Warwicks vs. Strap Locks

[Eight]

For the last time, my pesky Vampyre has tried to escape playing some cheesy pop song by letting go of the strap. Luckily I've managed to catch it each time.

Was just trying to decide whether to buy some Warwick strap locks online, or nip down to a local guitar emporium tomorrow where they sell some Schallers, but I stumbled across fragments of info that suggest there *may* be an issue with these strap locks on Warwick basses??? Something to do with the screws???

Anyone know the full story here?

Edited September 4, 2009 by Eight

[alexclaber]

My '87 Warwick has had Schallers on it from new. Even if the straplock screws are smaller than the original screws that's an easy fix with a matchstick or two!

Alex

[Eight]

Can you just use the original screws or are they likely to not fit the locks?

[alexclaber]

I'd take them along and compare. I've never really understood straplocks but I gather some people take their strap off their bass when they put it in their gigbag - I'd be just as happy with a screw and a damned big washer.

Alex

[Eight]

Hmm... maybe a visit to Screwfix would be a better option.

I never deliberately take the strap off my basses.

[velvetkevorkian]

Or, if you like the occasional bottle of Grolsch, take a few of of the red rubber rings that they use on the flip-top bottles and stick those over the strap buttons. Probably cheaper than a proper set and you get beer as well.

[XB26354]

I'd be careful with current Warwick straplocks, all the ones I've tried (on the many Warwicks I've had over the last 10 years or so) have come out of the strap button all too easily whilst I was playing.

[Captain Rumble]

Try Dunlop straplocks they are compatible with Warwick straplocks so you dont need to touch the one fitted to a Warwick as standard and if you use the Dunlop fittings you can still use an ordinary strap if your silly enough to forget your strap and also they are held on to the strap using a "C" clip instead of a nut so cant come undone

[url="http://www.dv247.com/guitars/jim-dunlop-sls1031n-straplocks--35024"]http://www.dv247.com/guitars/jim-dunlop-sl...raplocks--35024[/url]

Dont know the shop but the product is excellent

[Eight]

By a weird coincidence, I went out this morning and bought some Dunlop locks.

The screws that come with them are a tad thinner and shorter than the Warwick screws holding the regular strap nobs on... seems secure but there's a lingering doubt in my mind. Still... probably less likely to come out than my previous predicament of the strap coming off all the time.

For ref: you can't use the standard Warwick screws because the head is too big to fit into the Dunlop straplock. We should really start a campaign to force guitar and bass manufacturers to standardise their use of screws.

[Eight]

Nope. They don't fit - bottom one falls straight out as the screw isn't big enough.

Grrr... so either I try and [s]find out if the Warwick locks fit properly... [/s] or I have someone fill and drill my bass Eeeeekk.

Edit: Just remembered the Warwick locks are supposedly pretty poor.

Edited September 5, 2009 by Eight