Straplock accident

daniele

daniele

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What can be worst than a Warwick Straplock™ that disengages from a six months Thumb during a live concert in a very nice bistrot? Nothing! That's exactly what happened to me yesterday, during a nice Nicola Conte's cover. You know, the right night concert, the right mood between the band and the public? Well I have broken it with an orrible TWANNNG!
The straplock disengaged from its cylinder, almost tearing it away from the wood! I was forced to sit down on the nearest chair and mask my embarassement, still able to hear some ilarities from the public. Now, I was wondering why Warwick uses this mechanism which should be the thing a musician should never take care about! Looking better the current straplock it's a complete failure, because its attach point it's too distant from the screw so even a very little effort on the cilinder is enough to enlarge the little hole in the wood or even bend the screw.
Have you got any comments or suggestions to tighten the screw in its hole (matches apart)? I am considering to replace them with those traditional but functional conic buttons and no more straplocks! Warwick should better consider this kind of things, such bullshits can let a musician completely change his mind upon an instrument!

:x
 
Ciao Daniele!

I am sorry this happened to you during a concert, I have to tell you I have never had a problem with a straplock before...

Anyway never be embarassed whe things like this heppens. These are very rare moments you can show off 8) . If you are cool with that, the people wil notice that you had a problem and you were very cool, like a true cool mofo, a real professional guy.

Now... The straplocks have goodpoins and bad poins. They don't dettach (for most of us, at least) so you are more relaxed during a show, especially if you are moving a lot.
Of course, being a more complicated mechanism, it is more fragile. You have to check it from time, and to replace it when you feel something is not right. These parts are normal to wear in time...

Also... it happened once to me that my tech didn't inserted the straplock right, and my bass felt. You have to check it every time, believe me it happens to insert badly the straplock.

And consider that for a thumb especialy, the attaching point being that far from the wood balances the instrument better.

In the end you've lost me.
The screw got out from the wood, or the straplock detached, but the body part is well attached in place?

Cheers mate :-) / Flo
 
i had to replace a straplock in my customshop $$ as well, it detached 3 times in a week, i was going to replace them with the "horseshoe" model but then i got a replacement for free and it's still working good :wink:
 
I've had the same issues with mine also...
 
jay said:
I've had the same issues with mine also...
Click to expand...

+1

Since I've changed to the recessed dunlops it never happened to me again..
Cheers
 
I've inserted half of a matchstick aside the screw. Now it should be better. I've ordered a couple of schaller, I've had them in my Fender many years ago with no problems.
 
I've never had a problem yet, but I can see some slight wearing and they seem to have weak points. I don't trust them 100%
 
I think the straplocks are quite reliable, but i agree they are not perfect either. Daniele the same thing has happened to me 2/3 times playing live, however i move about ( and my bass a lot), but it is important not to let this affect you and especially your opinion of a bass. A Straplock can be replaced, the sound of a Warwick Thumb cannot :wink:
Also you must look after your straplocks, they are made with metal and ball bearings so eventually they must be oiled so that they dont pop out! A small bit of oil every 3/4 months is enough to ensure that the ball bearings do not lock in a "release" position .
The other thing to remember is to make sure you tighten the nut properly, you so should use a wrench if necessary as shown on the straplock instructions that come with all warwick basses.
The straplocks are not perfect but if you maintain them well they will not let you down, I hope this helps!
Cheers: Mike. :)
 
I dont know what Warwick straplocks look like, but I have really big strap buttons on my Warwick. Are they Warwick straplocks?
 
Mike said:
I think the straplocks are quite reliable, but i agree they are not perfect either. Daniele the same thing has happened to me 2/3 times playing live, however i move about ( and my bass a lot), but it is important not to let this affect you and especially your opinion of a bass. A Straplock can be replaced, the sound of a Warwick Thumb cannot :wink:
Also you must look after your straplocks, they are made with metal and ball bearings so eventually they must be oiled so that they dont pop out! A small bit of oil every 3/4 months is enough to ensure that the ball bearings do not lock in a "release" position .
The other thing to remember is to make sure you tighten the nut properly, you so should use a wrench if necessary as shown on the straplock instructions that come with all warwick basses.
The straplocks are not perfect but if you maintain them well they will not let you down, I hope this helps!
Cheers: Mike. :)
Click to expand...

Several of us have the problem of them coming unscrewed from the bass. The mechanical part is fine but they whole thing comes out. That's wehre the match or toothpick comes in...
 
Mh, i'm really wondering what's the matter with this stuff.
You pay pretty much for Warwick Basses and they are definitely worth the money - but this is a big "No Go" for such a company.
Would be pretty pissed if my new Warwick crushes to ground because of a screw not fitting the hole drilled exactly for this one.
I'm using Schaller right now on my not-yet Warwick Bass and had in mind switching to Warwick all the way.
With Schaller i had to swap the screwes i had in the buttons and THAT was the reason i had to play with toothpicks and matches to get it fixed, because my screwes were becoming lose after some time.
So i thought if Warwick builds the Bass AND the strap-system they should match like no other ...
 
I've never had a complete failure but am very aware of the wood stripping out...gradually.
Not an option for everyone, but I recessed all my straploks, like the old school Wicks. This eliminates the moment arm and directly transfers the "strap forces" to the body as opposed to putting the screw/threads in a precarious position. Plus it looks cool.
Just my 2 cents.
 
you know what, the same thing happened to me during a live show as well a year ago. Was a great show, and all of a sudden the upper strap lock removes from my Corvette $$
But i gotta add that we had a really exhausting live show...still this shuoldn't happen

so when i bought my Thumb BO5 i tried to replace the Strap locks with schallers, but you know what: the hole was too deep for the schaller thingys...
so at the moment i am just not using strap locks at all..
 
Funny (or not),

when I saw Mudvayne live on their most recent tour, Ryan's Thumb unlocked from the strap lock as well....................he was very upset...........I have no idea though what kind of strap locks he uses.............. :roll:

(he caught the bass by the way)
 
ThirdthumB said:
Funny (or not),

when I saw Mudvayne live on their most recent tour, Ryan's Thumb unlocked from the strap lock as well....................he was very upset...........I have no idea though what kind of strap locks he uses.............. :roll:

(he caught the bass by the way)
Click to expand...

I bet he won't let it happen twice...
 
yep, this has all happened to me before too, I finally replaced my Fortress Freted bass recessed Wicks with Schallers but I really do like the look of a recessed system. My Fortress Fretless thankfully has never had a problem. I find that sometimes the pin or the device that you put on your strap can be a problem and you need to clean that every now and then. My new Thumb with the traditional strap pin is functional but doesn't look as slick. I play in a really high energy band and so strap functionality is always a worry of mine but if you just keep it in the back of your mind, you'll be prepared for it. (trust me I've never really found a strap system that is totally fail safe)
The other night I was playing in a club and some party person just bumped my mike stand a bit (by accident) when I was singing and I've got a full set of braces right now (ya I know I'm 47 and have braces,,,,, what was I thinking?????!!!!!!) and let me tell you, there were a few thoughts that flashed through my mind other then the saftety of my basses or whatever else was going on musically at that moment. As it turned out, I escaped, unscathed, made some jokes about it when the song ended and everybody was entertained. (including my band mates)
Cheers All 8)
 
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