My search for comfy straps

Buying straps was so much easier before the shoulder pain started when I was 40. I literally could use anything short of a chain for a strap and never have pain. When the pain started, I got interested in comfy straps right quick. These and a couple others that got lost over the years are what I've tried.

L-R:

Levy's MSS2-4---4 1/2" wide. Overall, the most comfy straps I own. Padded and not grabby, but still stay in place pretty well. They don't feel stiff on the shoulder, but are stiff enough to distribute the weight out across your shoulder without pulling down hard in the middle. Not the lightest straps ever made, but not nearly as heavy as they look. They get a bit sweaty on a hot summer Florida day, but really, they all do. Wish they didn't wrinkle so much, but like the head of Levy's told me when I asked him about it, he wished his face didn't wrinkle

Levy's MSS2---3 1/4" wide. Kind of like the MSS2-4 without looking so orthopedic. Didn't like it at first because it was a lot stiffer than the MSS2-4, but once I broke it in, it got a lot better and isn't bad at all. Can't use it with my heaviest basses for too many days in a row, but I try to because it looks cooler than most.

Italia 5" wide leather strap---To be fair, I got this one 10 or 11 years ago when Italia was offering them for $25 on Ebay, so I don't know if it's indicative of the quality of all their straps, especially the ones that cost a lot more. But it's heavy, stiff, and hard, and hasn't loosened up much in years of trying to get it to break in. The stiffness doesn't bother me, but the weight and hardness does, especially on the edge nearest my neck. Not the worst strap, but I'd put it 2nd from the bottom.

Slapring Slapstrap---4" wide, padded. Is not bad at all. A little bit harder feeling on the shoulder than the MSS2-4, but still pretty comfy and stiff enough to distribute some weight off of your shoulder blade. I especially dig how the tail attaches with velcro. Never once had it pull loose. Pretty high price on it these days but I got in while the gettin' was good. Bonus points for looking cool.

D'addario Padded Bass Strap---3". A real sleeper. Didn't expect much out of it, but it's super light and surprisingly comfy for a strap made with seat belt material. It's a little annoying at times...the padding floats inside a tube of seat belt strap material and doesn't stay put very well, and after a while, the length adjust buckle starts slipping on them. Still, it's way more comfy than I expected, and while not THE most comfy strap ever, it has a high comfort-to-dollar ratio.

Comfort Strapp---3 3/8" wide. I know a lot of folks love these things but I hated it. The padding may be wide and thick, but the seat belt strap that holds it together is 2", and that foam is so mushy that the seat belt part digs right into the old shoulder blade as much as a plain 2" seat belt strap.

I've also got an old 3" leather strap that's very broken in that I can't find at the moment, and it's not bad, though it pulls down in the middle more than I'd like. I've also tried a couple neoprene straps whose brand names escape me. Not a fan...too bouncy.

Anyway, that's how my shoulder reacts to these straps in case anyone cares...YMMV.

 

Wouldn't say getting old sucks, but you do notice things happening that weren't happening before, and things that happened a lot when you were younger tend not to happen quite as much. The turning gray does suck, though. And the losing of hair, but that ship sailed for me by age 22 so screw it

I hear you on the weave-to-adjust. I don't mind it so much anymore, though. I'm pretty set in my ways now.

 

That is the truth! Let 'em dry, Lysol 'em down, ready to soak with sweat another day

 

Dig. That's a major reason why I can't use the 5" Italia. It will really scratch my neck. But the Levy's straps are nice and padded on the sides so they don't scratch my neck. And my AC joint's still good...just the shoulder blade itself is screwed. I'd go thinner if mine was out to lunch for sure.

 

I'll tell you, the suede backing...not a fan. My Italia has a suede backing and I attacked it with a wire brush and sandpaper till I got it to smooth out enough for me. Sticks to my shirts otherwise. Some people dig the grabbiness...not me.

 

So I found the 3" leather strap that was missing, and boy, that's a really supple piece of leather! It should be as old as it is, too. And all the comments about newer Italia straps being really soft made me jealous. So I found some Murphy's Oil Soap and I've been hitting the strap with it occasionally since last night. I can't say it didn't make a difference, but as much as I've put on it so far, I expected more. And I was really hoping that the edges would become softer, but that doesn't seem to be happening. That's one stubbornly stiff piece of leather...way more work than I expected. That said, it has loosened up a bit. Maybe there's hope.