After developing severe pain in my left shoulder from a bass strap causing impaired blood flow through my trapezius muscle and pressure on the superior portion of my rotator cuff and suprascapular nerve, I discovered this product on TB that saved my bass playing. I had gotten to the point where wearing even a light (8 lb) bass on strap for more than 15 minutes caused severe, localized burning pain, and had spent a small fortune in the lightest instruments I could find, but this belt solved all my issues in 1 fell swoop. It is unfortunately no longer sold, but can be made at home or commissioned; it's well worth the trouble IMHE.
Basically, it's a weight lifter's belt with a leather tongue hanging off the front, to which a Dunlop straplock is attached. Then a recessed Dunlop straplock receiver is inserted into the lower body edge of the bass. The bass clips into the belt, which transfers about 90% or more of the bass' weight to the hips. A traditional strap is worn to keep the bass in optimal position but there is almost no weight on the shoulder. I can now wear a 10lb bass all night, with 0 pain. My fingers give out before my shoulder or back. In addition, because I choose the exact point of insertion into the bass, I can meticulously select exactly at what angle I want the bass to hang; I can correct neck dive on ANY bass, if needed.
Below are pics of the belt open, closed on my waist, and with bass attached (excuse the crappy pics, but they do the job). This post is intended as a service to those looking for a solution to this common problem. For those who will inevitably feel the urge to post statements implying that shoulder pain from wearing a bass is related to fitness, strength or muscle bulk, kindly refrain from doing so. I have been diagnosing and treating shoulder pain for over 20 years as a radiologist, and in the overwhelming majority of cases of "guitar strap syndrome" (my term), lifting weights neither addresses the problem nor alleviates the symptoms, which are almost always due to rotator cuff tendinosis due to recurrent pressure on the muscle, causing ischemia an impaired venous drainage. Once this happens, the tissues become even more susceptible to pressure and a vicious cycle often occurs.
Playing without pain is the only way to play.
Basically, it's a weight lifter's belt with a leather tongue hanging off the front, to which a Dunlop straplock is attached. Then a recessed Dunlop straplock receiver is inserted into the lower body edge of the bass. The bass clips into the belt, which transfers about 90% or more of the bass' weight to the hips. A traditional strap is worn to keep the bass in optimal position but there is almost no weight on the shoulder. I can now wear a 10lb bass all night, with 0 pain. My fingers give out before my shoulder or back. In addition, because I choose the exact point of insertion into the bass, I can meticulously select exactly at what angle I want the bass to hang; I can correct neck dive on ANY bass, if needed.
Below are pics of the belt open, closed on my waist, and with bass attached (excuse the crappy pics, but they do the job). This post is intended as a service to those looking for a solution to this common problem. For those who will inevitably feel the urge to post statements implying that shoulder pain from wearing a bass is related to fitness, strength or muscle bulk, kindly refrain from doing so. I have been diagnosing and treating shoulder pain for over 20 years as a radiologist, and in the overwhelming majority of cases of "guitar strap syndrome" (my term), lifting weights neither addresses the problem nor alleviates the symptoms, which are almost always due to rotator cuff tendinosis due to recurrent pressure on the muscle, causing ischemia an impaired venous drainage. Once this happens, the tissues become even more susceptible to pressure and a vicious cycle often occurs.
Playing without pain is the only way to play.
Thank you! I've a permanent left shoulder injury from work 4 years ago. It has me playing sitting down 98% of the time! though I'd rather be standing as I like to move around when I play. One part of my injury has caused a half dollar size knot at the top back of my left trap where my shoulder strap lays across, right on that muscle knot. VERY painful! So something like this will be great for me. Thank you! 
