Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Strap it on! Favorite Bass Strap
- Thread starter Spectre1966
- Start date
-
- Tags
- strap
I personally like the el cheapo Levy's 3" wide poly straps. Lightweight and wide enough to distribute the weight. My next strap will be a 3" levys cotton as it probably 'breathes' a bit better than the polyurethane (and certainly leather). I just wish Levys still offered cool print designs in the 3" width and not just in solid colors now.
I've got 2. Wide Comfort Strap that I've had for 10 years or so. You know the one with the double loop at the end? Always keeps my ATK in place. And bought a Pedulla strap to go with the fretless. Not very soft and plyable but it's pretty wide and allows me to play for hours without much issue.
After getting a Gruv Gear Duostrap, I'll never use anything else. It made my 10+ pound 6 string feel like a light weight 4 string. Even if you have a neck heavy bass, it won't have neck dive with this strap. Also it is nice soft leather that is well padded. GRUV GEAR · DuoStrap Signature "Damian Erskine" Ergonomic Double Strap · MAKE LIFE GRUV
I have some old 3" Franklin Straps that I've used for a very long time, they are nice and soft and have held up well. However, I went to see about getting some more and didn't find it to be near the same thickness and quality as my old ones, so I don't know if I'd recommend them anymore.
For me, after many, the Neotech Mega Bass Strap. Everything else hurts after a 3-4 hour gig.
$7 two inch nylon seatbelt style works the best for me. I need my strap to slide freely or something bad muscle wise if I play it too long. My bass can't be fixed in position. I also hate strap locks of any design.
I've tried a bunch, and there are three that worked for me...the Slapstrap, the Levy's MSS2-4, and believe it or not, the D'addario/Planet Waves padded Bass Strap. You wouldn't think the D'addario strap would work because it's seat belt material with a thin pad in it, but it does. I need to get a new tail for my Slapstrap, though, and the Levy's works a little better so I mostly use it, but these are the only straps I've tried that have worked for me. Would like to try that Neotech mega bass strap, but it only goes 45 inches and I need way more than that.
+1 for the Neotech. I have several that are years old. Still got the bounce. I find the stretchiness helps distribute weight and avoids edge 'hot spots.'
Ordered a Planet Waves one from Amazon, just because I wanted a Yin Yang symbol. It's actually working out pretty well. At its longest, it's pretty close to perfect for me. So it's my favorite at this point.
I'm buying... only if you approach me on the street, opening your duster, revealing all those wonderful pieces of art...
... Levy's, 4" leather... perfect for my purposes.
Italia
3 1/2" (by request)
Very comfortable high quality Italian leather.
Italia Straps hold up and still look fresh after many years of use. Feel just as comfortable at the end of a long gig as in the beginning.
They offer significant discounts with their sales, just call and ask.
I can't say enough good things about them.
3 1/2" (by request)
Very comfortable high quality Italian leather.
Italia Straps hold up and still look fresh after many years of use. Feel just as comfortable at the end of a long gig as in the beginning.
They offer significant discounts with their sales, just call and ask.
I can't say enough good things about them.
Last edited:
For my basses I've got four Italia straps (2-4" & 2-2.5"). At a gig the wide ones are great but for sitting it's the 2.5" for me. I use mostly a variety of other straps when I play guitar. They can't wait to give you a low end strap when you buy a guitar. They work well enough since I rarely use 'em more than an hour and a half at a time.
