David Taylor Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 So i've been playing with my Bass a bit and i'm finding it very hard to hit the top string. My mate tells me it's because of my posture, since i don't have a strap. Unfortunatly all the straps i can get locally are around the 40-50£ which just seems seriously over priced to me. I was thinking of getting a cheap one from amazon but was told not to. Does having a strap really have that much of an effect on posture and playing. It was something i was going to get down the road, when i got my own amp. Oh when i say hit the top string i mean on the neck, i can get to the bottom 3 fairly easily, but that top one just sounds terrible when i try to play it. I can't get the string to hit the fret consistently. But again thats what i was told >.< hate starting new things lol i always feel like i'm asking dumb questions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allighatt0r Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 In a word: Yes. The violin shaped bass is next to impossible to play resting on your leg without supporting it a lot with your left hand, which you should not be doing! £40 or £50 for a strap is mega expensive. You can get a super dooper ultimate Mono GS1 for £35 (http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/accessories-c2/straps-c54/mono-betty-guitar-strap-duraweave-ash-grey-long-47-59-p7471) I would say you should get something with a grippy backing, it will help you out a lot. You could get one of these to start you off very cheap, but it won't do you many favours in stopping the headstock from dropping (known as "neck dive"). http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/accessories-c2/straps-c54/planet-waves-polypropylene-strap-green-p7095 Can't tell for sure from the photo, but it looks like this has suede backing. I would recommend you go for this one for £18. There's an "Ask a question" button you could use to send a message and check whether it's grippy or not. http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/accessories-c2/straps-c54/levys-dm1-brg-2-5%C3%AE-leather-strap-with-decorative-double-stitching-burgundy-p7448 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Taylor Posted July 9, 2014 Author Share Posted July 9, 2014 So your reccomendation would be to get one of those Mono GS1's? over the other 2? Price isn't an issue per se, i just felt it was over priced. I don't mind paying that if it's a valid price. So if you recommend the £35 one i'll go with one of those Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allighatt0r Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 Out of those three, I would say go for the £18 third one if it has a grippy backing. The Mono example was just to show that a top of the line strap will only cost £35. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Taylor Posted July 9, 2014 Author Share Posted July 9, 2014 okay cheers i'll order one of those then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allighatt0r Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 Have had another look, save yourself a couple of quid if you don't want "decorative stitching"! http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/accessories-c2/straps-c54/levys-m1-brn-2-5-leather-guitar-strap-brown-p7302 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 Good afternoon, David... You could have a glance here, too... [url="http://www.thomann.de/fr/search_dir.html?sw=guitar+strap&bn=&gk="]Thomann straps etc...[/url] ... Plenty of choice from 3-5€ upwards. Remember, this is for a Hofner 500/1, which is very light. No need for a 3"-wide 'coffee-table' model. I would add that, for all my guitars and basses (including vintage Hofners...) I have Dunlop straplocks fitted, without exception. It's very upsetting (euphemism..!) to have an instrument become 'unhitched' and fall to the floor; it's never happened since using straplocks. Highly recommended. Just for the record, I use very inexpensive adjustable nylon straps, although it's also true that I'm no longer a 'pro' player. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Taylor Posted July 9, 2014 Author Share Posted July 9, 2014 (edited) okay time for a dumb question, what's a strap lock >.< im assuming it's something that locks straps to the bass, but don't straps do that anyway? One of these: [url="https://www.hartnollguitars.co.uk/Product/Dunlop-Lok-Strap-Plastic-Quick-Mount-Strap-Locks-p1540"]https://www.hartnoll...rap-Locks-p1540[/url] £2 from a shop the next town over Edited July 9, 2014 by David Taylor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 David... Yes, you're right, they 'lock' the strap to the guitar, or bass. The slit in a standard strap slips over the strap button, but has the unwelcome tendency to allow the button to slip out again. Gravity does the rest, and the instrument falls, often with breakage. There are several methods for preventing this; the Dunlop ones come with a replacement strap button, which is screwed into place replacing the original button. Only a screwdriver is required; it's very simple.The other part is attached to the strap, using its slit/hole. The parts clip together in a positive manner, and can only come apart upon pressing a recessed button on the strap part. Here's what I use... [url="http://www.thomann.de/fr/dunlop_straploknickel_02.htm"]Dunlop Strap Locks...[/url] You'll find many other systems if you search a bit;some folks even use beer bottle rubber washers. To each his/her own; I use Dunlops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 [quote name='allighatt0r' timestamp='1404919754' post='2497007'] Out of those three, I would say go for the £18 third one if it has a grippy backing. The Mono example was just to show that a top of the line strap will only cost £35. [/quote] Yes, the Mono is a great strap, ideal for a really heavy bass, which I don`t think the violin bass is, so the £18 one should be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 (edited) I bought the Mono and returned it because the backing wasn't grippy enough, it's the same slippery mesh material used on the front of it. I went back to using my standard Levys black leather strap with suede backing that I bought in a guitar shop years ago for about £15! http://www.hotroxuk.com/levys-m1-blk-2-5-inch-leather-guitar-strap-black.html http://omegamusic.co.uk/buy/levys-2.5-black-leather-guitar-strap Edited July 10, 2014 by dannybuoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jono Bolton Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 I use plain black Ernie Ball straps and have done for years, never had a problem with them, even when I had an SG Bass that had a bit of neck dive. For strap locks, Grolsch rubber washers: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 I'm with Jono on the Grolsch bottle tops as strap locks. They've been used by me for over 15yrs and never let me down. The violin basses are light as anything and a cheap strap would be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Taylor Posted July 10, 2014 Author Share Posted July 10, 2014 Cheer, i've got to head over to taunton later on so i'll pick one up from my local store while im there. Save waiting delivery I'll take my bass along as well so i can try out a few straps and see which holds up best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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