Naive question about replacing Dunlop strap locks with Musicman strap locks

[dave64o]

I'm not sure if this is something to be concerned about but since this is the first time I'm messing around with installing my own strap locks I thought I'd ask just to be safe

I bought my current Stingray about two years ago and the original owner installed a set of Dunlop Strap locks. He didn't include the strap attachments but he did leave the strap pins on. So I bought a set of Dunlop strap locks and put them on the strap. Things worked well. Then I got another strap for Christmas and I wanted to transfer the strap attachments to the new strap. However, while doing that I bent the clips that hold them on the strap and they didn't seem to be very secure. So I thought this would be the right opportunity to put on the Musicman strap locks that I had lying around.

When I removed Dunlop strap pins from the bass, I noticed that the screws they used were shorter but wider than the screws that came with the MM's. It seemed like the original screws would still work, so I installed the MM's using the screws that came with the Dunlop set. It seems secure, but since I never installed my own set of strap locks (all the used basses I bought already had them on) I wanted to be sure about this.

So my question is ... which is the right way to do things? 1) find a way to use the screws that came with the MM set because they're the ones that are supposed to be used, 2) re-use the Dunlop screws because they're the ones that fit in the screw holes that are now in the bass, or 3) either set of screws is fine as long as I get them to hold securely.

I'm hoping it's a stupid question and I'm worrying about nothing because the strap pins feel secure, but I thought I'd ask since I love this bass (the one in my avatar) and I don't want to do anything that will increase the risk of dropping and damaging it.

[Powman]

I have done this a lot. Whenever I change the strap pins I use the screws that are designed for that strap pin. So I would use the EB screws.

However, do the following to make them really secure. Get a box of toothpicks. Not the fancy cocktail party ones but the cheap flat ones. Then put a touch of white glue on some wax paper.

Put a touch of white glue on the toothpick an shove it in the hole. do this with a couple more toothpicks until you can't do it anymore (probably 4 or 5 max). Then break off the ends of the toothpicks that are sticking out. try to get it flush with the bass. White off any glue with a damp rag that might have got on the bass finish. Some people don't even bother with glue when they do this, but it has worked really well for me.

Now screw in the new strap holders. This really holds the screws in and you never have to worry about it coming loose. I do this with all of the basses I have ever owned.

I did this to my son's John Petrucci MM Guitar about three years ago. They are still holding tight and hey plays hard, jumping all around the stage with his hardcore band (bleh!).

[oli@bass]

Use the EBMM screws provided with the MM locks.

If the strap button comes lose, find a luthier and have him fill and redrill the hole. Or what Powman wrote above...

[five7]

+1

[Thornton Davis]

This is a no brainer, if the Dunlop screw fits in the MM post and the top of the screw doesn't interfere with the MM lock, then go that way. If it does, use the MM screw and the the tooth pick trick mentioned above.

TD

[adouglas]

I switched from Dunlops to EBMMs.

IIRC the head of the Dunlop screw did not fit down inside the MM pin as it should.

So I did the toothpick-and-glue trick and used the MM screws. No problems at all. I didn't cram as many toothpicks as would fit in there... the objective is just to make the hole small enough to fit the MM screw. I just stuck a few in. It's not critical.

I did wax the screws before installation so they can be removed in the future should someone wish to do so.

[b-unit]

I almost had a heart attack trying to screw the wider Dunlop screws into my SR5 a few years ago. The wider screws were so tight going in that I thought I was going to strip them before they were in. never occurred to me to wax them.

Now I fear that the Dunlop screws are in there so tight that trying to remove them would be a nightmare. This is the only thing that has kept me from replacing the Dunlops on both my Rays. With my new Bongo, I am torn as the other basses have Dunlops, it may be silly to have MM strap locks on one of them.

[oli@bass]

With my new Bongo, I am torn as the other basses have Dunlops, it may be silly to have MM strap locks on one of them.

If you really like the MM locks better, swap now. I'd have more than ten basses and a guitar to change, so there's no way I'll convert them all.

[dave64o]

Thanks for the input, everyone. I've done my own adjustments on this bass since buying it but after the last time I changed the strings I've had some trouble getting it set up the way I like it. Since I'm already planning to take it to my luthier for it's first pro setup anyway I figured I'll ask him his opinion based on what he sees. But for now I think I'm leaving it as-is since the strap pins seem to be holding quite securely.

Thanks again.