On my lighter weight Epi Special single-cut guitars and double-cut Fender types with top horns I've been using the stock Ernie Ball Poly-Pro 2" which has super tight-fitting leather ends and comes in many nice colors for under $10. These stay on the guitar and are actually damned hard to get on and off so I feel safe. I have Schaller Strap-Loks for my Tele and Ibanez LP and they work nice but as you say, they rattle which can be a recording issue. Recently got an Epi LP Studio and put a D'Addario Planet-Lok strap on it. Uses an eccentric hole that slips over the pins and rotates ratchet-style into position to tighten, with a locking thumb catch. The end housings are moulded nylon so I will be watching for undue rub wear on the guitar's finish. So far, no issues and very confidence-inspiring and easy to use. There are two types of players: those who have dropped a guitar on the floor and those who will.
I actually have more straps and strap lock systems imaginable from those rubber grommets to Schaller to Dunlop, and straps from Ernie Ball, Levy's etc. Sadly, my Schallers like to fail when I least expect them to. I once dropped my 1978 The Paul as a teenager when one of the Schallers loosened at the strap, where the horseshoe shaped hook turn upside down. Suddenly, without warning, it fell and hit pavement. I do still have Schaller installed on many guitars to this day decades later, but they all eventually loosen. I'm older and wiser to spot the issue before another drop can happen. But I'll always remember that day, how that fall shook my nerves, and how lucky I was the headstock didn't pop off. As for Dunlops, I don't like their protruding strap buttons, and will never install a set of their recessed versions since I see that basically damaging a guitar to install them. I now use Lock-It almost exclusively because they're just perfect: Quiet, efficient, and transferrable to just about anything. ...And I'm not endorsed or supported by Lock-It to say that.
You also mentioned Levys straps and how good they are. I wanted to buy Levys Pad.Garm Leather 3" strap, but stumbled upon this Lock-it strap (the leather model which is 70mm wide), which is approx the same in width, which suits me, and both of these straps are around 70 usd. With that in mind, also taking into account that Levys doesn't have any locking mechanism but is padded compared to Lock-it, would you recommend Levys or Lock-it leather strap?
This depends on what you’re playing. I’m also a huge fan of Levy’s straps too, owning more than I care to admit. But the Lock-It is still my personal favorite because of its locking mechanism. The nylon strap doesn’t bother me one bit, even with my 9.5lbs Les Paul. However, the most common complain I hear about and can possibly align with is how stiff and flat the strap ends can be. It’s not a knock against the strap itself. But if you’re one who like to keep your strap on the guitar while hanging it up or putting it on a stand, the strap ends will plank themselves out from the guitar by 7-8”, refusing to dangle. I take my straps off my guitars when I put them away, mostly for filming purposes (because it looks cleaner). But I used to always keep my straps installed, so this would have driven me crazy then. Outside of that looking at all my strap options, I’d still choose the Lock-It for everything. I still have just the one Lock-It strap and use it all the time. The leather ends are broken in, but still suspend my Les Paul on just the upper button (like in this video’s thumbnail). That, to me, is very important.
![ร้อยพ่อพันแม่ - WanMai [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/XY2pNYASEbg/mqdefault.jpg)
![PASULOL รามเกียรติ์ ตอนที่ 4 นนทกพบรัก [Ramakien Ep.4: Nonthok in love]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/tMUQgmZzf_A/mqdefault.jpg)
My les paul rejects straps all the time, ordered one today. Thank you for the recommendation!
You’ll love it! I still love and use mine. I actually added in two more leather versions. Thanks for watching!
I just heard about this the other day! It is an awesome way to keep the guitar safe without modding the guitar! thanks for this review!
Thanks Garret! I swear up and down about these straps to this day, and I hope to connect with them at NAMM this year.
On my lighter weight Epi Special single-cut guitars and double-cut Fender types with top horns I've been using the stock Ernie Ball Poly-Pro 2" which has super tight-fitting leather ends and comes in many nice colors for under $10. These stay on the guitar and are actually damned hard to get on and off so I feel safe. I have Schaller Strap-Loks for my Tele and Ibanez LP and they work nice but as you say, they rattle which can be a recording issue. Recently got an Epi LP Studio and put a D'Addario Planet-Lok strap on it. Uses an eccentric hole that slips over the pins and rotates ratchet-style into position to tighten, with a locking thumb catch. The end housings are moulded nylon so I will be watching for undue rub wear on the guitar's finish. So far, no issues and very confidence-inspiring and easy to use. There are two types of players: those who have dropped a guitar on the floor and those who will.
I actually have more straps and strap lock systems imaginable from those rubber grommets to Schaller to Dunlop, and straps from Ernie Ball, Levy's etc. Sadly, my Schallers like to fail when I least expect them to.
I once dropped my 1978 The Paul as a teenager when one of the Schallers loosened at the strap, where the horseshoe shaped hook turn upside down. Suddenly, without warning, it fell and hit pavement. I do still have Schaller installed on many guitars to this day decades later, but they all eventually loosen. I'm older and wiser to spot the issue before another drop can happen. But I'll always remember that day, how that fall shook my nerves, and how lucky I was the headstock didn't pop off. As for Dunlops, I don't like their protruding strap buttons, and will never install a set of their recessed versions since I see that basically damaging a guitar to install them. I now use Lock-It almost exclusively because they're just perfect: Quiet, efficient, and transferrable to just about anything. ...And I'm not endorsed or supported by Lock-It to say that.
You also mentioned Levys straps and how good they are. I wanted to buy Levys Pad.Garm Leather 3" strap, but stumbled upon this Lock-it strap (the leather model which is 70mm wide), which is approx the same in width, which suits me, and both of these straps are around 70 usd. With that in mind, also taking into account that Levys doesn't have any locking mechanism but is padded compared to Lock-it, would you recommend Levys or Lock-it leather strap?
This depends on what you’re playing. I’m also a huge fan of Levy’s straps too, owning more than I care to admit. But the Lock-It is still my personal favorite because of its locking mechanism. The nylon strap doesn’t bother me one bit, even with my 9.5lbs Les Paul. However, the most common complain I hear about and can possibly align with is how stiff and flat the strap ends can be. It’s not a knock against the strap itself. But if you’re one who like to keep your strap on the guitar while hanging it up or putting it on a stand, the strap ends will plank themselves out from the guitar by 7-8”, refusing to dangle. I take my straps off my guitars when I put them away, mostly for filming purposes (because it looks cleaner). But I used to always keep my straps installed, so this would have driven me crazy then.
Outside of that looking at all my strap options, I’d still choose the Lock-It for everything. I still have just the one Lock-It strap and use it all the time. The leather ends are broken in, but still suspend my Les Paul on just the upper button (like in this video’s thumbnail). That, to me, is very important.