Strap life

[M-Bass-M]

How long do your bass straps usually last?

I ask because the strap I currently use is getting dangerously frayed around the holes, meaning that a new one is required, yet I've had it for less than two years I think. Just feels a bit of a short life to me....

[Lozz196]

Had the same one now for about 6 years. it`s a wide Levys leather strap though. Cost £50, but still going strong.

[wateroftyne]

I got mine from eBay from some American fella wot made them. It's leather, with a fleecy underbelly - 10-ish years, still going strong.

[jaydentaku]

I have straps from 1998 that are still in one piece.

[jaydentaku]

thats a lie, 1995

[chrismuzz]

I've got three Levy's ones, because they're the best value out there and so high quality. The oldest one I've had for about 6 years and it looks brand new. The bit where the holes are is so thick it's never gonna get frayed.

[Spike Vincent]

I have straps from 1978 that are still useable.

[barkin]

The strap that I use most is the one that came with a Westone Thunder that I bought 2nd hand in the early eighties.

(and the Thunder is still going strong too...)

[Dave Vader]

I have a black strap that came free with a guitar back in about 1989. it was my only strap up until about 2 years ago when i fancied a rainbow one. Now I have 4 rainbow straps, and that black one. The black one did 2o something years as my only strap, being chucked from guitar to guitar night after night.
Still fine, and still gracing my SG/telecaster/ibanez depending on which guitar I'm playing as my main one that night. And it's one of those cheap sh*tty webbing ones too.

[Low End Bee]

Ten years on my current one. A padded leather Fender branded one. It's got plenty of life left in it and it's very comfortable. Just some scuffing here and there.
My spare is a late 70s dark red suede Rotosound effort.

[jaydentaku]

I have some from the Lower Palaeolithic Age

[Truckstop]

I really like the crappy thin Ernie Ball straps. I've had 3 in my life and they're all still going strong. I think mainly because I use Grolsch bottle seals as strap locks which pretty much stops all movement.

2 years does seem a little rubbish though. Bin it and get a Levys one; everyone seems to use them!

Truckstop

[RhysP]

My one & only bass strap is a Silver Eagle one I bought nearly 30 years ago & that's showing no signs of giving up.

[Oopsdabassist]

My oldest is a Levys suede one, 9 years and counting, best straps around IMO, all mine are Levys bar 1 which is hi viz orange with reflective stripe!

[M-Bass-M]

Thanks for all the feedback, looks like a Levi's strap it is then!

For those who are interested, the strap in question is a Mono strap - won't be getting another of those again!

[WalMan]

I have at least one if not two Comfort straps that have lasted years the only problem being their skankiness as I am a bit of a sweaty bugger when gigging

[EDIT] I have a couple of Mono straps and they seem OK, mind they are only a little over a year old

Edited October 26, 2012 by WalMan

[Silvia Bluejay]

Regarding damage to the holes in the strap, two sets of these came with my Warwick RB Corvettes and they're pretty clever. The item on the left came already installed on my basses; the rest of the device goes on the strap and protects its holes, and the system is secure in that you can only unlock the strap by pushing in the button on the right of this photo.

(Photo taken from [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/warwick_security_straplocks_bk.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/warwick_security_straplocks_bk.htm[/url])

[BASainty]

I'm looking for a new strap myself, I need one that's pretty wide to help with my creaking back (im only 21 and already suffering with a bad back!). This thread has been really useful and I will go for a levy.

Where it beat to buy a levy strap? Also how wide can you buy them?

[iiipopes]

[quote name='jaydentaku' timestamp='1351261044' post='1849399']
I have some from the Lower Palaeolithic Age
[/quote]
Alright, then. Like Spike, my main strap is not quite that old, but it was used when I got it with another instrument in 1978. Yes, that's right: same strap for going on thirty-five years. I use it with standard strap buttons, no strap locks.

Edited October 30, 2012 by iiipopes

[Doddy]

The only strap I've ever had a problem with was a Levys clear one.It looked cool,but it was some kind of plastic-y
material and it split around the strap lock. All my other straps-Levys (leather and webbing),Comfort Strapp,Perris and
others-have been fine.No problems at all,both with and without straplocks.

[uncle psychosis]

I've never had a problem with a strap falling apart---but I tend to just put them on and leave them on.

I need a new strap, actually---any recommendations? I want something wide, and padded, but also fully adjustable (the ones that aren't fully adjustable never sit at the right height for me). The mono straps fit the bill but they're a bit ugly. I'd prefer something which was made of suede or leather but not hideously expensive either!

[Ant]

i had a levy's one that broke on me mid gig and i didnt have a spare! oops

been thrashing around some leather one i got from an ebay guy down in wales (i think) and its amazing, going to buy another

[Jus Lukin]

-

Edited February 16, 2022 by Jus Lukin

[Dr M]

I use one of these:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/EXTRA-LEATHER-GUITAR-STRAP-BLACK/dp/B004RT9Z7E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1352478269&sr=8-2

Not had it very long, but it seems tough as old boots, and for the price, I can't fault it. I believe the seller does a range of sizes, I just went for the extra-long because wearing an Ibby Iceman up in your armpit seems wrong somehow.

[shizznit]

I think you should change your strap quite often simply down to hygiene more than anything else. For example...imagine how much of your body sweat has been absorbed by a leather strap that you have used around your back and shoulders for years on end? Yuck!!!