Close call with the '68 4001 MG

[walker]

So I was getting all geared up to do some recording with my 1968 4001 MG when the ultimate guitarist's nightmare happened:

My guitar strap slipped off the bottom end strap pin and the bass went crashing to the hardwood floor.

I caught the bass neck with my leg so it didn't completely slam against the floor, but needless to say, there was much dismay and loud expletives in the Walker household at that moment. I was overcome by anger, disbelief, and shock as I picked up the bass to inspect the damage. The strings were still taut - good sign. They rang out a true E-A-D-G; still in tune! Another good sign. I looked over the whole bass head-to-toe (heel... whatever) and there was NO new marked damage. VERY luckily for me, when the bass dropped, it landed on the jack of the guitar cord and that's where the impact was received. The cable was mangled and cut on both sides, but it still works! Gotta love Monster Cables!

Lesson learned: Use strap locks! Even with the original '68 strap pins, strap locks cradle the pins without likelihood of slipping out. Granted, if I was doing the Steve Vai over-the-shoulder-guitar-toss trick, I'd use the full set of strap lock pins. Then again, I sure as fxxx wouldn't be doing stunts like that with my '68. But I digress...

1. Use strap locks, and

2. use my other '79 4001 beater gig bass for sound checks. In a recording situation, there's always a cable to trip over or a stand to run into - OR a ****** guitar strap that gives out on you. So from now on, no vintage gear on the studio floor (literally) until the tape is ready to roll.







Every night I wake up screaming.

[rickaddict]

Good to hear that the cable took the hit, Mark. Sounds like a heart-stopping moment.

One time when I was 15 and playing a gig at a Frat party my (non-Rick) bass popped off it's strap and out of my hands like a bar of soap in the shower. I kept playing and sat on the floor to finish the song. It was scary, embarrassing and traumatic. Since then I've been a Schaller Strap Lock guy and the problem has never repeated itself.

[berth]

I looked over the whole bass head-to-toe (heel... whatever) and there was NO new marked damage.

I think I need more proof of this Mark! (And thank god the bass survived!)

[atomic_punk]

Strap locks are MANDATORY on all my basses....but all I do is put a big washer on when I put the strap pegs back in and it keeps the strap ON the bass. It makes it hard to take the strap off, but I know it won't come off on stage either.

[rickfan60]

Strap locks are MANDATORY on all my basses....but all I do is put a big washer on when I put the strap pegs back in and it keeps the strap ON the bass. It makes it hard to take the strap off, but I know it won't come off on stage either.

My brother used to do the washer trick with one of his guitars. It works great. Unless the strap itself breaks, your guitar is not going to fall off.

Close one Mark. I am glad the old girl survived. Get yourself a set of modern RIC strap buttons. It is a quick, easy, and reversible mod. Put a little water on the treads of the strap button before you screw it in. The wood will swell up and hold it tight. Apparently that is how the factory does it.

[jdogric12]

Every night I wake up screaming.

Simpsons quote, right? Skinner reminiscing about Da Nang?

[walker]

HA! That must be where I got it from. I have seen that episode.

"Every night I wake up screaming... SO! Let's get you to your new classroom!"

Another Skinner fav:

"Up yours, children!"

[ram]

Mark, glad to hear the '68 survived the landing...

I had a near death experience with my 4001 several moons ago. Playing live the strap popped off and downward it went - face down! Somehow I caught the head stock and the body bounced on my right on my right foot. I thought for sure that the switch or something had gotten whacked real good... but through some act of providence all was OK. Yep strap locks after that typ of happening are mandatory!!!

[walker]

I do have the Schaller strap locks on most all my basses except for the '64 & '68. I'm reluctant to remove the original RIC strap pins. They're a ***** to get out, and I don't want to cause any extra stress on the threads inside the body. Aren't the threads on the Schaller strap lock pins different? It's been so long since I put them in, I can't remember.

[ram]

Seems to me there was a thread or two about this a while back - might want to search 'strap locks'...

yep

Re: Strap locks
The threads for all rick strap pins/locks is 10/24 and is a machine screw type thread not a wood screw type. If you can't get the proprietary ...

[gshadoan]

I like Zakk Wildes solution. A CHAIN SCREWED INTO THE GUITAR
That thing will/should never come loose, but it is Zakk I'm talking about

[marc61]

I guess when we have collector's basses we don't like to change anything. My thing is I keep the strap on the bass so the hole doesn't widen from constantly attaching it. Hardly secure, and doesn't help if you're constantly dancing and doing dives off the stage while gigging but, for myself it suffices.

Strap locks slip and break too over time.

[wints]

A lucky escape Mark!

The odds of that happening were pretty long, but in this case, thankfully, they came up!

[ram]

Mark - Just had a though (yeah, I know - scary) - anyhow there are the strap based locks - similar to the washer effect - Jim Dunlop LokStrap strap retainers. They are pretty inexpensive but might be worth a try ifins you are reluctant to altering your ax.

[beatlefreak]

1. Use strap locks, and

2. use my other '79 4001 beater gig bass for sound checks. In a recording situation, there's always a cable to trip over or a stand to run into - OR a ****** guitar strap that gives out on you. So from now on, no vintage gear on the studio floor (literally) until the tape is ready to roll.

I'd like to add a few precautions to this:

3. Unplug your guitar/bass when it's sitting on a stand. This keeps the instrument from being accidently flung across the stage or room by someone's foot snagging the cord.

4. Make sure your strap is behind the stand when your instrument is sitting on it. (Same reason as number 3)

5. Except for those short breaks during recording, playing live or pacticing at home, keep your instrument in it's case. Stands are temporary use only. Too many accidents can happen when a guitar or bass is siting out.