Tip for installing Dunlop strap locks

[Tonelover]

Depending on the guitar, the screws that come with the strap lock systems are often too big or too small for the existing non-modified holes. If the replacement screws are too small people talk about wood filler, glue, toothpicks etc which sounds like a messy drag. If the replacement screws are too big I can understand the hesitancy to drill holes in your guitar.

I tried seeing if the existing screws on my Jackson would work with the Dunlop system because I didn't want to drill, but the screw head itself was too wide to pull all the way down through the replacement Dunlop strap button. A file and some elbow grease around the perimeter of the screw head for a few minutes and voila, the original screw can now be pulled all the way down through the required Dunlop strap button and secured back in the guitar as if nothing happened. Perfectly safe and reversible if you want to put the original strap button on later.

I've read suggestions which say to bore out the strap button instead, that's the same idea in reverse, I just didn't have the equipment laying around to do that. Worked like a charm.

[albee1952]

I think you made the right choice on technique. I have used a bench grinder to do the same thing(just quicker). I stripped hole can be quickly fixed by a little glue and 3 round toothpicks(snip them off flush with side cutters).

[Ibateur]

I used wood glue in the screwhole and stuck the "a bit small" screw into it. I didn't have ANY tools to do what you guys did.

After it cured, I could unscrew the thing like it was screwed into wood. If I want to undo it, I guess I will just stick the screw in and give it a bit of a tug. Hopefully it won't take the horn with it, though I don't plan on doing this anyway.

[brothersnowgone]

Definately woundn't yank it out, you could end up with more than a screw and some dry glue in your hands.

If you do end up wanting to undo it, drill it out with the right size bit. Even if yanking it out worked, I'd still like to be on the safe side.

[rvai]

I used the same screws that were already on my guitar, just swapped the other part where you stick the straplock in