LeftyBassist.com

Hi Guys:

I have been having serious issues finding straps for my basses. I want to have padded straps, like Comfort Straps and planet waves. These are the ones I currently have (as well as the cheapie fender strap that came iwth MIA Jazz). My problem is that the padding does not actually end up on my shoulder. It ends up halfway up my back. I am a big guy (about 6'3, 300lbs). If I line up the strap so the padded portion fits on my shoulder, the sales guys inevitably give me grief about having it on backwards etc, and when I strap it on to my bass the bass gets serious neck dive (my MIA jAZZ is a deluxe, so it has the smaller body, if that is relevant to the anaylsis).

Does lefty out there have a strap that actually pads your shoulder and doesn't cause neck, or heaven forbids, prevents neck dive? Any insight would be helpful.

All the best.

Am I missing something? Why couldn't you strap it on backwards (other than getting grief from some dopey sales guy)? Is it because it's neck diving as a result? My main strap(s) features a "floating" pad that can be moved and repositioned anywhere along the strap. You could buy this and attach it to the strap of your choice too, though you'd have to double-check the the width of the slotting holes to see if your strap would thread through:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessor ... 4000000000

No, you were not missing anything. Neck dive is killing me, and it seems like straps with built in padding don't sit on the shoulder.

Your post doesn't really make any sense to me... but, if you're looking for strap recommendations, I use and recommend that you invest in a quality leather strap.

I have several nice straps that I use for different basses, but this one stands out as being my favorite in terms of looks, comfort, and price:



http://www.levysleathers.com/product;ca ... raps-MSS90

I think I paid about $70-$75 for it through my dealer... and it's available in an extra-long length for a little more money, for big guys like you, or for people who like to wear their basses super low.

It's SUPER comfy and has enough grip to help with any neck dive issues... but not so much grip that you end up stretching out your shirt collar by the end of the night.

Thanks, just looking for something that will not neck dive and is badded. Sorry if the post seemed confused, I did not mean it to be. I think I have been cheap, and it may be worth the extra money to get a good one.

I'm 6'1 and 245 LB and I'm not sure I understand your issue 100% but the strap pictured above looks like it might have slick leather inside? Not sure but I hate any strap I don’t care how expensive or cheap when the inside material is slippery and slick so my basses slide around like I’m from the eighties and I’m going to throw it around my neck like Steve Vai. I also hate big poofy spongy furry or anything that feels like there is a loaf of bread under it.

There are some dexterity oriented straps due to shapes of the pad but I think they look goofy too. I know it’s a throw down of some serious cash but I have a 4” black Moody strap and it is hands down the best strap I have ever used. I own like 8 leather straps and I always use the Moody. It’s suede inside so nothing slides around and it spreads out the weight of a bass perfectly and no nerve pinching. I play heavy basses mostly because I think any bass under 8.5 Lb sounds like a banjo to me most of the time and I just like the feel of a heavier bass it feels right. You might need a longer tail piece but these are amazing.

Check it…

http://www.moodyleather.com/mm5/merchan ... =4-0-suede

+1 on the leather/suede strap combo. I've got one I use for basses prone to neck dive too, since the suede will grab hold of your clothes better. However, my basses seem to feel heavier to me when I use this strap. Not sure why, unless the leather's adding weight vs. a thinner nylon strap. Maybe I'll look into a Moody too.

I bought a super expensive 4" suede strap when someone told me it would help the neck dive on my Thumb NT and I ended up looking like the chick from Flashdance with the collar of my shirt pulled over my shoulder by the end of the gig.

I'm a really active player... so anything that grips too much won't work unless I wear a collared shirt or something that won't stretch out. The strap I posted above isn't super smooth like some... it has enough texture to give a little grip, but it'll also drag across the fabric on my shirt fairly easy if I need it to.

It also won't soak up sweat and bar-stink as much as suede does... most people probably aren't like me and sweat like a rotting corpse, so that might not be an issue... but with as much as I gig, it definitely is for me.

You can get the Comfort Strap in three different lengths. The longest version is adjustable at both sides of the padding. If you like your Comfort Strap, why not get one of those? I'm 6'5 and it suits me perfectly. I also have a couple of nice Italia Leather straps, both 2,5" and 4" wide. You can get those in two different lengths, the longest version is HUGE! I couldn't ever imagine needing something longer, unless you're a punkrocker who likes to hang his bass knee-high

LEFTY BASSIST BIG and TALL GUY CLUB!

Wow, more than a few of us here are large men! I'm 6'-2" and 260. Yeah, I like Sushi, Pizza, and Chocolate! LOL!

The wide Levy's leather strap like the one in Addison's post pic are on at least 5 of my basses. I have a strap for every bass. If you've ever forgotten your strap on a gig....well, that's why one for every bass is a good idea for me. I also have a Levy's 'comfort' type strap on my Douglas Pisces...it is a very long stretch strap, and I didn't like it on any other bass in my collection...but it fits THAT bass, and it's weight, perfectly. I just saw an EXTREMELY wide leather Levy's strap...and I want to buy one.

These are off the rack in music store items, and I have never encountered a problem, I think the strap doesn't 'know' what shoulder it's resting on or if the bass is lefty while it holds it up. It's kinda like a leather belt. After a while it takes on your shape.

Except maybe these, by Levy's:

I use these:

http://italiastraps.com/guitar-straps-uk.html

There are not cheap, and take about 3 weeks to get delivered. They are 4" wide almost the whole length, and they have an extra long model. Also they have a rough suede back, so they slightly stick to your shirt and prevent neck dive.

The only downside is that they weigh almost 1 lb, so a 9 lb bass becomes a 10 lb bass. . .

But they are the most comfortable strap I've found. I also use a Levy 4" leather strap on some basses - that one is super light but the back is slick, so basses with heavy necks will neck dive.

I'vetried pretty much all padded straps: Comfort, Neo Tech, Sadowsky, Fender, Mono. . . and to me width is more important than padding.

I'm still looking for a 4" wide neoprene strap - that would be the ultimate, but I haven't found any manufacturer that makes them. Neo Tech Strap might make them custom, but I've never contacted them about that.

Hey Lefty007 I have heard great stuff about those straps and I was wandering around on Talkbass last night or should I say this morning and I swear there is a guy in California who has some sort of hook up with them and was saying you can get two of those for the price of one right now? I'll look around some more and if I find the link I'll post it.

There is a 3" used neoprene strap black for $20 but yeh it's not a 4"

Addison is right about the suede if you have a neck heavy bass it will pull your shirt around your chest I should know I have two NT Warwick Thumb basses. I don't use my Moody for those for that reason. I do like the feel of the suede but I have practice tonight and I'll give it the sniff. I don't gig anywhere near as much as Addison so I could see how it would be an issue for him and that Levy strap looks good..

Those are the ones I use too.
Thinking of trying one of the new leather-backed ones, the suede-backed version does not move on my shoulder at all.

Hey Guys,

Sorry I was not back on this thread sooner. Again. apologies for my lack of clarity. A lot of my friends joke with me that I must have a degree in obtuse writing. Anyhow. this is exactly the type of response I was hoping to generate. I think Thumbslam hit the issue pretty spotn, I am just wondering if anyone else had encountered any dexterity related issues related to straps.

I don't play any Thunderbirds (though Gaskell's new bird looks pretty cool), but for some reasons my Fenders neck dive. I play with the bass relatively low, and the neck at around a 60% angle. I don't gig as much as Addison or some of the other fine folks on the board, but I woodshed every night and play three hours or so just about every Sunday. I find myself thinking about strap related issues just about every time I play, issues such as getting the pad in the strap to rest on my shoulder etc. I am just getting fed up with thinking about it. i rather think about my playing skills, or really lack thereof.

As large a metro area as Washington DC is, there is not a lot of great selection. The 2 quality shops in the area don't have a ton of big straps to try out. And GC is of no help either.

I think I can get my local shop to order me the Levy, though. The Italia has also caught my attention. I'll let you all know what I decide. Though honestly, my gear budget is being saved up fro a trip to Southpaw Guitar in February.

Last night are a gig I was talking to my drummer (who for many years ran a music store) about the new bass strap 3inch, I brought. Length is okay, But i have the same problem that , velalv has, that the wide part sit awkwardly on my shoulder. He then told me that the strap is cut with a right hand bias. Maybe that's the problem.