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'vintage' strap buttons
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 1:56 am
by bob_atherton
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
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 7:28 am
by rictified
Maybe they put them on C-64's and vintage series basses and guitars but regular 4003's don't have them anymore.
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 2:29 pm
by jps
I take mine off and put Schaller straplocks on, much more practical for us gigging bassists.
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 3:04 pm
by rictified
I make sure I have a good tight strap on.
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 3:49 pm
by dean712
Schaller straplock-ready buttons come standard on new 4003's now.
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 4:00 pm
by jps
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 4:42 pm
by rictified
Yeah, you wouldn't want a 4005 to drop onto the floor.
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 4:51 pm
by atomic_punk
You don't want ANY bass hitting the deck! Straplocks go on all my basses before they leave the house!
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 5:38 pm
by rictified
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.
Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2005 12:29 pm
by dean712
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.
Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2005 12:33 pm
by dean712
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.
Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2005 1:56 pm
by rickfan63
I use the Dunlop Straplocks on all my basses and never had a problem with them.
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 3:38 am
by ken_j
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.
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 4:47 am
by rictified
I've used washers in the past but the buttons began to get loose, so I ditched them.
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 4:49 am
by redvette
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.
