reduce strap & peg failure and possible damage.

This being said, and again in my own personal opinion & experience, stay away from the horseshoe style as with Schaller Security Locks. I've had many near misses using them in my early tech years.
They come apart far too easily and the horse shoe, which has an open side and a closed side, constantly needs to be attended to ensure that the peg rests firmly in the cradle (the nut comes loose easily, allowing the horseshoe opening to change position, making it difficult to ensure that the "lock" barrel snaps easily and securely into position).
Also, when the nut comes loose, it can easily fall off undetected, allowing the strap to disconnect and come off the horseshoe.
In addition, the locking device itself is a small knob that you have to pull out, which is awkward and, because the horseshoe slides onto the peg from the side, is not easily or reliably tested to ensure that the pin attached to the knob you pulled has seated/locked properly and securely into the hole of the peg.

I prefer the large washer and locking clip style, such as the ones made by Dunlop. The one potential drawback is that the lock holds the end of the strap about 1/2 inch further away from the guitar body, which may at first seem a little awkward, but in most cases I find you become accustomed to that pretty quickly.
The advantages:
The large washer securely holds even the large strap holes of well used straps. It is almost impossible for the strap to come off the lock assembly, unless the strap itself breaks.
The clip on locking washer securely holds the strap and the strap lock itself together. Less chance of the lock falling apart or coming detached from your strap.
The push button style locking device is accessable from all sides making it easier to function quickly and securely.
Plus, the guitar peg part of the assembly comes in 3 or 4 differently styled shapes for your selection. My favorite style is the one shaped similar to a standard strap peg (but with a hole in the center to receive the barrel of the Straplock mechanism) allowing you to also use a strap with out a strap-locking device on it if desired or needed.

Basically, unlike the Schaller's, you don't have to think about or pay attention to, the Dunlops. Once they've been installed, just push the button, snap the strap on, give it a quick tug to make sure it has locked, and away you go. No fumbling, no thinking, no distraction.
Removing it is just as simple and reliable.

CAUTION: The strap can be a critical performance device. Protect the safety aspects of it with strap locks. BUT, as with any and everything, don't get comfortable and start to ignore strap/lock maintenance.
Occasionally, briefly and regularly, check to make sure that everything is in good order and secure.
If you can see me at my workstation during a show, you will notice that, when preparing to hand off a new guitar to Robben at the end of a song, after tuning and string cleaning , etc., as a very last thing, I ALWAYS check to make sure the strap lock peg is securely screwed to the body, that the strap mechanism is securely locked to the peg, and that the strap is securely attached to the Strap lock mechanism.

TIP 1: You will find that the pegscrew provided with your straplock kit is most likely slightly longer and may be slightly thicker than the stock peg screw that came with your guitar. USE THE ONE THAT COMES WITH THE STRAPLOCK KIT. If you find you are having trouble getting it to screw all the way into the wood (different body types, different woods) and are afraid you might crack or damage the guitar body, back it out, then screw the screw about 1/4 to 1/2 inch into a bar of soap. Then unscrew it from the soap and back into your guitar. This should 'lubricate' the screw enough for it to seat easily.

TIP 2: If you find that the wood around the screw hole in the body has gotten chewed up so the screw turns endlessly (happens all the time), put a drop of White (Elmer's) or Wood glue in the hole, wet a toothpick or two (so they will bond better to the glue), and break them off in the hole to fill it, then screw your peg back in. You don't need to wait for it to dry before reinstalling the peg screw.
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B C-ing U!
( }:-Daved
"This boy's diseased with rhythm!" -Bing Crosby (Road To Rio, '49)

[frank0936]

Hi Daved,
I've used the wood glue and toothpick tip on a variety of repairs from guitar strap buttons to antique beds and it always works well. I've always used Schallers and I check the strap buttons for tightness and the nut on the locks and the horseshoe collar before every gig and at every break. You're right about the nut coming off easily. A possible solution there is either Loctite or use a hammer and punch to stake the nut in place. However, our bass player uses Schallers, too, and after almost every gig I find the collar has rotated and the open end is facing downward. Still, he has never had the strap come off. I have a set of Dunlops I am going to try and see how I like them.
Frank

[Bill Morgan]

[sfhalo]

Daved: Thanks much for the quick reply. Years ago, I used a small metal ring that was attached to a piece of leather which was attached to the guitar peg on my Les Pauls. On the strap itself, I had a "snap link" that snapped to the ring. It worked well and was very secure, but looked a bit weird. During those years (1968-1978), I don't remember seeing any straplocks and had to jerry-rig one myself. I knew you'd have a better solution and I'll definitely take your suggestion and buy a Dunlop model. Thanks, again.

[JohnnyZ]

[Bluelobster]

I don't want to be more grumpy than MOrgan the pirate ( hey Bill , hope some of your relatives are some Larsens) But in France we do have a sentence : "Never give Marmelade to pigs".
Though i am not against a book ( with funds redirected to Roadies Trade union or Viet vets fund which could be pretty the same)
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http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_music.cfm?bandID=147748

[JohnnyZ]

Ah! What a wonderful tool Search is. I was going start a new thread asking for strap lock recommendations, completely forgetting about Daved's terrific post in this thread...

Oh, and Blobby, "Never give Marmelade to pigs"!

[Encinitastubes]

At the risk of sounding like a cheapie, for years I've just used the plastic fasteners that you use to close the plastic bag for a loaf of bread. They are soft on the guitar, easy to obtain, and very effective. You can even go to the bread section of your local supermarket and search for your favorite color. I've never had one fail on me or damage the instrument.

[JohnnyZ]

>> At the risk of sounding like a cheapie...

Not at all! Heck, look at the fortune that Navin R. Johnson made with a simple non-slip eyeglass nose brake!

And, there's this plastic thingie called a tie wrap that may, perhaps, you would think, work just as well to hold that damn guitar strap in place. And, it now comes in dozens of colors too! Holy crap- this is genius!

[Encinitastubes]

Didn't Navin Johnson eventually lose his fortune when everyone who used his product ended up cross-eyed?

[JohnnyZ]

[StratCat]

Don't forget to take your Thermos too...


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because I rock, and that's important.

[frank0936]

To return from this brief and delightful detour, I tried the Dunlop style straplocks that Daved recommended and I do like them better. I still have the Schallers on a couple of guitars, but everything new gets Dunlops. Thanks, Daved!
Frank