Strap locks have become common equipment for guitars prized by their owners. Trouble is, they’re not usually stock hardware and they’re not always optimal or even usable in some applications. Case in point: My acoustic guitar has a strap pin that functions as the pickup jack, which can’t be replaced with a straplock-compatible button. Another issue: I don’t want to alter my PRS Hollowbody II by replacing the stock strap buttons with strap locks, for fear of permanently damaging it.
But my strap keeps slipping off the end pin of my acoustic, so I’ve been hunting for a good locking guitar strap, in which the locks are built into the strap ends themselves. While perusing various message boards, I happened upon Lock-It Straps, based out of Dallas. I bought one to try out, and I’m incredibly glad I did. Every once in a while you come across a new product that just blows you away and delights you with its simplicity. This is one of those times.
The strap is a regular 2-inch polypropylene guitar strap with leather ends. But the leather ends have two layers of leather sewn together. In between the leather is a spring-loaded plastic mechanism that locks around the pin. This video demonstrates how it works:
How well does it hold? Well, I tugged on the strap to try to pull it off the end pin, but it wouldn’t give. I tried it out on my Strat and could pick the guitar up vertically (headstock pointing up) by the strap button, and it held. It seems pretty sturdy. I would trust this thing as much as I would a regular strap lock — not completely, but enough to feel safe holding my guitar at odd angles.
The workmanship seems solid. The leather ends are nice and thick, and there’s a seam sewn up the center beneath the button hole, right where the most pressure will be brought to bear by the weight of the guitar; this will probably help keep the leather from tearing.
Most impressive is that it looks and feels almost exactly like any other regular strap out there. In fact, aside from the fact that the leather ends are slightly elongated in comparison to most straps, there’s no way you’d be able to distinguish it from a regular strap without seeing it up close. The plastic locking mechanism is flexible, which allows it to bend with the leather part of the strap; if you don’t remove your strap when you pack your guitar into its case, the Lock-It Strap probably won’t hinder this practice.
This is by far the best locking strap design I’ve ever seen. It’s sturdy, effective, and attractive. I will be buying several more of these straps and replacing all my current strap locks with them. I highly recommend them to anyone who is looking for an alternative to metal strap locks. Check them out at lockitstraps.com.