Affordable Strap Lock Solutions Comparison - D'Addario vs Dunlop vs Fender

Martin's comparing three different affordable strap lock solutions that don't require modifications on your guitar. The products we've chosen for the comparison are the "D'Addario DUAL-LOCK" strap locks, the "Dunlop LOK STRAP" system and the "Fender Strap Blocks".
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:20 How each system works
03:43 Demonstration on guitars
09:34 Martin's conclusion
All of the products we've shown in the video have been purchased with our own money and we're not affiliated with any of these companies.

[@couchbuddha]

This was very helpful to make a decision. Thank you very much for paying attention to tiny details of life. All the best!!!

[@LMGuitarCorner]

Thanks a lot! Glad you liked it and it was helpful to you! Cheers, Martin

[@sunnys5150]

Strap blocks like these loosen and strip your atrap button unless you have REALLY thin strap ends. These seem like a good and easy idea but they are so tight on the strap button causing the strap button to spin from such a strong grip

[@LMGuitarCorner]

Thanks for the input. Didn't think about that, but I also haven't noticed that issue yet. I've been using them for quite a while now on the backside of my 335 and haven't noticed any issue, but I can totally see something like this happen. Cheers, Martin

[@user-yf5in6jz2u]

Thank you! Was looking for a good comparison between this 3

[@LMGuitarCorner]

You're welcome! Glad it helped! Cheers, Martin

[@andreaboglio7792]

Very nice video... Thanks for sharing!

[@LMGuitarCorner]

Thanks Andrea! Cheers, Martin

[@ZeroGravityLife]

Very helpful, thanks

[@LMGuitarCorner]

Thanks a lot, glad you liked it! Cheers, Martin

[@HCkev]

I think personally that if you have a guitar of any significant value, investing into a "real" strap lock system, which isn't that expensive in the first place, is a no brainer. I have Schaller straps lock on all my guitars now, well worth it, wouldn't go back to a standard strap button, having the peace of mind that my guitars will never fall off the strap aside, it also makes removing and putting the strap back on much easier for when I need to put the guitar in the molded hard case. Although these systems in the video are nice to keep around if you need to use a strap without strap locks on (if you forget or lose the strap for a gig for example, then you can burrow one from someone else or quickly grab one at a store)

[@LMGuitarCorner]

I agree. A real locking system is still by far the best option. However, I like those for the reason you mentioned as well as the Daddario also for guitars on which I never change the strap. I think these systems have one thing in common. They're not meant to be removed frequently. They all suffer from wear in these cases. Cheers, Martin

[@cheapskate8656]

That was a good review. Well done.

[@LMGuitarCorner]

Thanks a lot! Glad you liked it. Cheers, Martin

[@Charles75N]

Martin good video. Thx

[@LMGuitarCorner]

Thanks Charles, glad you liked it! Cheers, Martin

[@stevelaferney3579]

Thanks. Considering the cost of your guitar the price of $30 or €30 or £30 may seem high but it’s not really. There are the ones you showed that work pretty good and it’s just a matter of checking from time to time on whatever you choose to see it’s still in good shape. I chose the hose washers from Fender. My strap always stays on. No problems so far.

[@LMGuitarCorner]

Absolutely right. As long as you're not doing any crazy stuff all of them should work fine with a regular check. It's certainly better than nothing. I'm using a mixture of them, but all of them on guitars I don't switch straps. Thanks for commenting, cheers, Martin

[@fisherdigital]

Thank you

[@LMGuitarCorner]

You're welcome! Cheers, Martin

[@art-gallery3257]

Nice Sharing

[@LMGuitarCorner]

Thanks a lot! Cheers, Martin

[@Losbass]

Have you tried Lock-it straps? So far it’s the best I’ve tried!

[@LMGuitarCorner]

You mean like the LM Sure Lock strap? I have one of those. I like the system, it's really fool proof and secure, however it's rather big and as such uncomfortable on guitars with the strap pin on the back like a 335 or SG. Also the Strap itself has no padding and is not all too comfortable. It also does not really hold the guitar in place very well, if it is not very well balanced. The 3rd thing is, it's nylon and plastics that come directly in contact with the guitar. I won't use that with my nitro finish guitars. I would love to see that system on top of a high quality leather belt (which doesn't have synthetic softeners on it) where there's also a piece of leather as cushion between it and the guitar to ensure it won't get scratched and nitro finishes are safe. Cheers, Martin

[@Losbass]

@@LMGuitarCorner Search for Lock-it strap, here on KZbin. I have a nitro finish and use my Lock-it strap,, zero issues! It doesn’t have exposed plastic its covered in a leather housing with a spring loaded mechanism. And works with every guitar. And yeah its secure! There’s a guy that demos it swinging his guitar like a windmill! Lol

[@LMGuitarCorner]

@@Losbass Thanks a lot! Will have a look at them. Sounds exactly like the improvements I would wish on that other lock strap I have. Cheers, Martin

[@IamMagPie]

Strange that the locks from Dunlop spin around so easily. Mine are stiff and really hard to spin.

[@LMGuitarCorner]

Mine all do it. I have 4 of them. Interesting to hear that this is not the case for all of them. How long do you have yours? Maybe they improved on that end. Cheers, Martin

[@IamMagPie]

@@LMGuitarCorner Not 100 % sure, but I'd say I've had these for 5-7 years. However, I'v not used them many times. Perhaps they get more loose with wear / over time...

[@LMGuitarCorner]

Then you've got them way before I got mine. Mine were loose from the get-go, but I can also see them having a problem with wear over time with use. Cheers, Martin

[@pbl6888]

Who needs to buy those things? I've been using beer bottle gaskets to lock my bass guitar strap for years. They work perfectly and they cost nothing.

[@LMGuitarCorner]

Depends on the area where you're living. If you can source them locally like this and you're happy with them, then good for you. Here we don't have much beer with those anymore. I only know of a local brand that's not available just a few km away in the same country. Cheers, Martin

[@p.g.pg38]

Merci pour ces tests! Je confirme que les rondelles caoutchouc ne sont absolument pas efficaces. Une traction oblique de la sangle sur le bouton et ça saute...

[@bassyey]

I'd just go straight to real strap locks. If you want locks, go all the way, no in betweens. Less things to think about, less failures.

[@LMGuitarCorner]

For 100% security, I totally agree. However, I like some of these options on my guitars, as I'm not doing any crazy stunts and they have a low profile. Cheers, Martin

[@viveksotang2149]

Do one thing cement your guitar strap on to your guitar then it will not fall lol 🤣

[@LMGuitarCorner]

Haha, that would also solve some things. I had the problem on one of my amazon strap locks that the locking screw loosened itself every now and then. I glued that one in with super glue as I won't remove that one from the strap ever. That strap won't get loose now anytime soon. :D This at least gets in the territory of your suggestion. ;) Cheers, Martin

[@officialWWM]

Joe Bonamassa uses those Dunlop ones that you don’t trust…

[@LMGuitarCorner]

Joe Bonamassa isn't very active on stage though, at least from the live footage I've seen. Maybe I should have been more clear about this. I'm thinking about players jumping around the stage, running from one side to the other, doing guitar spins and so on. I wouldn't trust them to never get twisted under such circumstances. I don't see a problem for most players with any of these solutions. Regardless of that, I would advise on checking on them regularly though. You don't wanna have that 1 in a million failure. Cheers, Martin

[@officialWWM]

@@LMGuitarCorner he may not be very active but his guitars are very rare and expensive!

[@LMGuitarCorner]

@@officialWWM If you're not moving much the chances of it twisting are next to none. I don't see a problem trusting them there either. This has nothing to do with how expensive the guitar is. Bonamassa knows he's not doing crazy stuff with his expensive guitars, so no problem in trusting them for what he does. But if I'm not considering the most crazy dude on stage when reviewing these and that one sees me telling, "these things are bulletproof, even Bonamassa uses them, so don't worry about it", he will most certainly come back at me if it fails on him because he simply had a more extreme application. And you know what? Rightfully so, because the video would have been misleading with not much thought put into it. I present the viewer my concerns, maybe I didn't make it clear enough under what circumstances, and in the end the viewer has to decide whether he trusts the product for his application with the information given. Cheers, Martin

[@officialWWM]

@@LMGuitarCorner well, you could simply say that they are fine for the normal guitar player but if you want to perform stunts, you might need something else 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@LMGuitarCorner]

@@officialWWM I'm mentioning the 360 guitar spin several times in context with my concern and I've mentioned in my initial answer to you already that I could have made this more clear. Cheers, Martin

[@Keithphotorama]

I highly recommend people give up music completely since the world is going crazy over tech, tech, and a mountain of tech talk.

[@LMGuitarCorner]

A little overdramatic, aren't we? Nobody makes you watch any of these videos or buy gear. Just ignore it dude...