do they make a bass strap thhat keeps the bass more upright?

[Groverismybass]

I dont know if this is the right place for this
but my bass tends to slide almost completely horizantal
is there a guitar strap that can keep it more vertical?
I thought there was but im having trouble finding one...
If you know of one could you send me a link to where i can buy it?
thanks

[FallenAbom]

I could be wrong, but I think the bass' hang is dependent more on the placement of the strap buttons then the actual strap itself. I'm sure to some degree every strap will make a bit of difference in this, but where are the strap buttons located on your bass? What kind of bass do you have?

[Groverismybass]

see thats what i thought to but i couldhave sworn there was some other like strap that would stay in place,
i wonder how much trouble replacing strap buttons would be

[dmusic148]

A leather strap, with a rough inner surface, will help a lot.

[FallenAbom]

Originally Posted by Groverismybass

see thats what i thought to but i couldhave sworn there was some other like strap that would stay in place,
i wonder how much trouble replacing strap buttons would be

Just to make sure I'm understanding correctly. When you place the bass on your shoulder it will go to what would be considered a "normal" and more vertical position, but then it slides down to be more horizontal? If that's the case a strap with a material that's less slippery may fix your problem.

As far as the strap button question goes: It's not hard to move them to a new location on the bass (drill bit, zip zip, and you're done), what is hard though is getting them to center correctly. Most basses I've come across have the strap buttons placed perfectly to give you an even weight distribution (or at least that's what I've noticed when I have moved their locations myself). The other problem you come across of course are the numerous drill holes in your bass from trying to find the right location :P.

[Groverismybass]

mkay illl go see if i can find some fake leather lol

[Groverismybass]

yeah ill juust drill all over the place and pretend i meant to

[DeluxeRed]

A lot of the "hang" is dependent upon the balance of the bass itself. If it is hanging too horizontal, then reducing the weight at the end of the neck (often difficult or impossible) or adding weight to the butt can re-balance the instrument.

A wider, non-nylon-mesh strap can help, too, as it offers more contact area (and can be much more comfortable since the weight is spread out).

Some basses, like old long-scale Gibsons, are hopeless in that regard. But if you're having to hold the bass in place to play, it is almost certainly compromising your performance and technique, and if a different strap or re-balancing it doesn't help, it might be time to try some other basses at your local dealer...

[whyseye]

I have a couple of neck-diving basses, and played around with moving strap buttons etc., but I found that a wide, double thickness soft suede strap has all but eliminated the problem....under $20 at my local GC.

[DreadRaver]

Sounds like classic neck dive - and I'll bet it's on that Jag, right?

Some people make little extensions for the Thunderbirds with similar problems, or else you could add wieght. But for a strap only solution you'll want to get a wide leather strap as others have mentioned, with a high friction rough suede-like finish on the inside of the strap.

[Groverismybass]

hah, yeah its that damn jag, heavy everywhere and especially on the neck....
time to go to GC!

[Jazzdogg]

I like the neck on my basses to almost vertical, and have often thought (only half joking) of putting velcro on the back of my strap and the back of a vest.

[Groverismybass]

surprisingly noot as far fetched as you might think, i have a round back ovation acoustic guitar and i put velcro on the bottom that just sorta grabs my jeans and stops the guitar from slipping

[PJSShearer]

A couple of suggestions to try without drilling holes for new strap buttons:

1. Use a wide leather strap (at least 3") - I find my Bass tends to stay where I put it with this.
2. Route the strap from the bottom strap button across the front of the Bass rather than behind it as normal.
3. Tie a leather bootlace to the end of the strap and around the headstock like you would with a folk guitar - although if you aren't careful the Bass might slip down to the vertical and the machine heads will clip you round the ear :-).

[millsbass5]

I have a favorite strap made by Levy's.It's made of neoprene.It's a type of rubber that they make diving suits from.I don't have balance problems w/any of my axes.But,it does provide excellent "traction"on my shoulder.Also,it helps when playing a heavier bass,too.Be prepared to shell out some cash.They aren't cheap.A good strap is money well spent,IMO.Also,there is a company that makes a strap that goes over BOTH shoulders.Don't know the name of the brand,though.I'm too claustrophobic for those,myself.

[toomanybasses]

I had the same problem with certain basses that are not balanced. I got a couple of suede 3" straps which fixed the problem for me

[PJSShearer]

Yup - 3" seems to be the magic number :-)