broncodan

strap retainer idea

Posted on 02/14/09, 02:32 am

hi - i'm throwing this out for ideas. as most know a guitar strap can become detached from the strap retainer button on your guitar while playing and allowing it to fall to the ground. this can result in embarasment or severe damage to the guitar. i usually use the straplok system by dunlop to address this. however, i cannot use this on an old ric bass because the mounting screws in the kit are a smaller diameter than the ones drilled into the bass body. the screws just fall out of the holes in the body. how or what can i use to secure the strap end to the original strap retainer button? i do not want to redrill and install new buttons. i try to avoid body or electronic modifictions to nice guitars. did i even make my question clear? thx

• Reply #1 02/14/09  3:22am
  
  darkhour000
  My friend had the same problem. What he did is went to the hardware store and got new screws. They were larger but still worked with the kit. I know what your talking about. I also have the locking kit. And the screws have to be a certain size to fit into the button. Try going to the hardware store and see if you can find something. If not I have also heard of people filling the holes with wood fuller and re drilling them to the proper size. Because your filling the old holes and making new ones in there spot your not realy makeing new holes per say just re fitting the old ones. If you don't feel comfortable doing that yet going to your local guitar shop and asking them what they suggest. But I would try different screws myself first. If need be you can always file the edge of the screw head down to fit into the button of your locking kit.
  
  Good luck and let us know what method you used. Good post. And nice bass! Ricks are bad ass basses. My dream is to have a blonde 76! Do you have a original 4001 or the remake 4003 model?
• Reply #2 02/14/09  3:53am
  
  broncodan
  hey - its the 4003 cherry burst. and i have tried several different screw sizes but no good. if they bite into the wood, they wont go through the button. i know several things can be done to modify/fill the exist holes. just really don't want to yet. a pro could do it so it could'nt be seen, but i would still know. was hoping for a cool clip or something. problem with the ric's are button top and bottom diameter are almost the same. they don't taper.
• Reply #3 02/14/09  4:29am
  
  darkhour000
  Ya my uncles got the 4001 model. The only thing I can say is to fill the hole and re drill or to drill a new hole right next to it. By the time you put the button on the felt pad will cover the old hole. Also you cold just full the old hole all together and just drill a new hole. Maybe get the right color stain or something that will closely match to the sunburst. Or just leave the original buttons in place.
• Reply #4 08/09/09  4:21am
  
  luthier23
  Hey Bronco....A trick I learned was to fill the hole with toothpicks and just a "little" super glue. Not so much that it comes out the hole. Once it's dry, you can drill to a smaller diameter. And since your not taking away any of the orginal wood....Just the toothpicks, it's a relatively safe job. Just be very carefull putting in the super glue so not to spill....You may even use wood glue....It's easier to clean up and doesn't dry as fast. If your brave enough to try it, that's the best fix I can come up with. Good luck.

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