I use Dunlops. Never had a problem.

[quote="nastyn8c":umjkgppa]I use Dunlops. Never had a problem.[/quote:umjkgppa] +1 Mark

I'm a Schaller man myself. I think they're a little more secure than the Dunlop ones in that they have the scoop on the strap side, so even if they don't click in (which they always do anyway), they will hold. That, plus all of my straps have them installed on them, so all my basses do too. Ernie Ball is supposed to release a set very soon too. It will be interesting to see how those are.

[quote:ojjfq3q5]I use Dunlops. Never had a problem[/quote:ojjfq3q5] +1 David

Maybe I had a bad set, but I had dunlops fail twice (catch that falling bass). Seems like the ball-bearing/spring was a bit sticky, and did not properly insert fully in the 'retainer' slot. Seemed like it was inserted correctly, but not the case. I got tired of clipping the strap on, and having to tug a bunch of times to make SURE it was securely connected. Never had a problem with Schallers (on 2 basses).

And the only issue with installation is finding a slightly fatter screw than the one the straplocks come with, correct?

I have Schaller straplocks on all my basses, and have had no problems over the last 10 years or so that I have been using them.

[quote="amodeo@mitre.org":2begy58b]I have Schaller straplocks on all my basses, and have had no problems over the last 10 years or so that I have been using them.[/quote:2begy58b] I used the same type of screws (size and thread) that came on the bass and ground the heads so that they will fit through the strap pins of the Schallers. I am pretty sure that was mentioned in another thread around here. By the way, the screws are drywall screws (if you were to look for them in a hardware store) which have an even more aggressive thread pitch than wood screws. The ones that come with the Schallers are too small and have too fine a thread to grip into the wood well.

Ah yes, here it is: [url:3g5ewc5u]http://www.dingwallguitars.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=218&highlight=straplocks[/url:3g5ewc5u] Check a few posts down. Sheldon has some nice pictures.

actually none, never had my strap fall of my ab. however, i've had no problems with any of the straplocksystems i've tried before

I prefer the Schaller types..they seem a little more secure than Dunlops to me. I don't have them on my current bass (AB-II) though...I didn't want to mess the original ones.

[quote="Smallmouth_Bass":36inb77p][quote="amodeo@mitre.org":36inb77p]I have Schaller straplocks on all my basses, and have had no problems over the last 10 years or so that I have been using them.[/quote:36inb77p] I used the same type of screws (size and thread) that came on the bass and ground the heads so that they will fit through the strap pins of the Schallers. I am pretty sure that was mentioned in another thread around here. By the way, the screws are drywall screws (if you were to look for them in a hardware store) which have an even more aggressive thread pitch than wood screws. The ones that come with the Schallers are too small and have too fine a thread to grip into the wood well.[/quote:36inb77p] Do you know if a different screw is required for the Dunlops as well, or will the Dunlop screw work?

[quote="BuffaloBob":1v9h5bcb][quote="Smallmouth_Bass":1v9h5bcb][quote="amodeo@mitre.org":1v9h5bcb]I have Schaller straplocks on all my basses, and have had no problems over the last 10 years or so that I have been using them.[/quote:1v9h5bcb] I used the same type of screws (size and thread) that came on the bass and ground the heads so that they will fit through the strap pins of the Schallers. I am pretty sure that was mentioned in another thread around here. By the way, the screws are drywall screws (if you were to look for them in a hardware store) which have an even more aggressive thread pitch than wood screws. The ones that come with the Schallers are too small and have too fine a thread to grip into the wood well.[/quote:1v9h5bcb] Do you know if a different screw is required for the Dunlops as well, or will the Dunlop screw work?[/quote:1v9h5bcb] IIRC, the head of the screw that Sheldon uses had to be ground to work with the Dunlops. The Dunlop screw is not an aggressive thread. Mark

[quote="guitarded":1u2xwklq][quote="BuffaloBob":1u2xwklq][quote="Smallmouth_Bass":1u2xwklq][quote="amodeo@mitre.org":1u2xwklq]I have Schaller straplocks on all my basses, and have had no problems over the last 10 years or so that I have been using them.[/quote:1u2xwklq] I used the same type of screws (size and thread) that came on the bass and ground the heads so that they will fit through the strap pins of the Schallers. I am pretty sure that was mentioned in another thread around here. By the way, the screws are drywall screws (if you were to look for them in a hardware store) which have an even more aggressive thread pitch than wood screws. The ones that come with the Schallers are too small and have too fine a thread to grip into the wood well.[/quote:1u2xwklq] Do you know if a different screw is required for the Dunlops as well, or will the Dunlop screw work?[/quote:1u2xwklq] IIRC, the head of the screw that Sheldon uses had to be ground to work with the Dunlops. The Dunlop screw is not an aggressive thread. Mark[/quote:1u2xwklq] Thanks Mark!

Thanks for your input. I think I'll try the Schallers this time around. Reddavid and one other player I read a review from had a bit of trouble w/ the Dunlops, although most who use them like them. In the previous thread that Smallmouth posted, groovaholic shows the screw he used, which is a square drive "trim" head deck screw (with an auger tip) that appears to be pretty common in the nautical world. I'm going to round up a couple of those to mount the Schallers. John

[quote="John H.":2m11lqac]Thanks for your input. I think I'll try the Schallers this time around. Reddavid and one other player I read a review from had a bit of trouble w/ the Dunlops, although most who use them like them. In the previous thread that Smallmouth posted, groovaholic shows the screw he used, which is a square drive "trim" head deck screw (with an auger tip) that appears to be pretty common in the nautical world. I'm going to round up a couple of those to mount the Schallers. John[/quote:2m11lqac] How common are square drives in the US and rest of the world? We've looked into those screws and they look like the ticket, but felt there might be a problem with people outside of Canada finding a proper screwdriver.

Square head screwdrivers are rare this side of Europe, plus there is a difference in metric and US gauges

It seems square drive screws are becoming more and more standard in the US. Even many of the phillips head screws are also square drive - and you get much better torque with the square drive. the only problem i had using the 'stainless square drive' screw mentioned was that the depth of the straplock pin/peg was greater than the screw driver bit, so i couldn't bottom out the screw using the bit. I found an old file that had a 'square point' and it fit the screw, and allowed me to tighten down the screw.

One possibility is to use the square slot screws and then ship a replacement bit with the bass. I know a furniture manufacturer that did this and it worked great. All you need then is a drill or a screwdriver that accepts bits and you're all set.