What are the Best Strap-Locks or Strap Buttons for Me?
Most guitars come fitted with one or more strap buttons for securing a guitar strap, and for extra security, a set of strap blocks can be added or you can swap out your buttons for a set of strap-locks. Here we cover the most frequently asked questions about strap buttons, blocks, and locks, to help you to pick out the right thing for you and your guitar. If you have a question and can’t find the answer here, feel free to contact us!
1. What Are Strap Buttons?
If you’re ready to start rehearsing or even playing gigs with other musicians, there’s a big chance that you’ll want to stand up to play your instrument. As such, almost every guitar and bass comes fitted with a set of strap buttons as standard. Strap buttons are little bolts that serve as mounting points for a guitar strap.
Normal strap buttons are often on the small side, and the holes made in the ends of guitar straps can get wider over time. As a result, at some point your strap might not be as securely attached as it used to be, and your guitar or bass could fall to the floor at any moment and with disastrous consequences. It’s also sometimes the case that some guitars and basses don’t come fitted with strap buttons at all, or just have one. You’ll find the solutions to all of these problems below.
2. My Acoustic Guitar Has No Strap Buttons/Just One Strap Button. What Do I Do?
Most acoustic guitarists will also want to be able to play standing up. Unfortunately, not all acoustic guitars and basses come fitted with strap buttons. Usually, acoustic models will have an end-pin (a strap button fitted to the bottom of the body). To neatly and safely attach a guitar strap to a model fitted with an end-pin, you can thread a shoe-lace or length of string through the hole of the other end of the guitar strap, then loop it around the headstock, just behind the nut and under the strings and tie it in place. There are also special straps or systems available that make removing the strap easier so you don’t have to untie it every time.
Note: if you want to install one or more strap buttons on your guitar or bass, then it’s wise to get some advice from a guitar builder first so that you’re certain you won’t damage your instrument and that, once the buttons are installed, it hangs securely when your strap is attached.
3. What Are Strap Blocks?
Strap blocks are little rubber or plastic rings that are placed over the strap ends and strap buttons to prevent the strap from shifting, keeping it more firmly in place. The advantages of using strap blocks is that they are the cheapest solution and you don’t need to modify your instrument to use them. The disadvantages of using strap blocks are that it takes a bit of time to get them on and take them off again. They’re also not the ultimately reliable solution that strap-locks are. (see Question 4).
4. What Are Strap-Locks and Why Are They Good?
Strap-locks come in two parts: a set of purpose-designed strap buttons that you replace your original buttons with, and a set of locks that are attached to the ends of your strap. The two parts of the strap-lock then click seamlessly into one another and will only come apart again when unclipped. Most of the time, you can simply detach a strap-lock by pulling out a small spring-triggered pin.
The biggest advantage of using strap-locks is that you can quickly and easily remove your strap. The system is also much safer than using strap blocks (see Question 3) or just strap buttons. Also, if you use a few different guitars or basses and equip them with the same strap-lock system, you can use the same strap, and sometimes, you’ll only need to get a few extra sets of strap buttons that are compatible with the system. Strap-locks are generally more expensive than strap blocks, but are definitely worth the expense considering the level of security and user-friendliness that they offer.
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