Bass strap - mod for comfort

**Bob Gollihur** · #1 03-08-2011, 08:29 AM

Just my experience for your consideration...

Background: Due to discomfort I stick to basses under 10lbs and tried quite a number of different bass straps over the last decade+. The Comfort Strapp was my favorite until I bought some nicely padded 3.25 inch wide Fort Bryan F-hole straps (BTW, I have a couple extra). I've used a pair of them almost exclusively for the past 2-3 years.

I have some unusual curved 2" wide leather straps (Performance Solutions, no longer available) that my sister carved and dyed - they are beautiful and I wanted to use them again... but without discomfort.

The positive experience with the neoprene Comfort Strapp made me think about using that material to bolster those leather straps. As a result, I found and bought a remnant 1/4" thick neoprene wet suit material on eBay. It's a dense, firm foam, seems a bit more dense than the stuff used in the Comfort Strapp. (Yes, I realize that strap has give to it, this doesn't, but it works for me).

I cut a 2" shoulder pad and glued it to a strap, and it was a significant improvement. I decided to "go all the way" and cut a second 3.25" wide hunk and glued that to the 2" piece already there. That really did it for me. I used it at rehearsal Sunday night, and I'm quite pleased with the feel. I need more material, but next time will probably just put one 3.25" wide layer of neoprene on the next strap I rehab.

These are the two I've modded so far, I'll get in there with scissors to neaten up the edges. If you have a favorite strap you want to comfortize, this may be worth your consideration.

Big_Daddy · #2 03-08-2011, 10:57 AM

I may have to consider that in the future. Being a young lad, I just played through the soreness until I developed a harder area on my shoulder. Carrying ladders on that shoulder for two years at a retail job probably helped, too.

MatticusMania · #3 03-08-2011, 11:09 AM

Not a bad idea. Not sure how much you paid for the wetsuit in order to get the neoprene you used, but you might have been able to accomplish the same thing had you purchased a yoga mat and cut that. I just bought one made of PVC for $15, very comfortable, I could see it being used as padding for a strap.

**Bob Gollihur** · #4 03-08-2011, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Not a bad idea. Not sure how much you paid for the wetsuit in order to get the neoprene you used, but you might have been able to accomplish the same thing had you purchased a yoga mat and cut that. I just bought one made of PVC for $15, very comfortable, I could see it being used as padding for a strap.

I'll have to check out their suitability at a store. I picked up a 6" wide slice of nice neoprene, solid black with a material lining, for about $20 or so on eBay, and it has been enough for three straps.