Help! Strap is too long!

[blankstare77]

I bought a Clayton 3.5" wide strap. I tried and tried adjusting it, but it's too damned long. Any thoughts?

[fcleff]

Originally Posted by blankstare77

I bought a Clayton 3.5" wide strap. I tried and tried adjusting it, but it's too damned long. Any thoughts?

Return it and get one that fits.

[Tactician]

Sounds like you're lacing it up all wrong. The basics are that you want this bass to stay exactly in the same position as when you're seated.

[JimmyM]

I hate it when my bass hangs as high as when I'm seated. But that has nothing to do with the topic. Return the strap and get one that lets you raise it higher.

[TrevorNorton]

hell i wouldn't be bitchin' if i were you i would be glad that i got an extra long strap. i have a 65" strap all the way down and im only 5'4" tall with short stubby arms. why do you complain about a long strap?

[dancehallclasher]

Just put a new hole in it.

[Tactician]

There's two ways to do this - either lace it up with an overlap in the strap - check that you are actually lacing it correctly. Or get a set of leather punches from any hardware store or online - the cheapest are the single punches that look like a centre punch - except they are hollow. Put the butt end of the strap onto somthing hard like an anvil, an old flat iron secured in a vise, whatever, and punch a new hole (large enough to get it onto the end pin but not so large it falls off!. DON'T try to do this reholing with the end of the scissors or a kitchen knife - at worst you'll have an accident - worse you won't be gigging then for a while!

Lastly cut and reshape the strap around this new hole with the scissors you won't have been using before cutting - OK?

Don't play with a long strap - I defy anyone to play well with the bass slung low - might look cool on-stage - but I bet the best players don't do it like that in the studio when recording.

[Depth_Charge]

I'd just return it.

I have a blue and white checkered "Crime Scene" strap on my metal bass, which hangs low to accentuate the strap effect. Lame, I know, but people love that strap and the only way I get the full word is having it long

My Fender strap on the TF Fretless sits pretty high, horn just under the nipple actually.

I must admit while I am more comfortable playing it low (having done so 10 years+) my body and playing prefers it higher.

And since TB, I have raised that strap a few inches to compensate, and again noticed improvements

But yeah, return the strap or fix it.

[Tactician]

You could return it or adjust it - adjusting gives you the confidence you can any strap you really like and change the fitting to any preference. BUT - you can't do what I've been talking about with a cloth strap. These usually have a leather flodover end and of course you'd have to unstich the leather and cut a length off the webbing/cloth and re-sew the end on. Don't know about you, but I'm not about to trust my stitching with a $1500 bass hanging on it for hours.....I can bang holes in leather but not stitch that well. That's my way of posting a disclaimer on adjusting straps yourself - if you mess up that was you. The leather punching justs applies the same techniques as they would in manufacturing - stitching is different. My pants haven't fallen down yet due to leather punching dysfunction - but sounds like a good line from a smart lawyer.