D'Addario Auto Lock Guitar Strap review

I recently picked up a new guitar strap to add to my collection of way too many guitar straps. I am sort of the Imelda Marcos of guitar straps (that's a joke! Imelda was a despots wife who collected expensive shoes) and I've found that there are all sorts of straps for any occasion. Maybe you have a gig on the shady side of an iceberg or maybe your ass is playing in the Gobi desert, regardless of the weather or the fashion - There is a strap for you.

So, in this case the strap is a new release from our friends at D'addario. I had to buy this strap after I saw a friend get a free sample. The Auto lock straps have some cool features and I will list them in an easy to read bullet format:

• The lock simple clicks on with one hand by simply pressing the end against your strap button. To remove you lift the Gray lock away from the guitar.

• The locks work well with most stock strap buttons and I've used them on Schaller button as well.
• The strap can be installed or removed with one hand. The old Schaller locks required a special technique but were very sturdy (whoops off-topic!).
• The strap clicks on quickly and stays put.
• The strap is made in Canada!
• The belt style material breaths thus inhibiting sweat.
• The cost is less than $30.00 USD. 
• The plastic hasp is sturdy.
• Will fit most common instruments strap buttons.

There are some things about the strap that worry me though I don't think they are deal breakers or at least they were not deal busters for me:

• There is a small spring that holds the lock against the belt hasp and I bet the spring will be the first part to fail and die a miserable death.
• The hasp is made of durable plastic and that piece could possibly damage the surface finish of a fancy guitar. I do not recommend this for a collector guitar (you know who you are - play that damn thing!).
• The strap itself is prone to creasing when I tossed it in my gig bag. So there are some temporary creases from storage and that could be fixed by using a material closer to seatbelt like material. This material uses a heavier weave while seatbelts have much high thread count.
• May not fit all strap buttons (see below *).

These straps are the best integrated strap locks I've ever seen. The Auto Lock system works well, the strap is strong, the hasps are rugged enough to hold my Les Paul, and the cost saves me money to pay my medical bills due to lugging my heavy Les Paul.........

*Addendum
Further on up the road there were a few things I learned about the D'Addario Auto Lock Guitar Strap. They will not fit all instruments strap buttons and that isn't too much of a big deal but I was a little disappointed.

I found the strap wouldn't fit the standard strap button on Gibson Archtop. See pictured below.

Then I found that the Auto Lock didn't work for a strap button that is placed on an common acoustic guitar neck near the body. See below.

Also guitars with Strap-pin jacks will not work! Again, more pictures below!

Be warned that this strap will not work for the aforementioned strap buttons. Nevertheless, this strap is still one of my favorite seat belt style straps for around the house practice. If you are looking for a secure strap that installs quickly and doesn't require guitar modification then you should consider the D'addario Auto-lock guitar strap.