A strap lock is one among those essential guitar accessories which will not seem that important… till your guitar slips off its strap mid-strum and crashes to the floor!
Being here, I cannot facilitate however wonder if you’ve got come bearing terrific news. I sincerely hope you haven’t arrived here after having learned a very important, but still painful lesson. If you’ve become a victim of the cruel reality of what’s happening here, of constant evolution and later, of vicious entropy, grasp this: you’re not alone. Several guitars, and different instruments too, have gone into the realm of being broken, to be never used once more.
Therefore here are my condolences for your loss. Might your guitar enter rock and roll heaven with pride, knowing it had been played to its full potential?
Now, on to choosing out the best guitar strap locks so this could never happen once more. It’s alright to go through this once, however, a repeat offense tells the story of you not being careful enough, of you not learning your lessons.
You do not need to be known as somebody who broke his/her guitar doubly, since you probably did not confirm that guitar strap locks were the best, do you?
Guitar strap locks may seem as if they’re there to supply some extra and much-needed support. However, really they’ll do over simply keep your guitar in place. They’ll offer you the boldness to boost your performance and therefore the freedom to try to no matter on stage.
This is why guitar strap locks are such a very important thought for any guitar player. Whether or not your strap doesn’t match absolutely otherwise you simply wish that further peace of mind, using a strap lock leads to a worry-free playing experience, despite what you’re doing along with your guitar on stage.
All the best guitar strap locks I glance at nowadays are used with electrical, bass, or guitar straps.
So, here I have created choices for you to think about, and a free value suggestion, to keep your guitar off the floor and wherever it belongs.
Table of Contents
Reviews of the Five best guitar strap locks
While you’ll definitely create your own strap lock, there’s an entire world of easy-to-use, cheap locks available, and – in the following chart – I am aiming to highlight six of my favorites.
Stick around once the chart for a fast buyer’s guide of the best guitar strap locks.
Fender Strap Blocks-2 Pair
These are even cheaper than the other rubber strap locks I am going to review. Fender calls these strap blocks, however, they’re primarily a similarly easy style.
Though a similar style, they’re a bit stiffer and also slightly thicker than plenty of comparable products on the market. This will create them slightly more durable to put into place, although not a lot of. However, the top side is that they doubtless provide a more secure match.
The Fender strap blocks are available as a pack of 2 pairs. One and also the is black and therefore the alternative red. I’m not extremely sure why they’ve done this because it will appear a touch of a weird color combination. I can’t see many people wanting this type of color combined.
Great for a Fender, not therefore smart for…
Also, the terribly outstanding Fender brand might probably limit their charm to non-Fender guitarists. However, for guitarists who own a Fender or Fender type of guitar, I am sure you’ll agree that these Fender logos look extremely cool.
Pros
- Very affordable.
- Install in seconds.
- Prominent Fender logo.
Cons
- Not readily switchable between guitars.
- Black and red color combination.
Ernie Ball Super Locks
There’s no doubt concerning it, Ernie Ball contains a sturdy name for creating superior products. Happily, their strap locks are not any exception.
These are made of nickel-plated steel and look pretty cool. The Ernie Ball brand is on the top of the discharge mechanism.
This is another two-piece design, The first part of the lock is the strap lock button, which is screwed in and swapped out for your existing one. The second part of the lock, containing the discharge mechanism, is clamped into place on your guitar strap using the provided washers and inbuilt screw.
Once installed, the guitar strap is secured or unsecured by pinching either side of the discharge mechanism. This operates extremely smoothly, and although it needs little or no pressure, its two-sided operation makes it nearly not possible to unknowingly engage.
There are black, nickel, and gold strap locks available.
Pros
- The smooth operation of the locking mechanism.
- Difficult to accidentally open the lock.
- Easy to install.
- Available in nickel, black, and gold.
Cons
- Large profile of the strap lock button.
Schaller- S- Locks Guitar Strap Locks & Button Amazon
Schaller S Locks are one in every of the costlier strap locks however are one in every of the foremost dependable and long-established choices available.
The standard of the Schaller strap locks is obvious to see, creating them one of the best-rated guitar strap locks on the market. Even in the clear case, they are available in the shout category.
Unlike a lot of alternate strap lock systems obtainable, Schaller uses hardened steel in their products. this can be a German company, after all. It makes their high level of engineering and production hardly shocking.
The design features a lockup screw and rib ring accustomed to the strap. There are some fairly difficult directions to create this attachment, however, once you’ve got the items before you, it’s a comparatively easy method. Likewise, the attachment of the low-profile strap lock button into the guitar is easy.
Once fitted, the 2 separate elements slide along into a horseshoe-like housing with an assuring click. Once in place, they’re going nowhere till you pull the knob to detach them. A good style creating them one in all the best guitar strap locks.
Got a thick strap?
What’s a lot of, a pleasant bit on the Schaller S Locks is the length of the lockup screw. This is often comparatively long compared to a lot of alternative systems and permits the attachment of thicker straps easily.
This latest style of strap lock from Schaller is also the same as silent. OK. I agree. They are. The only issue is quite can’t see however this can be any reasonable advantage.
Honestly, all the opposite strap locks I’ve seen, or rather not heard, are quiet. Also, once your guitars turned up to eleven, who cares? Apart from Schaller, that is.
How many guitars?
As with alternative similar forms of set-ups, the Schaller S Locks is connected to one strap and can be simply switched between multiple guitars. Though clearly wherever Schaller S Lock strap buttons are put in. And since we all know the optimum variety of guitars for any guitar player is n+1, this can be undoubtedly a helpful feature.
Finally, there are 3 totally different variants available, nickel, gold, and chrome.
Pros
- High quality of manufacturing.
- Easy to operate and switch between guitars.
- Compatible with Fender.
- Easy to attach to thicker guitar straps.
Cons
- Need metric hex keys to install.
- Separate and compatible strap lock buttons are not sold.
D’Addario Accessories Universal Strap Locks
This strap lock system could be a terribly fascinating variety to what comes normally. Because of its unique style, it shouldn’t need any tools for installation. That alone may be a huge plus in my book. The quality screw is incredibly sturdy and may be compatible with virtually any guitar.
Although it lacks a quick-release mechanism, D’Addario’s universal strap lock system in all probability provides higher security than most different strap locks on the market. The riveted cap offers a decent grip and allows you to simply regulate the stress.
The design also options a small cushion that stops your guitar from obtaining broken around the strap lock. The weight support is extremely smart which suggests that you just will be as active as you wish on stage.
Pros
- Simple installation
- Firm grip
- High weight capacity
- Cross-brand compatibility
Cons
- May not work with very thick straps
Dunlop SLS1033 BK Strap Lock
As Dunlop would Address it, this strap retainer system is one of every of the foremost economical efficient on the market. Its 360-degree grove ball style promotes free rotation and eliminates the danger of catching the strap in the method.
One of the explanations I like to recommend this can be as a result of the discharge mechanism is meant to face up to up to 800lbs of force. This can be spectacular given how easy the machine is and the way it’s quick to put in.
Cross brand compatibility is also smart, that is why I also suggest this as a backup system and not simply a replacement for stock strap buttons.
Not only is that the mechanism solid, but the build quality is additionally impressive. The strength of this strap retainer system is something that ought to offer you peace of mind in the long-term.
Pros
- Superior build quality
- Cross-brand compatibility
- Easy to install
Cons
- No quick release
What to look for while buying Strap Lock
Strap locks are all the same… aren’t they?
Nope – rather like slides, capos, tuners, and different guitar accessories, strap locks are available in several forms. As always, what you ought to seek for can rely upon your setup and your budget.
At its most simple, a one-piece strap lock is a few things, sometimes a product of rubber or plastic that matches over your existing strap pin, protecting the strap in place. Whereas basic, there’s no damage in using these one-piece locks because – at the end of the day – they really work!
Some of the one-piece rubber washer locks will need a considerable quantity of force to stretch them over the strap buttons, though after they are on your guitar, things feel terribly secure. One-piece locks even have the else bonus of not requiring you to switch your stringed instrument in any manner. The negatives of this basic style are that they clearly don’t provide the quick-release functions that a number of the opposite strap locks do, whereas they will also look a small amount conspicuous.
If you’re willing to pay a bit more, you’ll be able to realize multi-piece metal strap lock systems that provide glorious security, style, and a handy quick-release system. There’s a bit of an additional problem once it involves putting in this sort of lock, though it shouldn’t take quite 10 minutes of some time. The advantages of those systems are that they’re terribly convenient once you wish to require the strap off quickly. Whereas products of metal, these systems tend to return with felt washers, that are enclosed to guard the end of your guitar.
FAQ
It’s not mandatory to feel awkward to ask questions but sometimes it happens. That’s why I am adding these two common questions in this part.
Go through them!
Q: Can you place strap locks on an acoustic guitar?
A: You have 2 choices if you wish to use strap locks on each end of your guitar. Choice one is to drill a hole in your guitar to put in the strap lock button. … If you are drilling a hole for a strap pin, you wish to hit this block therefore the screw will securely anchor the strap pin.
Q: How do strung instrument strap locks work?
A: Each Schaller Security Lock consists of an integrated screw and button, a lockup mechanism that attaches to the guitar strap, and a washer and nut used to secure the lockup device to the strap. That’s it.
The Final Word
While buying a strap lock is obscurity close to as exciting as buying a replacement guitar, amp, or perhaps a strap, it’s one among those accessories you may be glad you took the time to shop for and install. You don’t have to be compelled to pay more to finish up with one thing tight – that may be a lot but having to repair or replace a guitar that fell off its strap!
