i always put strap locks on my basses, specifically ernie ball ones. and i need to put them on my short scale stingray. but i am embarrassed to admit that i always take my basses to my local guitar shop to have them put on. the reason why is because i am terrified that when screwing them in i am going to strip it out or crack the wood or cause my entire bass to burst into flames and kill me. because that sounds like something that would happen to me. somebody tell me that i am being ridiculous and as long as i don’t go crazy that none of these things will happen. right? anybody have a horror story?
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Carpenter here. I can help 
Usually in the instructions for the strap lock it will give you the size of the drill bit you need. Dunlop strap lock is 7/64” for example
Unscrew the old strap lock.
Carefully drill the new larger hole. To avoid going too deep set the drill bit in the chuck to just longer than the length of the screw. Say 1/8” longer is fine. You don’t want to be too short as you’re asking the screw to then work too hard.
Put a bit of Vaseline / lip balm etc on the new screw thread to help ease it in.
By hand (don’t use a power tool) screw the new fastener in until it’s snug. Don’t go mad tightening it.
That’s it.
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I’ve installed Schaller S locks on every one of my basses. Not a single problem or issue with any of them.
Barney is absolutely correct in everything he advised.
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I use the rubber grommets, especially from Ernie Ball. They work just fine. And as I’m not trying to own more basses, I don’t mind the straps.
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this response was amazing and very anxiety smothering. thank you.
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ah but one more question then. any risk/steps needed to avoid damaging the finish? like cover the hole with painters tape before drilling or anything like that?
edit: jeez i sound absolutely insane 
i mean it’s not brain surgery
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I’ve never even drilled first and never had any issues whatsoever
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Totally reasonable question. You’re drilling a very small hole with a very small drill bit, so I wouldn’t be worried about tear out on the finish.
If we were drilling a 1/2" hole then we’d use a completely different drill bit (forstener) to avoid damage.
But nothing wrong with using painters tape. Put a piece over the hole and when the tip of the drill chuck is just about to touch it, you’re good.
If you do over drill and the chuck tip touches the tape; you’re still OK because the diameter of the chuck tip on such a small drill bit is smaller than the diameter of the felt pad that comes with the strap lock. So even if you mar the finish with the drill chuck it’s hidden.
Just go slow and it’s all good.
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I use EB strap locks too, I wish you could buy just the button end that attaches to the bass. I have found most of the time that the screw that comes with the lock is the same size but just a few mm longer than the screw that comes with the locks. Most of the time I reuse the original bass screw.
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No horror stories. If you can use a screwdriver to tighten a wood screw in place you can install strap locks on a bass. The worst that can happen on a bass with very soft body wood is to strip the mounting hole. There’s a simple fix for that as well.
Stop worrying. You’re not gonna break it and in over 50 years I have never had a bass spontaneously combust. That only happens to drummers for Spinal Tap.
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Dude, I get it. There is no way in hell I’m taking a drill to my jazz bass.
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Never knew Vaseline works for screws
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Someone will be along to make the joke in a moment.
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Works for things screwed, blued and tattooed.
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It’s nothing to be scared about. I usually use power tool on many basses but on the premiums I use screwdriver and by hand. Except on my USA Fender, those I try to be as careless as possible, relic add value to Fender, 
One thing I usually do with wood screws, I dip them in a beeswax.
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My last project involved low grit sandpaper and a wood reamer bit in a power drill 
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I use power tools on the most expensive thing I own* all the time, a bass is pretty low risk 
*My house
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Another option for securing a strap are D’Addario Elliptical End Pins. I use these on every guitar and bass I own and have never had a strap come off an instrument. They’re inexpensive ($5.95) and easy to install using the same screw as your current end pins or those provided. No drilling necessary.
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Stop staring at me 
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