'vintage' strap buttons

bob_atherton · Post by **bob_atherton** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 1:56 am

I could do with a 'new' set of these for a 70's 4001, but are these not these the same as one can buy new for $5.00 each?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=7266&item=7333013526&rd=1

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 7:28 am

Maybe they put them on C-64's and vintage series basses and guitars but regular 4003's don't have them anymore.

jps · Post by **jps** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 2:29 pm

I take mine off and put Schaller straplocks on, much more practical for us gigging bassists.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 3:04 pm

I make sure I have a good tight strap on.

dean712 · Post by **dean712** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 3:49 pm

Schaller straplock-ready buttons come standard on new 4003's now.

jps · Post by **jps** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 4:00 pm

I was refering to the buttons on my '73 and '67 basses, as I do gig with them regularly:

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 4:42 pm

Yeah, you wouldn't want a 4005 to drop onto the floor.

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 4:51 pm

You don't want ANY bass hitting the deck! Straplocks go on all my basses before they leave the house!

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 5:38 pm

I use good tight leather straps, they don't slip. I don't like strap locks, I've used them before and don't trust them anymore than I trust regular straps, and they don't seem to fit in the older cases very well which is all I have at the moment and actually like a lot anyway. If a strap isn't difficult and tight to get on I don't use it.

dean712 · Post by **dean712** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 12:29 pm

One thing to watch with Straplocks is to keep the hex nuts tightened before each gig. I used to not check that so closely, then one night I lost a hex nut and was checking for straplock pieces on the floor in a dark room. Now I keep a couple of wrenches in my gig bag and torque 'em up before the show.

Has anyone else noticed a slight change in the bass's tone with straplocks vs. just a tight leather strap? I think I have noticed that, but maybe I'm imagining it. Not huge, just a little different.

dean712 · Post by **dean712** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 12:33 pm

Oh, and I have ditched my straplocks for now, too. Like Bob, I'm using just a tight leather strap. The two reasons I ditched them were the black crud buildup inside the straplock mechanisms over time, and the fact that my new wireless unit requires me to remove and reinstall the straplocks before and after each gig to get the wireless unit on the strap, so it's just an extra step.

rickfan63 · Post by **rickfan63** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 1:56 pm

I use the Dunlop Straplocks on all my basses and never had a problem with them.

ken_j · Post by **ken_j** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 3:38 am

I use stainless fender washers to hold the strap on with the vintage buttons. I do use Schaller starp locks on all other electrics. On my acoustic I use "Gripper" buttons. They are "T" shaped and work well.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 4:47 am

I've used washers in the past but the buttons began to get loose, so I ditched them.

redvette · Post by **redvette** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 4:49 am

With respect to the original post --
Those strap buttons with the knurled portion appear to be what is on the early 80's 4001 that I have and they appear to be the same as the mute adjusting screws on my new 4003. So, I think the answer to the question is that they are what you can buy new for $5.

That said -- I prefer to replace these older strap buttons with the new 4003 kind and use Schaller strap locks on my straps. The RIC buttons all have a 10-24 thread, so you can save the vintage buttons in case you want to sell the axe to a collector who wants everything original.

Dunlap buttons require that you grind the head of a 10-24 machine screw so it will fit through the button (there is a thread on this somewhere on the forum) or use the wood screw that comes with the Dunlap buttons and foul up the hole in the instrument.