• 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.

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

#101
I found that I really like the 3" wide leather straps by Franklin. At one point I used the rubber washers to hold my straps on, so I had one for each bass. When I decided that I didn't like putting them in the case with a strap, I went to Dunlop strap locks.

Currently all of my basses are fitted for strap locks. four of my five Franklin Straps also have strap locks on them. I keep one without strap locks so that I can use it with any new acquisitions until I fit them with strap locks.

The Franklin straps are very well made and comfortable to me.
 
#102
Levy's 3" Neoprene padded strap with leather ends

IMG_0417.JPG
The quest goes on. Yesterday, I took delivery of a new Levy's neoprene strap. I've had high hopes for this strap ever since I first saw it online, as it looked like the Mono Betty done right. If you've followed this thread, you'll be aware that I really like the Betty, but that it has a major weakness - the strap ends. The choice of material (rubber) makes it far too easy for the strap pins to work themselves free of the strap. No such problems with the Levy's strap, the strap ends are made from high-quality leather, which grip the strap pins securely without the need for rubber washers or strap locks. The strap itself is very well made, with high-quality materials, and looks very nice. Unfortunately, there is also a snag, which is the cushioned neoprene section. It looks very similar to that of the Gruvgear Solostrap Neo, but it differs from both this and the Betty in that it's quite elastic. So elastic, in fact, that when I hang my bass over my shoulder, the strap stretches several inches with only moderate pressure applied. This makes it feel like the bass is attached to a bungee cord, which I find quite uncomfortable. It also tends to concentrate the weight of the bass in one spot instead of distributing it, which rather negates the whole point of this strap. A shame, really, I had expected better from Levy's. I will be trying the strap out over the next couple of weeks to see if I get used to it, but I'm frankly not very hopeful.

My verdict:
Comfort: 4/10
Design: 5/10
Materials: 7/10
Value for money: 8/10 (this is a better grade than I would have given it based on what I paid. The strap itself is reasonably priced, but I ended up paying more than twice the retail price when shipping and duty was added. So I've corrected for that, and marked it as I would had I been able to buy it in my local music store.)
 
  • Like
Reactions: StevieMac
#103
I developed severe shoulder pain due to arthritis. I tried Neotech, and wide Levy padded leather, but still the pain. In high school I injured a muscle and couldn't tolerate a strap for about a year. I bought a Fender Waist strap which attached to a couple of screw eyes in the back of the guitar. It worked. Remembering this, I searched for a modern equivalent.

I found it in the Slinger Hip Strap. It has been a godsend. I mount it with flushmount straplocks. Instead of mounting one end on the end of the lower horn, I put it under the horn, where the bass balances. The other end in the butt end of the guitar.

It is fantastic. I have modded all my basses to use it, and just started using it on my guitars as well. The freedom of nothing on my shoulders is great. I still need to get a backup.

We played 5 hours at our gig last Friday, with two short 15 minute breaks. I wouldn't have been able to do it with any shoulder strap.

Guitar Straps | Bass Straps | Slinger Hip Strap
 
  • Like
Reactions: ProfFrink and JakobT
#104
I have a levy neo 3in but it's too bouncy. I'm working on a custom offset 4in strap with 8 in ergo pad based on a few levy straps.. made of thick leather.. I'm using Grolsch beer washers as strap locks..
 
#106
JakobT said:
Levy's 3" Neoprene padded strap with leather ends

View attachment 965245 The quest goes on. Yesterday, I took delivery of a new Levy's neoprene strap. I've had high hopes for this strap ever since I first saw it online, as it looked like the Mono Betty done right. If you've followed this thread, you'll be aware that I really like the Betty, but that it has a major weakness - the strap ends. The choice of material (rubber) makes it far too easy for the strap pins to work themselves free of the strap. No such problems with the Levy's strap, the strap ends are made from high-quality leather, which grip the strap pins securely without the need for rubber washers or strap locks. The strap itself is very well made, with high-quality materials, and looks very nice. Unfortunately, there is also a snag, which is the cushioned neoprene section. It looks very similar to that of the Gruvgear Solostrap Neo, but it differs from both this and the Betty in that it's quite elastic. So elastic, in fact, that when I hang my bass over my shoulder, the strap stretches several inches with only moderate pressure applied. This makes it feel like the bass is attached to a bungee cord, which I find quite uncomfortable. It also tends to concentrate the weight of the bass in one spot instead of distributing it, which rather negates the whole point of this strap. A shame, really, I had expected better from Levy's. I will be trying the strap out over the next couple of weeks to see if I get used to it, but I'm frankly not very hopeful.

My verdict:
Comfort: 4/10
Design: 5/10
Materials: 7/10
Value for money: 8/10 (this is a better grade than I would have given it based on what I paid. The strap itself is reasonably priced, but I ended up paying more than twice the retail price when shipping and duty was added. So I've corrected for that, and marked it as I would had I been able to buy it in my local music store.)
Click to expand...

Hi JakobT,

I really appreciate this thorough review of this strap. I was very, very close to buying this same strap because of someone else's recommendation - not part Talkbass but a knowledgeable gear person with generally good taste and opinions - and your review helped me to avoid another unsuccessful strap purchase. SO, thank you sir, for taking the time to put this review together.

Also, this strap is not cheap (by my standards) so it is even more surprising to me that it isn't working well enough. It seems like (and maybe this was in my original post in the other thread which spawned this review thread?) that some of the overall designs for straps remain questionable while there are still some good ideas buried somewhere in some part of the design. I guess this happens with all products, but it is frustrating.

Thanks again.
LL
 
#107
louloomis said:
Hi JakobT,

I really appreciate this thorough review of this strap. I was very, very close to buying this same strap because of someone else's recommendation - not part Talkbass but a knowledgeable gear person with generally good taste and opinions - and your review helped me to avoid another unsuccessful strap purchase. SO, thank you sir, for taking the time to put this review together.

Also, this strap is not cheap (by my standards) so it is even more surprising to me that it isn't working well enough. It seems like (and maybe this was in my original post in the other thread which spawned this review thread?) that some of the overall designs for straps remain questionable while there are still some good ideas buried somewhere in some part of the design. I guess this happens with all products, but it is frustrating.

Thanks again.
LL
Click to expand...
Thank you. I'm glad the review was useful to you.

Truth be told, after using the strap for about a week, I'm slightly more positive. I still think the strap is far too bouncy, but it is somewhat more comfortable than I had initially supposed. I also find that it's possible to ignore the bounciness to some extent, at least in a practice situation. I haven't tried it on a gig yet. In any case, I fear that my search will continue yet awhile.

As for the different strap designs, I actually feel that most of the basic designs are sound, the flaws are usually in the execution, as in the Levy's strap being too bouncy, or the Mono with the poor strap ends. In many cases it simply comes down to an unfortunate choice of materials. There are many factors which influence such decisions, and fitness for purpose is only one.
 
#112
I picked up a bass that must have been forgotten under the bed for 38 years. The case looked new, the bass looked completely un-played. There was a brand new leather strap and coil cord in the case. The leather strap adjusts through a brass ring (like saddle straps) and it is not the soft (garment?) leather like Levi straps - but rather the thick leather like a saddle (I grew up in Wyoming - ha). I like the strap a lot but I'm not sure what to do with all the extra adjustment so it isn't just dangling. I play with the bass fairly high - but hate to cut the adjustment off. Right now I just sort of tied it in a loose knot and it's pretty tacky (unintended pun - horse/saddle gear is called "tack").

Here's a picture - the dangling end looks crumpled because I usually have wrapped around in a loose knot. What would you do?

Leather_Strap_1.jpg
Leather_Strap_2.jpg

Leather_Strap_3.jpg
 
Last edited:
#113
AndyPanda said:
I picked up a bass that must have been forgotten under the bed for 38 years. The case looked new, the bass looked completely un-played. There was a brand new leather strap and coil cord in the case. The leather strap adjusts through a brass ring (like saddle straps) and it is not the soft (garment?) leather like Levi straps - but rather the thick leather like a saddle (I grew up in Wyoming - ha). I like the strap a lot but I'm not sure what to do with all the extra adjustment so it isn't just dangling. I play with the bass fairly high - but hate to cut the adjustment off. Right now I just sort of tied it in a loose knot and it's pretty tacky (unintended pun - horse/saddle gear is called "tack").

Here's a picture - the dangling end looks crumpled because I usually have wrapped around in a loose knot. What would you do?

View attachment 984652 View attachment 984654
View attachment 984655
Click to expand...
Get another made for it somehow - - make it yourself - and put the original aside :)
 
#115
Planet Waves 3" nylon strap w/ internal pad - my quest may be at an end!

IMG_0432.JPG

After trying all manner of fancy straps I finally decided to go back to basics, and try out a very simple strap indeed, the Planet Waves 3" nylon strap. This comes in two versions, a straight nylon strap, and a version with an internal pad. I chose the latter version.

The strap itself consists of two layers, the upper made from soft nylon, and the bottom from a more felt-like material. Sandwiched between these two layers is a thin foam pad about sixteen inches long. This pad "floats" between the layers, and can be moved inside the strap for optimal positioning. There are two plastic adjustment buckles, which can be adjusted independently to get the correct strap length and fine tune the pad position. The strap ends are made from thick, single-ply leather.

The bad news first. Cosmetically, the strap undeniably looks a little cheap. Where the Levy's and Mono Betty ooze quality, this looks a bit like something from the bargain bin. The top layer looks quite crumpled, the buckles are a very tight fit, and the stitching on the ends could be tidier. Admittedly, the strap IS less than half the price of the other two, and the crumpled look disappears as soon as you hang your bass from it.

As soon as you put it on, however, all this is forgotten. The width of the strap supports even my heaviest bass quite nicely, and the internal pad cushions the shoulder well. The strap ends play nice with both Fender and Musicman-type strap buttons, stay securely in place once attached, but are very easy to both attach and remove. The strap does not slide on your shoulder but stays in place, thanks to the felt-like material on the back. The strap doesn't stretch, and is easily foldable, so it will fit in your gig bag.

All in all, this strap ticks all the most important boxes for me. It's not fancy, but it does what it says on the tin, and does it well. Reasonably priced, too.

My verdict:
Comfort: 8/10
Design: 7/10
Materials: 8/10
Value for money: 9/10
 
  • Like
Reactions: Eric Grossman, don21480, Radio and 1 other person
#116
I'm sure it's already been mentioned but the "ComfortStrapp" is really good. I was developing some pretty severe nerve pain in my left shoulder whenever I had my bass on. It was bordering on debilitating and I was afraid that I'd have to stop standing with a bass altogether. I bought the ComfortStrap as a last ditch effort and was amazed at how much it helped. I now use them on all 3 of my basses. They're a little "springy," due to the nature of the elastic but it's not anything that I've found discomfiting, and truthfully it seems like the weight of the bass itself stretches it out just enough that I don't even notice the little bounce that may still be there. Anyway, as always YMMV but if you haven't tried one yet, I definitely recommend it.
 
#117
As an Amazon Associate, TalkBass may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via links on this site.
#118
If you had a budget of $50 and had to pick a strap from bassstringsonline for a +10lbs ash bodied Jazz bass, which strap would you get?
I've looked at the Planet Waves 3" Nylon strap with internal pad, and I've very skeptical.
Right now I use a Planet Waves 2.5" leather paisley patterned strap, which works well for all my basses under 9lbs, but I'd like something with padding.
Any suggestions?
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back