Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

In case anyone is curious, the strap button bolts on Ricks are 10-24.

I have long preferred Dunlop Strap-Loks on my basses. I have Dunlops on my other basses, and a nice wide strap with Dunlops on it that I like to use. So when I got my 4003 I started thinking about how to put them on it. But, I didn't want to fill-and-drill the original bolt holes. My solution was to get some 10-24 machine screws from the hardware store and modify the heads with a bench grinder to fit in the Dunlop Strap-Lok buttons. It required a little work with a needle file to enlarge the screw hole. But it works like a charm.

I got 1" screws, which were just a bit long---again, the grinder. 3/4" would probably work just fine.

That's pretty much the same thing I do with standard Schaller buttons when putting them on older Ricks.

It turns out that on the Schallers, the original hole is just about the perfect size for a 10-24 tap. Use a 10-24 x 3/4" flat head screw with the head shaved down to fit the hole, thread it into the newly tapped Schaller button with a bit of Loctite, and you've got the next best thing to a factory Schaller style button.

I have the Dunlops on all my basses and my two straps. Same procedure here too. Thanks for reminding everyone how its done.