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hi what kind of strap locks do you all recomend for a JM and how difficult is it to install them? is there any wood work to be done or do they fit in place of the original strap button?

I have Schaller's Strap Lock in all my guitars (JM, Strat and SG).
Easy to install and reliable; here's an italian website with some informations about strap-locks.

If it doesn't fir correctly: you take a match, that you file with sandpaper a bit, to get rid of the edges. You put it in the screw hole to measure the length, and cut what you don't need. A drop of glue on one end, and you put it in the hole. With a pin, you make a tiny hole in the middle of the match end, which will serve as a pilot hole for the screw.

Gordon wrote: If it doesn't fir correctly: you take a match, that you file with sandpaper a bit, to get rid of the edges. You put it in the screw hole to measure the length, and cut what you don't need. A drop of glue on one end, and you put it in the hole. With a pin, you make a tiny hole in the middle of the match end, which will serve as a pilot hole for the screw.

i usually use toothpicks, instead of matches 

Whenever I've installed strap locks, I always used the same screws that guitar originally came with. If I don't ever plan on switching the screws back to the original, I put some wood glue in the hole and then install the strap button.

With my jazzmaster, instead of installing strap locks, I just removed the strap buttons and put a washer in between the button and the strap so that the strap won't come off. Works fine and costs literally nothing since I found the washers on the ground outside,

Stratelejazzuar wrote: i usually use toothpicks, instead of matches 

Better indeed. When one has toothpicks.

Toothpicks were invented in Georgia USA...

Otherwise, they'd be teethpicks.

I ordered Schaller locks recently and got them over the weekend - to be honest I find them a bit ugly as they stick out a long way from the guitar - not my idea of neat really.  I am looking at swapping them for a different brand with a better design - will let you know when I've decided as there are a few to look at!

fullerplast wrote: Toothpicks were invented in Georgia USA...

Otherwise, they'd be teethpicks.

 

Here's a pic of the Schaller attached to my Jag project.  in a word "EEeeeeewww".

i can't stand how far it sticks out, how far from the body the strap sits nor the unsightly chunky bit that clamps onto the button.  If I'd have found clear pics like this I'd never have ordered them.  there are other options I'm looking at that are more aesthetically designed and i will post a pic when I settle on a brand.

By "clear" i obviously mean "big"...clearly not "clear"...doh!

I have the Jim Dunlop strap locks. 

Here they are in the on:



and off position:



ETA: There was some minor drilling involved in putting these on.

I have used both schaller and dunlop strap locks. The Dunlop ones are still on my CS strat, the schallers are in a box somewhere. I prefer vintage strap buttons on a vintage guitar.

Schaller locks look well engineered but have the annoying habit of unscrewing the strap button over time, necessitating the matchstick/toothpick re-dowelling trick on a regular basis.

The Dunlops seem more agricultural, but are actually a better design, and the buttons are larger, meaning even without a strap equipped with locks, you are less likely to lose your axe on that emphatic solo where you drop to your knees with your eyes closed...

If you aren't planning to drop to your knees with your eyes closed etc, you may not actually need strap locks.

Black Cat Bone wrote: Here's a pic of the Schaller attached to my Jag project.  in a word "EEeeeeewww".
i can't stand how far it sticks out, how far from the body the strap sits nor the unsightly chunky bit that clamps onto the button.  If I'd have found clear pics like this I'd never have ordered them.  there are other options I'm looking at that are more aesthetically designed and i will post a pic when I settle on a brand.

I did the same thing: Ordered them, put them on and right away took them off and got rid of them. I hate the way they look and I don't move around enough to warrant them.

RE: Dunlops - they are certainly looking a better option!  I looked on a website and see they do a version where you imbed the female portion into the body so that would bring the strap flush to the body a'la normal button fixtures.  i'm considering it!