How many times have we seen guitarists on YouTube try to do a guitar swing, and fail miserably because their guitar took a dive and broke on stage? The answer is: too many, too many times.
The strap pegs that come pre-installed on many guitars are typically very solid, however when it comes to using a strap for your guitar (whether it's cheap or expensive), you'll encounter that the holes that go on the pegs will wear and get bigger over daily usage.
The last thing any guitarist wants is for their guitar to fall. Even if you typically have a fast reaction time, often it's too late and you'll be headed to the repair shop to fix your axe.
So what can you do to help prevent your guitar accidentally taking a spill and breaking? Invest in a solid set of strap locks. There are many different brands out there from Dunlop to Schaller, Ibanez, Grover and more.
Installing strap locks often comes with a slight modification to your guitar strap - you'll use the strap lock with a locking nut, attaching it to the strap. You'll also have to remove your old strap pegs, and install the new strap lock versions.
Having strap locks on your guitar can make you feel a million times more secure that your guitar will stay in place, no matter what.
I personally started using Schaller strap locks over a decade ago, and just stuck with them for all of my guitars. The nice part about sticking with one brand is that any strap you have will lock into any guitar you have lying around.
Strap locks aren't super expensive (typically about $10-$20 for a set), so head out to your local music store and see what locks look like they'd work best for you.
If you ever have any questions, feel free to reach out to me at Brian@ChasingSound.com. I'd be happy to help!