Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi Guys, This is my first post. I own a 2011 4003JG which I got in Nov .2011. I was wondering what is the correct or preferred method of removing/unscrewing the straplocks? I would like to place a felt washer between the straplock and the body in order to protect the finish, as my Fender basses have. I would like to do this without damaging anything. Do you use soft jawed pliers , or vise grips with tape on them ? as the straplocks appear to be all one piece with a machine thread.

Channel locks or vise grips with a piece of leather in the jaws is my preferred method.

And welcome, Roger!

I've always been able to unscrew them using just my hands.

Welcome Roger. When you put them back in with the felt washer, they may be loose after that so a drop of Elmer's white glue on the threads before putting them in will do the job of holding them.

Actually Mr. Hall has said if the strapbutton is loose a drop of water on the threads will swell the wood & hold it in place.

kiramdear wrote:Channel locks or vise grips with a piece of leather in the jaws is my preferred method.

And welcome, Roger!

+1 on a piece of leather to pad the jaws of whatever tool you use. Works great!

I've also used just some heavy stiff cloth (like scrap denim) and small pieces of rubber (like the strips that come with bicycle lights to protect the metal on the handlebar) to protect the strap peg from the pliers.

Badanovski wrote:Actually Mr. Hall has said if the strapbutton is loose a drop of water on the threads will swell the wood & hold it in place.

...interesting, my Rick then is the first bass I have to water on a regular basis???

Thanks everyone for all your replies. I used slipjoint pliers with some leather on the jaws and it worked just fine. I did put a drop of glue on the threads before screwing them back in just to be on the safe side. It's great to have a resource such as this forum to go to when you need help or info. All the best, Roger.

Why do Fender have felt and Ric don't?, would it be perhaps that you don't need them.

Seans wrote:Why do Fender have felt and Ric don't?, would it be perhaps that you don't need them.

I was kind of wondering the same thing. What kind of damage could be done to the finish? Once the strap button is installed , its not like its scraping or rubbing on the instrument. I think the damage (if any) was done when the button was initially installed?

Seans wrote:Why do Fender have felt and Ric don't?, would it be perhaps that you don't need them.

My older Rickenbackers, with the old-style strap buttons, have a nylon washer between the guitar body and the end of the button.

An analogous thread which includes some recommendations to the washer issue can be viewed here:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=404800