What to do with a strap that's too long?

bassista6 · #1 11-10-2010, 01:28 PM

I just brought a Neotech Mega Bass strap. I had a bad shoulder injury last year and haven't been able to play standing for more then ten or fifteen minutes, so I was hoping this strap would help. None of the music stores in my area had it in stock, so I had to buy it online without being able to try it first. It feels great and does relieve some of the pressure on my should, but it's too long on it's shortest setting. I'm five two with an average torso, but it sits all the way down near my belt. I was thinking that I could cut some of the extra material and then sew it back together, but I'm not sure how to go about doing that. Has anyone ever shortened a strap this way? If you have could you give me some tips? Would it be too weak if I cut it? Would I do better to just loop the extra material and sew it together? I'd appreciate any advice. I'm not sure if this is the right forum for this question, but there's no gear forum so hopefully this will work.

Frankjohnson · #2 11-10-2010, 01:39 PM

My wife used a sewing machine to shorten the strap a little from each side.

mileszs · #3 11-10-2010, 01:42 PM

Just an idea: Could you double part of it over itself and then sew it together to hold it there? That way, if the seam were to bust, your bass will simply fall a few inches to the original size of the strap, whereas if you cut some of the strap out and sew it back together and the seam busts, your bass is hitting the ground.

Berger912 · #4 11-10-2010, 01:43 PM

zachoff · #5 11-10-2010, 01:54 PM

Tie it in a know somewhere where you won't feel the knot.

R. Laevinus · #6 11-10-2010, 01:55 PM

...how about just punching a hole through the sucker and mounting a straplock in said hole?

bassista6 · #7 11-10-2010, 01:58 PM

Thanks everyone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mileszs

Just an idea: Could you double part of it over itself and then sew it together to hold it there? That way, if the seam were to bust, your bass will simply fall a few inches to the original size of the strap, whereas if you cut some of the strap out and sew it back together and the seam busts, your bass is hitting the ground.

That's what I meant by looping it, but I'm not sure how I would go about doing that. I know I need to buy some really good thread. I just have to decide whether to cut the material or double it. Doubling sounds pretty good for the reason you stated, but I'm not sure how it would feel on my back. I guess I'll just have to experiment with it. Thanks again everyone.

tearalong · #8 11-10-2010, 02:04 PM

Shoe repairers have super heavy duty sewing machines and threads.

mileszs · #9 11-10-2010, 02:06 PM

I missed the bit about looping. Sorry.

I don't know anything about the strap with which you're working; is it possible to put the loop near one end or the other of the strap, such that it won't be resting on your back?

elgecko · #10 11-10-2010, 02:16 PM

I've done it with a Comfort Strapp. If I remember correctly there was a fix webbing loop that I was able to remove.

I used a razor blade to cut the thread from the old bar tacks, completely removing the thread from the needle holes. After removing the fixed loop, I then used a regular needle and thread on the existing needle holes and "hand bar tacked" the strap back together. I did this years ago and haven't experienced any problems.

bassista6 · #11 11-10-2010, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elgecko

I've done it with a Comfort Strapp. If I remember correctly there was a fix webbing loop that I was able to remove.

I used a razor blade to cut the thread from the old bar tacks, completely removing the thread from the needle holes. After removing the fixed loop, I then used a regular needle and thread on the existing needle holes and "hand bar tacked" the strap back together. I did this years ago and haven't experienced any problems.

That sounds like a good idea. That way I could just overlap the extra nylon and not have to worry about cutting anything.

Here is a picture of the strap. This is just a stock photo because I don't have any memory on my camera to take a picture. I'm looking to shorten the nylon part of the strap.

old-fashioned · #12 11-10-2010, 02:46 PM

I love Talkbass

elgecko · #13 11-10-2010, 02:49 PM

Okay, there no fixed loop to remove on that strap.

I'd cut the webbing from the plastic buckle, cut off the desired amount of webbing, melt the cut end of the webbing to prevent fraying, then "bar tack" the webbing back onto the buckle with needle and thread. You could also take it to a seamstress, cobbler, or upholsterer and have them make a few passes.

c-dub · #14 11-10-2010, 02:49 PM

How much more do you think you need? I have the guitar version of that strap, which has a very long leather tongue on the front end (longer than the bass strap), which was causing the meat of the nylon portion to be farther back on my shoulder than I liked. So I cut a new hole higher up on the tongue and then trimmed it off like it was stock.

amroach · #15 11-10-2010, 02:50 PM

i just fold the strap over on its self, then just run some duct tape around the folded section.

bassista6 · #16 11-10-2010, 03:25 PM

I have to play on Sunday and I don't think I'll get around to fixing it by then. I've seen where people recommended overlapping the extra material and stapling it. I have a staple-gun and I wondered if that could be a temporary fix until I can fix it right sometime next week. What do you think?

Jaycephas · #17 11-10-2010, 03:30 PM

I had a too-long comfort strap, so I folded the nylon strap over to where the length was right, took an awl and punched six holes through the folded nylon, used three black zip ties to secure, and voila! Been using it that way for two years with no issues. I love those zip ties.