Hey Darwin do you still have....?

[Michael-GnL-Michael]

Darwin,

I was researching the best straplocks for G&Ls and saw this picture you posted in an old LR. Do you still have either of the vintage white Legacys? Just wondering how long you might hang onto twins.

[darwinohm]

Michael, I can understand why you ask! I still have one which has the Roland GK30 mounted and the other was traded for another G&L. I get confused at times too because I believe that I picked up 7 G&Ls during 2011. -- Darwin

Edit. You got me thinking Michael. Three guitars in the top row are gone. They are the White Legacy, 2nd from the top left, a Mahogany Bluesboy and right top, an Asat Special Tribute and the Blue L-2000 fretless in the bottom row, left side.

I added a 30th Aniv White Asat Classic, Asat Special- Cherryburst, Blonde Legacy, Asat Classic Gold Flake (blingy), SC-2, L-2500 Bass and the Asat Z-3 last week.
I think I have it straight. -- Darwin

[louis cyfer]

michael, you want the schaller strap locks. i had dunlops fail on me twice. once the little spring inside that holds the ball bearings in place fails, the guitar will fall. tha schallers can not fail, the locking mechanism is not weight bearing. the dunlops, the ball bearing part is also the weight bearing part. as far as people claiming the part that secures the strap can come loose, only of you don't use a socket wrench to tighten it. also a bit of blue loctite. when i used to try to tighten it with just pliers, it can come loose, but i have 15 straps with them now, and and not one has come loose since i have used the socket wrench.

[Michael-GnL-Michael]

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Thanks Louis, Schallers seem to be the one most G&L people prefer. I have read, both, that the original screws from the guitar work and also that the hole needs to be enlarged on the mechanism. However, as long as I can keep the guitar itself intact I don't mind doing a little modification on the $16 vs $1100 item. I do not even like the idea of unscrewing the strap holders but using the G&L screw makes me feel better about it.

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[Michael-GnL-Michael]

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Darwin,

Have you had more than one Bigsby? I thought I read somewhere that you traded a Bigsby and that it could have been the one you mounted yourself. I might have misread it but I recall wondering why you would go to all of the trouble then trade it away but I almost immediately figured you mounted it as a challenging experiment and traded it for something that you wanted even more.

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[darwinohm]

Michael, I agree that the Schaller straplocks are the most fail safe. I aslo have en Ernie Ball Straplock and do not use it any more as it did fail one time. I use the original G&L screw and have had to grind or file the edge of the original screw to make it fit. The most recent G&L guitars required no mod to the screw as they fit.

I have installed Bigsbys on several Teles. Two on American Deluxe Teles and the other on a 52 reissue. They have all been sweet rigs and have been sold because there is a demand for them. The last Bigsby I installed was on an almost new G&L Bluesboy. it was a lot of work as I had to route the bridge pickup hole to move the pickup toward the neck a bit. I would do it again if it were one that I were going to keep. The Fenders are relatively easy to convert. I enjoy doing it and I can do those anytime. The American Deluxes are both being played by pro musicians and they had been looking at having Fender do it in their custom shop, a very expensive proposition. I have several Bigsbys and love them. If someone tells you they not stay in tune, they should have tried one of mine. I have seen several Bigsbys that were poorly installed or have used the wrong bridge. The reason that I sold them is to fund something that was harder to find. As I said, I can do a Bigsby anytime but there are guitars that you have to jump on or you will not find another. Thanks for asking-- Darwin