Hey everyone,
I'm very interested in buying a Dimarzio Clip-Lock strap for my Ibanez RG Prestige but I have heard rumours about them damaging the finish of the guitar. Is this true? I have had people tell me that these straps are terrible and others have told me they have used them for 20 years with no problem. I was thinking about buying one and the modding if this is the case so it can't damage the guitar.

What do you guys think? thanks

Guitars should be played and should be damaged.
They're tools to make music and not paintings on the wall.
I'm using cliplocks since the 90's, some of my guitars had small scratches and some didn't.
Who cares, we're not chicks protecting our Prada shoes for heavens sake

Hope that answer your question.



Most of the people treat their gear like crap, so they don't care to use a clip lock that can damage their gear. You know, you can look at their gear and you can realize what kind of people they are. It's like to have a car. Some people get their own car in perfect condition, others in the most crappy way.

What I use? Only schaller locks, they do a way better job than the cliplock, they use metal (not cheap plastic like those cliplocks) and you can remove the entire strap if you want it so nothing is damaged and you can use the strap you like...




Anyway, I love Dimarzio pickups, I love their guitar hardware, their cables and stuff like that.... BUT I HATE THEIR CLIPLOCKS!

Another vote for the Schaller strap locks here. Just beware that the screw for the new strap button is usually thinner radius than the stock strap button screw. Be very careful installing these new Schaller buttons that the screw is firmly grabbing in the body wood or you will risk stripping out the hole entirely. This is particularly damaging on the upper horn button!

This is a very easy fix @ time of installation either by adding some filler to the screw hole (lots of different materials work well for this) or simply going to your local hardware store and finding a screw that fits in the Schaller button but is a closer match to the diameter of your stock screws. Don't wanna scare you away just make you aware. For the record, I have Schaller lockers on every one of my axes & love them.

I always just use the screw that came in the guitar, fits the hole, and the Schaller strap lock.

A +1 vote for the DiMarzio Cliplock's (have used them exclusively for 15+ years), but I will confirm that they can indeed damage your finish if you're careless with them. You also have to be aware of where the plastic clips are when you close your guitar case.

However, I've not had problems with this over the years. Of course, I've never owned an Ibby worth more than about $1k. I might think twice about the Cliplocks if I bought a rare model or, say, a J-Custom. Even then, I might still go with a Cliplock.

I've tried the Schallers too, and they're excellent, but the amount they stick out bothered me, so I went back to Cliplocks.

I use either the cliplocks or the Dunlop's.. I've had Schaller's plunger fail.. not a biggie as long as the U-channel part on the strap doesn't twist.. NOT good when it does.

Another vote for the Schaller strap locks.

Jimmy

I use both, Schaller and Clip-lock, both work great, both have there down falls.

Ive used cliplocks for a while now and no damage, just dont be rough when your putting it in its case.

this.


i find that ibanez's from the late 90's-early 2000's suffer greatly as ibanez's finishes during this time wasn't top notch. the most noticeable are my 7 string RG's.


rich

Dimarzio !!

i've had schaller nuts actually come off of the strap in the middle of a gig. they don't have a lock washer setup and you have to check them fairly regulary to make sure they are tightened down. this means the strap button and strap lock.


rich

I've used/use both Dunlop Strap locks and Dimarzio Click Lock. Dimarzio is now my go-to (3") and has been noted, you just have to be mindful of position when putting back in the case. I have a 90's RG760 that I don't even take the strap off when I case it and I have no problems.

I've seen more damage from strap locks than clip locks and the straplock damage tends not only to be more frequent, but far more severe!