In Praise of the Humble Bass Strap.

HosMan · #1 09-09-2010, 10:15 PM

Ok,this is definately not news to you veterans and intermediate bass players but,hey!,it kind of is/was to me.

I used some B-Day $ to finally buy myself a nice bass guitar strap.Our local music store had a 1/4 -1/3 OFF sale on all straps so I got a 2.5" padded suede model by LEVY`S ($55.00 reg. price,$35.00 sale price). Oh...I should explain...I never used a strap for seated playing/practicing before(only when standing) so I`m amazed that my correctly adjusted strap allowed me both play better and more comfortably. Can`t believe what I`ve been missing. Fretting hand posture/technique was noticably better,plucking was sweet and faster,overall body position was more relaxed and my back felt better than ever! (this after 2hrs!)

That`s my Beginner`s Epiphany:The Bass Strap Approaches the Sublime.

Don`t wait (and wait) to get one like HosMan did because HosMan was a nimrod.

Thank you for reading.
HosMan

**Staccato** · #2 09-09-2010, 10:19 PM

Welcome to the Good Strap Club!

My favorite strap is the DR 500, and I really like their strings, too.

jruberto · #3 09-09-2010, 10:20 PM

You know, I fall in the category of "veterans who should know better" but i've always just gotten by with a normal width leather guitar strap, no padding. Pushing the nice cushy strap a couple notches higher on the G.A.S. list. (gotta love low-cost, high value upgrades)

I do always use a strap when sitting, I wear my instrument just a little higher than where it sits on my leg when I'm sitting.

HosMan · #4 09-09-2010, 11:06 PM

Thanks for the feedback,guys. This strap wasn`t listed under the BASS GUITAR STRAPS section of mfg. site.Does that mean it`s really a *shudder* guitar strap???

At first I had bought just a 2" nylon strap (also by LEVY`S) but it felt...well,like a nylon strap...It did have a pretty cool camo skulls design though.

Exchanged it for mine @ $10 more and like it mucho.

HosMan

p.s. Stacatto,check my sig out!

JSK5String · #5 09-09-2010, 11:18 PM

You know, I haven't seen a "show me your cool bass straps" thread on here. Hmmmmm...

HosMan · #6 09-09-2010, 11:48 PM

You mentioned it so now you have to start the thread,JSK5String!

I think it would interesting and kind of fun seeing what we bass geeks *pushing taped glasses further up* have picked to hang their axes by.

Vintage,ultra-custom,cadillac comfort,crazy/wild looking and even--just plain utilitarian.

You got that,JSK5?

Hos

Spraeg · #7 09-10-2010, 10:43 AM

I'll have to get a good pic of my chain mail strap

ggunn · #8 09-10-2010, 10:59 AM

My basses are both pretty heavy (~11 lbs.), so wide, soft straps without sharp/stiff edges are how I roll. I had one of those stretchy padded neoprene straps for a very short while, though. In the store I thought it would be the ultimate in comfort, but in practice the stretchyness drove me crazy. It would bounce around every time I moved. Boingy, boingy, boingy... I took it back and spent the extra 20 bucks for a soft wide leather strap.

totallyfrozen · #9 09-10-2010, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HosMan

Thanks for the feedback,guys. This strap wasn`t listed under the BASS GUITAR STRAPS section of mfg. site.Does that mean it`s really a *shudder* guitar strap???

I don't know if they make a clear distinction between guitar straps and bass straps. Generally, I think bass straps are a bit wider. Many basses are heavier than guitars.

I have a 2" leather strap and it gets uncomfortable so I'm shopping around for a better strap. Let us know how that 2.5" strap works out for you after a few weeks or months. You might still like it; you might not.

Congrats on the new strap, BTW!

HosMan · #10 09-11-2010, 04:12 AM

Thanks a million,totallyfrozen!

Yeah,that will be the real test.Time will tell. Everyone knows the fundamental difference between your guitar strap and your bass strap is...a bass strap is always more money!

*** HosMan`s Inner Monolouge --- Did he say "3 inches"? That is wider still...my strap is nice...I like it,right?...half an inch though...Flea uses....what?... a 2.5 inch or.... 3 inch...***

baron665 · #11 09-11-2010, 04:40 AM

I didn't know that there was a difference between bass and guitar straps. I always thought that acoustic straps had that little string on the neck end. And Yeah, I like the idea of a Show Your Strap thread. I have to try to get a good shot of mine.

jruberto · #12 12-29-2010, 11:45 AM

Just following up -- I did invest in the nice strap a couple months ago. I got the neoprene one, and I don't find it "bouncy" at all (with my *very* light Zon and my quite heavy Spector). Noticed a huge difference on the first gig I used it. Very nice.

Strange, it is somewhat uncomfortable for me on electric guitar tho. Just feels less solid, the little bit of "give" feels weird to me when on guitar. Sticking with the standard Levy leather strap for guitar.

Can't *believe* it took me this long to get a nice strap. Do not hesitate!

BuffaloBass · #13 12-29-2010, 12:51 PM

I beleive these are still on sale, 2.5" and 4" widths

Private Sale: Now Open To TBers

shadowtippy · #14 12-29-2010, 08:15 PM

Strap locks aren't a bad idea in addition to a good strap.

Fassa Albrecht · #15 12-30-2010, 02:05 PM

I have a naff 'crime scene tape' one on my bass...I fail.

HaMMerHeD · #16 12-30-2010, 02:25 PM

I have this thing in blackety-black:

http://www.lmproducts.com/xcle2f.htm

It helps a lot.

jruberto · #17 12-30-2010, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HaMMerHeD

I have this thing in blackety-black:

man that looks comfy.

HaMMerHeD · #18 12-30-2010, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jruberto

man that looks comfy.

It's pretty plush. I bought it becase the pad is super thick, super wide, and the bass clef looks cool. It's not as long as I would have liked at the time, but I think the bass being higher on my gut has helped with my technique, so...yeah I'm pretty happy with it.

My esp bass is pretty hefty and has the slightest bit of neck-dive, and this strap alleviates both problems pretty effectively. I bought it at MF for ~100.

Bonerific · #19 12-30-2010, 02:39 PM

I remember my first strap, it had blue fireskulls on it as a gift from my mom which she got for $10 at GC...3 day later it had my bass on while I was standing and at the worst time (reaching for a tuner, and scatching my eye at the same time with the other) then I feel the tension on my shoulders release...I look down and as if in slowmo I watch my bass fall to the ground, smack the side of my desk and literally FLOP like a fish... Just to show you IBANEZ has great craftsman ship I did a damage report and all that happened was a chip in the head bout a centimeter wide and 2mm high. The body had a bout dime size dent with a crack around it which hasn't fallen or moved. But that was it not messed up trussrod even though the head was first to hit. Besides that I picked up a Zack wylde like strap by levy's and can't love it anymore than I do- it's AWESOME!!