SchallerRuthenium Security Locks for Guitar Straps (SCH14010601)

I own at least 10 sets of these. I use them exclusively on all of my good (expensive) guitars & basses. Most sets are nickel, but I have some black ones for guitars with black hardware & a set or two of chrome ones. I have tried most of the strap locks on the market & these are the best. I have the Fender strap locks on a Strat-type guitar that I built myself, from parts I ordered individually. I bought the Fender strap lock because it is red & I thought it looked cool. It does look cool & it looks a lot like these, but functionally, it's not even in the same league as these Schallers. It feels like it's going to break right in half. Or just come "on hooked". The Schallers are solid, well designed, well manufactured & great looking, but they don't come in red. I'm sure I'll be singing a different tune, when my red one breaks & my hand built, one-of-a-kind guitar goes crashing to the stage. I'll be kicking myself for not putting on some of these Schaller strap locks.I've never had any problems with these Schaller strap locks & honestly, I've been using mine for 15 + years & twice that long if I count the sets of locking tuner that are a little different design (that ones that all the cheap knock offs "copy"). The old ones required a half-inch or maybe a 14mm wrench, but these don't . The don't require any hammering or drilling of your guitar (I know that may be disappointing to some) & really only require two tools: 1) A Phillips Head (or whatever type your current screws are) screwdriver to remove the screw holding your current end pin. 2) A hex head (Allen) wrench to screw these in.Both of which should be part of any electric guitar or bass player's tool belt. Especially if you play out. Just a word of advice here? Leave the tools you use for breaking your car in the garage & buy some tools JUST for your guitar. Your guitar with thank you & you'll thank me. While it is true that "A bad workman blames his tools". Here's my quote for our times, "A good craftsman is only as good as their tools let them be". Don't make your poor guitar suffer because you're to cheap to buy good tools.I used to buy the cheapo jobs, thinking, "They're all the same..." but I got tired of messing with the cheapo strap locks. When I couldn't even get them on the strap correctly, I finally snapped & went back to my tried & true Schallers. These are flawless. I never have a problem getting the strap locks on or off a strap & it just takes a few minutes to remove the current pins, screw in the new ones (with an Allen Wrench) & install the hardware on the strap, which takes nothing but your fingers (ahh. German Engineering at its finest). Also, because the pins that screw into the guitar to replace the current buttons are hex head (you need an Allen Wrench), they go in easily & securely. Even more importantly, they stay put. In the past, I've had the brands strap locks & they just used the Phillips head screws that your current strap uses. I've had them strip right out & had the strap just pull the screw right out of the guitar on one of my Strats. I had to pour Super Glue in the hole, then screw the screw in & hang the guitar upside down so the glue wouldn't drain out before it could dry & wait 24 hours before I could use the strap. I'll also probably never get that screw out. So far I haven't need to. If that would have happened to my SG or LP, I'd be writing this from wherever they put old musicians when they lose their minds.Wrapping it up. Finally. They are a little more expensive than some, about $25 - $30 for a pair, normally. They did go on sale one time about 5 years ago, but the sale only lasted one or two days & they were maybe 20% off. I try to just remember how badly I felt when my guitar went one way & the strap didn't & that I wouldn't buy a crappy cheapo car seat for my kids when they were small. They got the best, because they are the best. They're irreplaceable. Both my kids & my guitars. When I think about it, spending $20 or $30 to secure a $2,000 or $3,000 guitar is probably a wise investment. They also come in a cool little plastic box. 😁

Every guitar or bass that I have (except acoustics) has a version of Schaller strap locks on it. I have used the old version for years. The issue with the old version was that it was difficult to screw the slim bolt on top of the post to secure it to the strap. Even with that bit of difficulty, they were the best available and all of mine still work well. Never lost a guitar. This new version, S-locks solves that issue by using a round collar that is easy to screw down with just your fingers. Yet they can also be tightened further using a thin hex key and then further locked down with a small screw. This is a no-doubt solution. The other improvement is to the length of the shaft that the collar-bolt uses. It is a good bit longer than the old version so if you have a thick leather strap or strap-ends, there will be no problem getting that bolt started. The third change is that the strap button and the screw that affixes it to the guitar body is now one piece. This was the most frightening change to me because I have had the past experience where the screws were too thin to make a good connection with the body. After using this on a new guitar made out of Swamp Ash, I don't feel this will be an issue. If the screw doesn't fit it can be remedied just like any other screw hole that is too large; a dry toothpick or two to fill the gap. Swamp Ash is a dense wood and the screw self-tapped into the wood easily and very securely with no slippage. The finish on Schaller strap locks is historically incredible, I even have a set of gold that still looks good after 35 years. They are pricey but even if you have a $100 guitar or bass that you want to keep safe, it is worth the money. Save your stock strap buttons and screws. If you get a new guitar, take the strap locks off and put them on the new guitar. When I get a new guitar/bass the first thing I do is put Schaller strap locks on it.

I recently got back into playing and bought a brand new Jackson JS32 Dinky. I also purchased all the support equipment and hardware for it... except for the strap locks. As luck would have it, while wearing my guitar, my signature pointed Jackson headstock almost had a cataclysmic encounter with my hardwood floor as the strap popped off its lug at the horn. I thank my video game honed reflexes for catching it less than an inch from impact.I ordered the Schaller S-Locks in black chrome. The finish is a perfect match to the guitar's beautiful native hardware as seen in the photos. The replacement lugs screwed in effortlessly with high quality self-tapping wood-screw threads. I was able to turn them in using one of the hex keys Jackson provided to tune the Floyd Rose bridge. In the end, the lugs look like the guitar came from the factory with them already on. Time to install them, maybe two-three minutes tops.The install problem came with the strap posts. As shown, I have a leather strap, and the holes were far too tight to fit the post through without warping the strap. Thus, I spent an hour slicing and shearing away at the holes to expand them just enough to nicely fit the posts. If I had to install more of these, I would buy a properly sized leatherworking punch to make the task clean and simple.Everything attached, the straps click on almost effortlessly, and are thoroughly impossible to remove without pulling the release. They are silent and best of all, provide that peace of mind that my guitar will stay on my shoulder and not meet an unfortunate end. As my title suggests, these things should be standard hardware on ALL guitars. If you are a first time guitar buyer, you really want to get a set of these. They are a perfect, tiny example of amazing, well thought out engineering.

I had purchased an off brand and they broke on me almost losing my guitar! Whew. These are original Schaller and WAY BETTER. Don’t buy cheap knockoffs.

I love these locks! I have them on all my guitars now. I have used others and find these rock solid and secure. These are also less bulky as compared with other strap locks that use a quick disconnect style lock.