Planet Waves PWEEP202 ELLIPTICAL END PIN - NICKEL

Love these things. You can use any strap and feel secure. No more heavy locks bolted to your strap. I wouldn’t swing my guitar around with them, but plenty secure for jamming.

I believe I'm on my 7th set of these. Not because there's an issue but because I like them and put them on every guitar. After a 15 year break I've returned to learning guitar. I've restored or updated my old guitars of 25+ years and purchased a few new ones. These strap buttons get installed on every one. I've tried multiple styles of buttons and these are the only ones I have been satisfied with. I don't enjoy the bulky 2 piece locking systems.This method is cheaper, adds no bulk or rattle and comes in the colors I need. It takes some effort to get the straps on but there never accidentally come off.

I must first state for the record, I hate strap locks. Hate may be a bit shy of the mark, actually. I've never met a set I liked in any single way. I've only ever dropped an instrument that HAD strap locks on it. In fact, EVERY instrument I've owned with strap locks has suffered a gravity attack caused by the very device intended to prevent such misfortune. Schaller type strap locks tend to come unscrewed- even with Locktite. When you install them, you are compressing the nut and washer against a compressible material (leather, nylon, etc), so it is never really tight. Plus there's only about two threads on the slim little nut, and if they aren't a really tight match to the other half, wear very quickly (especially since you have to tighten them so often). Duncan type often suffer from 'non-positive lock syndrome' if not regularly cleaned and lubed. Then there's the fact that unless all of your instruments are equipped with the same brand of lock buttons, your strap is only compatible with the ones which match. And then there is the the metal-on-metal clankyness. Yuck. Oh, and and the cost. Moving on.Why are these little Elliptical End Pins so brilliant? They are NOT strap locks. If you orient the widest points horizontally when you install them - as you should, then in order to put your strap on and take it off, you will need to turn the strap 90 degrees to the instrument. This isn't something you are likely to do inadvertently while reaching for your beer onstage. Sometimes the simplest design is the best design. And they're pretty, too.Downsides? I will say the screws supplied with these are pretty short, but then I would also argue there is no reason to not use the screws holding in the original strap buttons as long as they fit tightly. If they don't, using smaller or shorter screws is not the answer- especially considering if the screws cut new threads, you're pretty much- uh, screwed. The washers these come with are pretty small too, so I just used the screws and felt washers that came with the factory buttons. With a brand new strap, they can be a bit tricky to get on, but just as tricky to get off (which is good). That tight fit could cause some increased wear on the strap, especially if it is made from cheap materials. With older straps, just as with any traditional strap button, you need to develop a good habit of always checking the positive seat of the strap, but it is very easy to verify, and again much less likely to slip than a traditional button. Mechanical strap locks actually require just as much diligence to ensure they are still securely fastened and working properly. But with strap locks, if there's a problem, you'll have to grab some tools to fix it - or replace it entirely. Talk about a false sense of security. With PE's Elliptical End Pins, you just put the strap where it should be and you're set.If you are one who is taken to doing back-flips, or find yourself frequently using your strapped instrument like a hula-hoop onstage, then these probably won't save your precious instrument from the gravity goblin or inertia monkey's worst intentions. But if either of these antics are your norm, you might be better served by a permanently attached strap, or perhaps therapy.Since writing the review above, I've ordered several more sets to use on all of my basses. I'm done with traditional strap buttons and don't imagine ever going back to metal on metal strap locks.

...the "chrome" looks more like nickel. Plus, the included washer is rubber or some type of TPU(plastic), which makes the strap button spin when tightening.✴️ D'Addario, PLEASE include felt washers.

I bought these for a guitar I bought at a yard sale...works perfectly.

Love them

I purchased these based on the video, which depicts the “Rotating Elliptical End Pin,“ which is NOT the product being sold here.The item that arrived and the one that is in the pictures and sold here is for the non-rotating “Elliptical End Pin.”I was hesitant about the rotating feature, based on the relatively small percentage of negative reviews saying it would rotate while in use, making a guitar slip off even easier than a with a normal button/pin. But, I figured that since the overwhelming majority of reviews did not address this, that it would probably be OK.Now, I think the low negative review percentage is due to people who bought the rotating version and came here, to the wrong item, to log their grievance. The positive reviews likely being primarily from people who didn’t watch the video and didn’t think they were getting the rotating version.Regardless, I think the rotating version is likely problematic, as it appears to only use tension to keep it in place. Perhaps if it had a pin lock or some other way to keep it secure, it would work and may be pretty cool.Regardless, I’m really glad I got the non-rotating one after all. The oval shape is great and I don’t foresee it ever slipping off. It is far more secure than any other button/pin I’ve used barring strap locks, which I think are a pain in the a#%.They really need to update the video for this item to properly reflect the item being sold. However, in my case (and likely for others), it worked out for the best.Peace

Very well built