Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I am wondering what strap or strap lock system that most people use with their Rickenbacker. I have found that the use of the standard strap and strap button leaves room for fallening Ricks. The Schaller system on the other hand, while more secure is not quite satisfactory with the 300 series as one can hear the rubbing of the strap button and the Schaller lock through the amplifier. I have tried to limit this with the use of a teflon washer but it is still not the complete answer. I would be interested in your comments.

I just use the Schaller locks that came with both my 300 series instruments. I find them very secure compared to non-Scaller locks I've used on other instruments.

Peter, I didn't know about the issue of being able to hear the locks while in the studio. I am a player who HATES using a stap, so I'm sitting in a chair whether recording or at a gig 99 percent of the time. (I use a vintage Ric strap, by the way).

Corey: I find that you can hear the locks move with the 300 series guitars that have the toasters but not so much with the high gains. I have no problem with the Schaller system on solid body Rickenbackers regardless of the pickup type.

I had locks for a while on mine and got rid of them 10 years ago. They were irritating for some reason, but I can't remember why!

Interesting stuff, Peter.

I've got the 7.4 toasters on both my 300's... I'll have to put the strap on the next time I lay down some tracks and see what I hear.

On a slightly related note, I find a big difference in "buzz" when I record when I use roundwounds instead of my prefered flats. This is a big issue for me (and I'd guess most people) who record through line-out into their CPU's.

Peter, I had the same problem with my 330 with hi-gain p/up. The schaller strap locks were very noisy on that guitar...and then, again, I found that the 330 was a very noisy guitar compare to my 650. I'm still using Schaller on the 650 and I don't have any noise problems!

I am a real fan of Jim Dunlop "Lok Straps," which are these ingenious little plastic devices that slip over your strap button in front of the strap. You then turn the little flanges on the "lok strap" and it closes up. Your guitar WILL NOT fall off and you won't hear any strap noises (I have a 330 too).

http://www.elderly.com/accessories/items/SL1S.htm

I prefer these even over the Schallers. I too got tired of rattle and clank when I picked up my guitar. You'd have to work extraordinarily hard to get your guitar to come off the Dunlop Lok Strap, and it's about $10 to $20 cheaper than most strap locking systems out there. I've been using them on all my guitars for a few years now and they're very reliable.

I picked up a "Planet Waves" strap (cheap!) for my J-Bass that has built in locks similar to the Dunlop devices, but built into the strap ends. I've got the Schaller locks for my 4003, but I think I'm going to revert to the original strap pegs and buy a Planet Waves strap for it - I also dislike the rattle and clank, and the pegs backing out.

Why does Ric use MACHINE screw threads instead of wood screw threads anyway??

Funny you guys mention strap lock noise…

Tonight I played my first service using Etymotic ER-4S "ear-buds", a "Must-Have" if you decide you can afford them. With the buds, you hear EVERYTHING within 50 Ft. of ANY MIC in the system, plus all kinds of other stuff you never heard before, except of course, bandmates yelling at you to turn down. Properly sealed in your ear, you are EYE-SO-LATED from the world around you. (This is the monitor system Lennon should have used with the Beatles in all the ball parks!)

…and I've yet to hear any strap rattle with them (I can hear my strings acoustically thru the wood and my body- clearly- and no strap-lock rattle!)

Try 'em,
Garry

I know this sounds goofy, but it works for me. I just use a plain strap on the standard issue Ric strap pegs BUT, for added security, I add a black rubber washer (like you fix plumbing fixtures with) after the strap's in place. Works fine; no noise and you really can't see it once it's on. Used to use those plastic clips that come on loaves of bread, but got tired of the ribbing that went along with the price and sell-by date.