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The great strap shootout thread! Post your strap reviews here.
- Thread starter JakobT
- Start date
You said what I was going to say almost verbatim. I have three and bought one each for a couple friends thru Amazon. No movement issues, very comfy and really under-priced IMO. Set it and forget it.
I have many different straps 'cause I have many different basses. I like the Levys Leathers MSS2-4 the most. But it is nothing special: you pay a lot of money for a nice piece of leather. I chose the wide one 'cause I have a heavy '70s Fender and I like the comfort:
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But I kind of always found the construction of most straps somehow stupid and not very innovative including the Levys. What I really dislike about most straps - with the exception of the easy to arrange simple straps like the classic Fender textile straps that allow every lenght you like is that most of them are not easy to adjust in lenght.
I'm rather small but not that small (5.7 feet). Most straps made of leather or heavier materials don't allow to make them as short as I want them to be. I always have to use some of the slots (right word?) 2 times etc.
Then I bought a concho-strap from Right On! and I was really surprised that they offer a clever and working solution for adjusting the lenght of a strap (and more):
The pick dispenser isn't bad either:
This is mine (I never copied Marcus Millers playing style, but love his strap with those conchos and always looked for straps with conchos):
So 5 stars for a company that puts some brain into their products and not just make versions of the same. I'm sure there are others with good ideas too that I don't know.
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But I kind of always found the construction of most straps somehow stupid and not very innovative including the Levys. What I really dislike about most straps - with the exception of the easy to arrange simple straps like the classic Fender textile straps that allow every lenght you like is that most of them are not easy to adjust in lenght.
I'm rather small but not that small (5.7 feet). Most straps made of leather or heavier materials don't allow to make them as short as I want them to be. I always have to use some of the slots (right word?) 2 times etc.
Then I bought a concho-strap from Right On! and I was really surprised that they offer a clever and working solution for adjusting the lenght of a strap (and more):
The pick dispenser isn't bad either:
This is mine (I never copied Marcus Millers playing style, but love his strap with those conchos and always looked for straps with conchos):
So 5 stars for a company that puts some brain into their products and not just make versions of the same. I'm sure there are others with good ideas too that I don't know.
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I have gone through a lot of straps over the years, and finally came to the end of my search at Moody straps. I use their 2-1/2" wide Long with leather back - instead of suede. It is super soft and comfortable for long shows and they are durable too. My oldest is over 10 years old, but I can't tell which it is. I found that, for me, the 4" is too wide and cuts into my neck too much when playing for longer shows. Each of my basses have their own Moody, plus I have a spare. I use Dunlop Strap Loks and the leather is a bit thick, so mounting the buttons is a challenge, but they don't come off often (and reinstalling is easier). I give them 5 Stars. They're not inexpensive, but if you keep your eyes open you can find them a reasonable price used.
We have to find somebody that can afford one first!
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,060
- 45,963
- Disclosures
- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
Yep. I greatly prefer the 2 1/2" ones though -- I gave away my 4" model. My last one cost me $33, splitting a 2 for 1 buy.
I do not like leather straps.
My favorites right now are: MONO 'The Betty'; Comfort Strapp Pro Bass Extra Long, and Neotech Mega Bass Strap. I do like them all for different reasons.
At first I had thought that the stretchy Neotech would be perfect on my heavy '76 Precision, and I was wrong. The strap I liked best on my heaviest bass turned out to be MONO 'The Betty'. The well padded but non-stretchy Betty was perfect. The lightweight and very stretchy Neotech turned out to be perfect for my lightest bass. The thickly padded and somewhat stretchy Comfort Strapp turned out to be perfect for my Jazz bass.
My favorites right now are: MONO 'The Betty'; Comfort Strapp Pro Bass Extra Long, and Neotech Mega Bass Strap. I do like them all for different reasons.
At first I had thought that the stretchy Neotech would be perfect on my heavy '76 Precision, and I was wrong. The strap I liked best on my heaviest bass turned out to be MONO 'The Betty'. The well padded but non-stretchy Betty was perfect. The lightweight and very stretchy Neotech turned out to be perfect for my lightest bass. The thickly padded and somewhat stretchy Comfort Strapp turned out to be perfect for my Jazz bass.
Wow! I've inspired a thread! Thanks everyone! I'm JAZZED! You guys (and gals) RULE!
Ok...here's my strap 2 cents:
1. Vintage Musicman 3-3.5 inch (not sure) strap - Leather
Great strap. Very soft and flexible, almost like glove leather. Very durable. Have had mine since '83. Getting a bit worn at this point, but still works fine. I had 2 of these and only sold the other one because I got a lot of money for it.
Rating: 9/10
2. Vintage Musicman 3-3.5 inch (not sure) strap - Cloth with leather ends
Great strap. Very comfortable and very durable. I only sold it because I got a lot of money for it and it was getting really dried out (the ends) and I didn't want to deal with moisturizing it. Probably a mistake to sell, but I didn't know how good I had it. Probably the best strap I've ever owned.
Rating: 10/10
3. Levy's 3 1/2 inch Leather Strap
Good price (approx 20.00 bucks)?
Liked it for a while, then started to realize that it was very stiff and that the backing material seemed really cheap. Then, the backing material started to get really raunchy and dirty. I got turned off by the cheapness of the backing material and the sides of the strap started to really dig into my neck and caused me to keep moving my instrument away from my neck. Not knocking Levy's the company (they do make good stuff - I have a PHENOMENAL gig bag from them - literally perfect), but this particular strap....well...not in love with it. Also, the front the finished side) seemed to be more easily prone to marring than I would've expected. This is all with pretty light use, mind you.
Also realized that other companies are apparently selling a strap that seems identical to this one for even cheaper, so that also turned me of of the thought that I got a deal. HOWEVER: Works perfectly with a small guitar strung on the strap high up like Beatles or jazz guy style. This it is really good for.
Rating: 5/10
4. Comfort Strap
I owned this for a while and it seemed to be strangely made. It didn't feel like it stabilized the instrument on my shoulder much (and I don't move around much when I play). It also seemed to get dirty and raunchy in a way that was surprising. The idea I understand and it's a good one, but seems more like a prototype than a "for the public" unit, you know?
Rating: 3/10
5. Carvin Strap - the Canvas looking one with "Carvin" written in big letters across it
I owned this for a while and didn't really use it much. It seemed ok but very light duty. I also thought the border of the strap would annoy my neck or shoulder and that there wasn't much padding or anything. Didn't seem to be heavy duty in any way.
Rating: 4/10
6. No-Name "Woodstock" Hippie Design 2" strap with vinyl backing
I've had 2 of these over the years. The one I used, the threading got totally pulled out of the strap on the vinyl backing side and the fabric on the front came totally loose (again, I hardly move when I play so, not sure what's up there). These are, to me, the cheap straps and they are being sold for a decent amount of money new....I don't know why. They are cheapo-straps.
Rating: 2/10
7. Can't remember the name but polyester strap with leather ends that feed directly through a slot in the leather end - 2" strap
This is a bad design, the polyster strap either ends up getting bunched up in the slit in the leather end and/or the leather end ends up getting disfigured and pulled up into a bunch by the weight of the instrument.
Rating: 1/10
That's all I can think of right now
If I can think of others, I'll post about them.
Again, everyone, thanks for this thread! Excellent stuff.
Regards,
LL
Ok...here's my strap 2 cents:
1. Vintage Musicman 3-3.5 inch (not sure) strap - Leather
Great strap. Very soft and flexible, almost like glove leather. Very durable. Have had mine since '83. Getting a bit worn at this point, but still works fine. I had 2 of these and only sold the other one because I got a lot of money for it.
Rating: 9/10
2. Vintage Musicman 3-3.5 inch (not sure) strap - Cloth with leather ends
Great strap. Very comfortable and very durable. I only sold it because I got a lot of money for it and it was getting really dried out (the ends) and I didn't want to deal with moisturizing it. Probably a mistake to sell, but I didn't know how good I had it. Probably the best strap I've ever owned.
Rating: 10/10
3. Levy's 3 1/2 inch Leather Strap
Good price (approx 20.00 bucks)?
Liked it for a while, then started to realize that it was very stiff and that the backing material seemed really cheap. Then, the backing material started to get really raunchy and dirty. I got turned off by the cheapness of the backing material and the sides of the strap started to really dig into my neck and caused me to keep moving my instrument away from my neck. Not knocking Levy's the company (they do make good stuff - I have a PHENOMENAL gig bag from them - literally perfect), but this particular strap....well...not in love with it. Also, the front the finished side) seemed to be more easily prone to marring than I would've expected. This is all with pretty light use, mind you.
Also realized that other companies are apparently selling a strap that seems identical to this one for even cheaper, so that also turned me of of the thought that I got a deal. HOWEVER: Works perfectly with a small guitar strung on the strap high up like Beatles or jazz guy style. This it is really good for.
Rating: 5/10
4. Comfort Strap
I owned this for a while and it seemed to be strangely made. It didn't feel like it stabilized the instrument on my shoulder much (and I don't move around much when I play). It also seemed to get dirty and raunchy in a way that was surprising. The idea I understand and it's a good one, but seems more like a prototype than a "for the public" unit, you know?
Rating: 3/10
5. Carvin Strap - the Canvas looking one with "Carvin" written in big letters across it
I owned this for a while and didn't really use it much. It seemed ok but very light duty. I also thought the border of the strap would annoy my neck or shoulder and that there wasn't much padding or anything. Didn't seem to be heavy duty in any way.
Rating: 4/10
6. No-Name "Woodstock" Hippie Design 2" strap with vinyl backing
I've had 2 of these over the years. The one I used, the threading got totally pulled out of the strap on the vinyl backing side and the fabric on the front came totally loose (again, I hardly move when I play so, not sure what's up there). These are, to me, the cheap straps and they are being sold for a decent amount of money new....I don't know why. They are cheapo-straps.
Rating: 2/10
7. Can't remember the name but polyester strap with leather ends that feed directly through a slot in the leather end - 2" strap
This is a bad design, the polyster strap either ends up getting bunched up in the slit in the leather end and/or the leather end ends up getting disfigured and pulled up into a bunch by the weight of the instrument.
Rating: 1/10
That's all I can think of right now
If I can think of others, I'll post about them.
Again, everyone, thanks for this thread! Excellent stuff.
Regards,
LL
I've got two Onori 3 1/4" padded straps (real leather, not the cowless or distressed or sheepskin - just plain soft black leather). I can't even find any on google anymore (I can find some of their other models, but not the beauties I have). I remember they were a little pricey, but don't know where I got them. I never see/hear about Onori leather straps, so maybe they're a brand that isn't in favor here, but the two I have are perfect for me - with a nice heft, very supple, and sophisticated looking.
- Jun 6, 2012
- 4,837
- 6,859
- Disclosures
- I don't wait 30 minutes after eating, to go swimming.
I proudly hang my multi-thousand dollar instruments on $11.00 generic, single ply, leather straps!!
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Bassist4Eris
Frat-Pack Sympathizer
For my main bass, which is nearly 12 lbs (5.4 kg) I have the Gruv Gear Neoprene Duo-Strap. It helps. I'm not real fond of the way it adjusts, though. It's got these little metal screw things that seem pretty easy to lose. Then again, I've been using the strap for years and I haven't lost one yet. Also, my hair (it's long) tends to get caught in the screw that holds the two straps together.
It takes a while to get it dialed in for your bass, and then it doesn't really work with any other bass, just the one you set it up for. I also had to shell out for the extra extension to get it long enough, and I'm not a punk rocker by any means. (I'm fairly tall, though).
This is the strap I use for every other instrument besides the main one. What can I say? It's classy, it's wide, it's padded, it's not exactly breaking any new ground, it gets the job done, I like it. That about covers it, I guess.
Oh, and it's really hard to get Schaller straplocks on it too, but I managed.
Cheap Nylon strap and one of these:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B009...=strap+pad&dpPl=1&dpID=41kScf8-QdL&ref=plSrch
As an Amazon Associate, TalkBass may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via links on this site.
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Don't have any but, it is too badass not to share...
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Don't have any but, it is too badass not to share...
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Thanks! I've always enjoyed the Norwegian music scene, and we've always been very fortunate in having so many fantastic musicians from all over the world coming over here to play!
I've got this Walker & Williams. It's 3 1/2 inches wide, padded and really comfortable. Definitely decent for the price (I think it was around $45.00). My only issue was that even when set to its shortest adjusted length, it was still a little too long for my playing height. Ended up cutting some off and punching a new hole.
Couch FTW!
I have 7 2" states and one of their new 3" straps. They actually made the 3" one to a custom length for me no extra charge. Big fan of Souldier as well. Both great places and folks to deal with
I have 7 2" states and one of their new 3" straps. They actually made the 3" one to a custom length for me no extra charge. Big fan of Souldier as well. Both great places and folks to deal with
