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The great strap shootout thread! Post your strap reviews here.

#81
Wow, I'm surprised there's so much passion on this. One bass has a generic strap I picked up from Goodwill and the other from I cut from a piece of leather I had lying around. It took less than five minutes to make with a knife and punch. It doesn't seem like such a big deal to me? I carry heavy backpacks for my job so carrying a 9 pound bass for a few hours just doesn't require a lot of thought. Some of the straps mentioned here cost more than my rigs do. My heart goes out to those who have injuries and such, though, and I'm sure constant pain makes any cost worth it.
If you're really picky about your straps, consider taking them to a shoe repair, saddle place etc to have it made or customized. At the prices you're talking about you could easily get it perfect for you instead of going through dozens of off the shelf models. They could narrow the section around your neck etc.
 
#82
Planet Waves locking straps are the only ones for me.

I had a lovely levis belt style one on my first bass - I think it was actually a repurposed belt - but, like all the others I tried, it would pop off halfway throught a song. I think I push down on the body of the bass as I play. The Planet Waves straps have a locking mechanism on both sides so this isnt an issue any more, plus their designs are pretty nice too.
 
#84
Bassist4Eris said:
For my main bass, which is nearly 12 lbs (5.4 kg) I have the Gruv Gear Neoprene Duo-Strap. I also had to shell out for the extra extension to get it long enough . . . .
Click to expand...

This is exactly the GG strap I was referring to. What is it, something like $80 at BSO? And then you have to pay an extra $10 for an extention just to make it work? I ended up gutting the whole concept and tried using it as a single strap*. It certaining wasn't doing the job as a dual strap and it certainly didn't save me from 3 months of physio-therapy from the weight of the MM 5er I was using it on either.

Sorry for the rant . . . ;)

*I cut off the strap part of the secondary strap and used that as an extension
 
#88
Bought a Ken Smith strap in 2004. And it has a long way before I change it. The only complaint is that the white paded surface needs to be taken care of once in a while so it doesn't look dirty. No big deal at least to me.

Invalid Link Removed
 
#89
Great thread!

For years I used no-name 2" and 3" leather straps. I switched to Mono Betty and am happy except for:

1. Stuff already mentioned about the buckle.

2. The giant MONO on the back. This is an example of extremely UNCOOL branding. I don't want my strap to be a giant advertisement. MONO! We're like a STARTUP but for BASS! I want it in the background compared to me and the bass. I use their cases too and like their stuff, but cmon guys. Really?

3. They get hot. I'm guessing this is an issue with all synthetic and neo straps, and maybe even with leather, so maybe it's unfair. But I play in rock bands that practice in not-perfectly ventilated places. After 3-4 hours, there's a big sweat mark on my shirt.

That said, I try going back to my very broken in 1-ply leather straps and for my regular basses I tend to wind up back at my Monos after a little while.

Has anyone using padded leather (Levy's, etc) compared it directly to something like the Mono? I would consider trying one.

Two other straps not mentioned on the thread:

DSL Straps from Australia: I've got one nice-2 ply finished leather (reversible) strap, but I don't use it because it gets slippery. I have another one that's permanently on my Fender Precision Fretless. DSL Straps | High quality guitar straps made in Australia

Also, Dog Days guitar straps: for U-Bass and Acoustic guitar. Cool fabric designs. ALSO with a metal buckle but they keep their adjustment for some reason. The blue velvet on my u-bass not only looks great with the finish on the instrument, it is fun to touch. Both straps I bought had to have their opening widened to fit on the big strap buttons with the plugs in them, but I live around the corner from a leather place, so it's no big deal. Available animal-free, also. Link Removed
 
#90
I've been using Levys for a long time. I like them a lot.

Top: New replacement.
Bottom: My 25 year old strap.
IMG_1904.JPG
 
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#91
I bought two straps from Feedback Straps a couple of years ago. I was looking to replace a very old leather strap with something non-leather (or at least less leather), and Feedback had far and away the nicest-looking ones I found. Also it's a small company, their straps are hand-made, etc.

Link Removed

I considered the straps a bit of an extravagance at the time ($70-80 each), but for some reason the prices have gone up significantly since then. I'm not sure why.
 
#93
JES said:
Great thread!

For years I used no-name 2" and 3" leather straps. I switched to Mono Betty and am happy except for:

1. Stuff already mentioned about the buckle.

2. The giant MONO on the back. This is an example of extremely UNCOOL branding. I don't want my strap to be a giant advertisement. MONO! We're like a STARTUP but for BASS! I want it in the background compared to me and the bass. I use their cases too and like their stuff, but cmon guys. Really?

3. They get hot. I'm guessing this is an issue with all synthetic and neo straps, and maybe even with leather, so maybe it's unfair. But I play in rock bands that practice in not-perfectly ventilated places. After 3-4 hours, there's a big sweat mark on my shirt.

That said, I try going back to my very broken in 1-ply leather straps and for my regular basses I tend to wind up back at my Monos after a little while.

Has anyone using padded leather (Levy's, etc) compared it directly to something like the Mono? I would consider trying one.

Two other straps not mentioned on the thread:

DSL Straps from Australia: I've got one nice-2 ply finished leather (reversible) strap, but I don't use it because it gets slippery. I have another one that's permanently on my Fender Precision Fretless. DSL Straps | High quality guitar straps made in Australia

Also, Dog Days guitar straps: for U-Bass and Acoustic guitar. Cool fabric designs. ALSO with a metal buckle but they keep their adjustment for some reason. The blue velvet on my u-bass not only looks great with the finish on the instrument, it is fun to touch. Both straps I bought had to have their opening widened to fit on the big strap buttons with the plugs in them, but I live around the corner from a leather place, so it's no big deal. Available animal-free, also. Link Removed
Click to expand...
I think the heat problem is common to most straps that are as wide as the Mono. I experienced much the same thing with my Solostrap Neo. BTW, I have ordered a neoprene strap from Levy's, and will see if it has the same effect. I'll post a review of that later.
 
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#94
ernie-ball-sangle-de-442869.jpg


My favorite summer strap: Can't go wrong with this style of strap; leather ends, minimal yet adequate width, adjustable to any style, from expecting-floods-funkster to knuckle-dragging-droogie. I have a number in this style - other brands included - keeps the animal libbers off my back ;) - but this EB version rules - covers all the basses.

You won't like 'em if your neck dives like a Stuka but if you play a balanced axe, these are almost air, weightless to the point of being nearly undetectable, and about as practical as any strap could possibly be. The leather is lush and straplocks love 'em but so do Grolsch grommets etc., if you're going that way.

Not fancy but functional. And, really, a simple strap is stylish and, at the same time, unobtrusive. Nice lines - basic black. No one's gonna know it's really just a glorified safety belt :smug:
 
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#95
Tom Bomb said:
ernie-ball-sangle-de-442869.jpg


My favorite summer strap: Can't go wrong with this style of strap; leather ends, minimum yet adequate width, adjustable to any style, from expecting-floods-funkster to knuckle-dragging-droogie. I have a number in this style - other brands included - keeps the animal libbers off my back ;) - but this EB version rules - covers all the basses.

You won't like 'em if your neck dives like a Stuka but if you play a balanced axe, these are almost air, weightless to the point of being nearly undetectable, and about as practical as any strap could possibly be. The leather is lush and straplocks love 'em but so do Grolsch grommets etc., if you're going that way.

Not fancy but functional. And, really, a simple strap is stylish and, at the same time, unobtrusive. Nice lines - basic black. No one's gonna know it's really just a glorified safety belt :smug:
Click to expand...
This is actually a very good strap, and was the first strap I ever used. But it turned out to be too narrow for me - my shoulder started hurting after 20 minutes or so, and thus started my Great Strap Quest. :)
 
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#99
I don't pay enough attention, ^^ Morrighan. I've never had a problem of any kind, except with the dodgy ones (read cheap ones :D). I'm hopeless, at times.

If it's any help, this guy - THE LEATHERCRAFTSMAN - or someone like him, will probably whip one up, of your own design, for you. I haven't tried him but some of his straps are right on the money. I like this one, for example - been eying off his crock straps for a while too. Very snappy :cool:

s-l1600.jpg

My widest strap: A Planet Waves fave - recently inducted into, and now encamped inside, my bag of tricks,

is this little beauty :bassist:
842.jpg
:bassist:

Three inches across, slick black, uncomplicated, and all leather. Can't go wrong, really, when push comes to shove, and I got it for a song :)
 
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