Chain Strap

[deathofbalance]

Are there chain bass straps (like, made of actual chains) like Peter Steel from Type O Negative uses availible for retail anywhere? Failing that, what would be a good way to make one? I'd be concerned about the weight and the risk of it digging into my shoulder. Thanks.

[Dragonlord]

Originally Posted by deathofbalance

I'd be concerned about the weight and the risk of it digging into my shoulder. Thanks.

Me too. That's why I wouldn't make one.
Almost everyone else as well. That's why there aren't any in the market.
It could also probably damage your bass. If you're a rock star and all you care about is image, alrighty, but there is absolutely zero practical use in that. If I ever saw something like that, except if it was in a group that had this kind of image in other things as well, I'd think that the bassist is a moron and I'd laugh.

[bongomania]

I see lots of "crusty" gutterpunx and Burning Man types who make their own chainmail, so it can certainly be done without too much difficulty. But yeah, very very impractical.

[deathofbalance]

Hmm... what about a light chain attacted to one side of a pre-existing strap? Or would there be a problem with that also?

[Freaky Fender]

I wouldn't make one. You'd most likely end up with more harm than "cool" added.

[tplyons]

A length of chain like that will likely weigh as much as your bass.

[KeithBMI]

Go to Hot Topic and look in the belt department.

[Kronos]

Levy's makes straps with chains attached. I wear one. It's a heavy sucker, but the weight doesn't bother me. It's not like Pete Steele's, but it's got chains nonetheless.

[hartke20g]

all i can think of now is ...ouch.... imagine having a double neck warwick or a double neck SR5.....ouch...

i wouldn't do it.

[dancehallclasher]

I never cease to be amazed at how far people will go to look cool. Come on, the pain involved can NOT be worth it.

[Jumbotron]

I read some interview in Guitar Player a few years back and Zakk Wylde weighed in on this. He said to go to Home Depot or some such and get a chain cut to the length you want. Then you replace your strap buttons with screw-in eyelets (yeah, that can mess some stuff up) and attach the chain to them via a carabiner or some such. As far as the pain issue, I beleive he said something about manning yourself up and eating more red meat.

[bubinga5]

Originally Posted by dancehallclasher

I never cease to be amazed at how far people will go to look cool. Come on, the pain involved can NOT be worth it.

+1...I can understand people wanting to look the part, but just play the Bass..

[BrandonBass]

if you dont use a chain strap, you're not metal

[bubinga5]

What about a Metal effect chain but made of rubber!!! Or is that not Ermm, Metal??

[Baryonyx]

At the risk of looking absolutley ridiculous I am kindly advising you to drop this plan right now! Whats more, if your bass weighs more than a packet of crisps you're going to get some serious digging in your shoulder.

[travatron4000]

attaching chain to a peice of leather or normal strap material might work so that the parts people see is chain but the part on your shoulder is not. Also you could attach a good solid peice of thick leather to the chain length so that the leather is between your body and the chain. that would distrubute the weight pretty well. you could also look for varations in chain material. Aluminum would be much lighter if you could find it. OR you could just wrap the chain in a bunch of duct tape. that would be pretty metal <(-;{

[spudmaster34]

or you can just always wear a parka when you play, it will probably help stop the digging

[agreatheight]

cuz a parka is so metal

[saxnbass]

Zakk Wylde it, wear a thick leather vest.

[spudmaster34]

Originally Posted by agreatheight

cuz a parka is so metal

of course, and it is also funnier when the pirotechnichs (sp) go wrong and there is a flaming, bass playing, parka wearing dork with a chain on his shoulder running around the stage screaming