Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi all.. Got my 1st Ric last week. Alovely 1999 4003, absolutly mint, not a scratch, not a ding nada..

$800.00 out the door.

Question is, it loooks like the strap pins are SMALL !!!

I have straplocks on all my guitars, and will do this to the Ric. I have taken the strap pins out, and naturally, they are way large. So the thought is to do the old glue and toothpick trick to fill the hole, drill and screw in the straplocks.

My preference has always been for the leather ones, I've had the mechancial pin and ball system, and had one fail on my Les Paul. no fun !!

Anyone else using straplocks, or can reccomend a similar way to keep the strap secure ??

thanks !!

The stock pins on all recent 4003s are Schaller straplocks. No need to replace them at all. Just buy a set of Schaller straplocks (or Fender, same thing) and away you go. Work like a charm.

Mark...I use my own straplock system...I go to a good hardware store and in the assorted screw and bolt section...there are some boxes labeled Rubber Washers...I find a thick, black rubber washer with a center hole that is slightly smaller than the strap button...then I merely put on the strap and force the washer over the end...it cost all of about .20...it holds the strap securely...doesn't look as goofy as a long protruding straplock button and I don't have to do any mods on the guitar/bass...but, you do have to remove the strap over your head when you take the guitar/bass off.

I agree with Jeff on the factory Schaller strap lock system. If your bass doesn't have the Scaller/Rick strap buttons already, they can be purchased from Rickenbacker under part #05904 for $5.00 a pair. Then you can go to the music store and pick up a standard set of Schaller locks and put them on your strap. The advantage over the hardware store solution is that the strap can be removed and used on another instrument with the same locks. You also don't have to raise the instrument over your head to remove it possibly nicking the headstock on the ceiling.

Or worse yet, stick the headstock into a moving ceiling fan.

Yes, I once did that.

That must've hurt, John, I mean the heart.
I always feel very upset when a ding or scratch happens to my instruments. They are my babies. I play them a lot though.

Sorry guys, I never raise my basses over my head (at least not since my punk days) and have never hit the headstock on a ceiling, rafter, fan or anything else when removing my basses (knock on wood)... I merely slip the strap over my head. I even removed my 2000 fender straplock buttons and replaced them with normal buttons...I guess I'm just a creature of habit because I've been playing bass since long before there were straplocks...Of course there are many advantages to straplocks as noted above...I just don't use em.

It did hurt. I felt like I (shudder) just abused my child.

Thanks for the empathy Paul.