funkyjimbob Posted May 13, 2016 Author Share Posted May 13, 2016 Used the new Gruv Gear SoloStrap Neo 4" last night for an hour or so at jam night and have to say it's amazing. I didn't know I had the bass on. It's wider than the Comfort Strapp and is definitely more comfortable. I paid £55 total in the end from the US including Import duty and can safely say it's worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loweringthetone Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 (edited) You could use a stand..... no need for a strap at all ...... [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/280971-playing-bass-with-a-neck-shoulder-or-back-problem-a-simple-design-for-a-strapless-bass-stand/page__p__3025584__hl__bass%20stand__fromsearch__1#entry3025584"]http://basschat.co.u..._1#entry3025584[/url] If you dont want to build your own, the M-brace is pretty good, if you can get one. Edited May 14, 2016 by loweringthetone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loweringthetone Posted May 14, 2016 Share Posted May 14, 2016 SLinger do a double strap, which I didnt find that good because it's only 2 inch wide either side. Another solution is their hip strap - but that requires you to put an extra strap button on the bottom horn of your precious bass. [url="http://www.slingerstraps.com/"]http://www.slingerstraps.com/[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SH73 Posted June 7, 2016 Share Posted June 7, 2016 Ordered comfortstrapp strap yesterday.Arrived in less than 24 hours.Looks good but unsure about it's quality.Will updated once tested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted June 7, 2016 Share Posted June 7, 2016 (edited) IMO there are 2 ways to go, use at least a 3" padded strap and buy a bass that weighs less that the one you're using now. 8.5lbs is the upper limit for my 5 string basses but there are a lot more lighter 4 string basses out there. Hollow body basses can get down to 5 lbs. Edited June 7, 2016 by chris_b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulo m Posted September 10, 2016 Share Posted September 10, 2016 The Comfort Strapp has that bouncey thing...going on.. also they wear out & become painfull ive found. I now use the Neotec Megabass which is far better for comfort & design. I arrived at this via' Levys Leather straps which are well made & expensive also...but not as comfortable as the Megabass Strapp for myself. Now im looking @ the Gruv gear Neo... which is expensive' plus they say it has faux leather?...@ nearly £50.00 that is a little trashy...i feel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted September 10, 2016 Share Posted September 10, 2016 (edited) The GruvGear DuoStrap distributes the weight over both shoulders, apparently. But it's not cheap. [url="http://www.gruvgear.com/duostrap-signature"]http://www.gruvgear....strap-signature[/url] Edited September 10, 2016 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrumpymike Posted September 10, 2016 Share Posted September 10, 2016 Got a Gibson Fatboy strap recently - absurdly expensive at £79 but it's top-quality leather with thick memory foam padding. Actually saw/handled one in-store at PMT and was hooked (we were on holiday at the time so I just thought "WTF, treat yourself".) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrumpymike Posted September 10, 2016 Share Posted September 10, 2016 The Duostrap makes a lot of sense but does it let you vary the position of your bass slightly while you're playing? I get the feeling that it holds it rigidly in one position. Mind you maybe the reason I have to move mine about is because it keeps shifting from where I put it in the first place - and all I'm doing is just moving it back to where it started. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Dare Posted September 16, 2016 Share Posted September 16, 2016 A guitar playing pal of mine had a harness made, that sits on both shoulders and spreads the weight. He swears by it. They are available commercially, for example, [url="http://www.slingerstraps.com/harness-strap-guitar-strap.html."]http://www.slingerst...tar-strap.html.[/url] There's a Planet Waves version that's available in this country. May be worth a try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted September 16, 2016 Share Posted September 16, 2016 A good strap is essential if you have back issues. Mine are 3-4 inches wide, but the area where you can make a real difference is getting a light bass. I'm comfortable with 8 1/2 lbs. Anything heavier is a problem even with a good strap. Tonight I'm sitting on a stool as my back problem has flared up this week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted September 16, 2016 Share Posted September 16, 2016 [quote name='Dan Dare' timestamp='1474019918' post='3134958'] A guitar playing pal of mine had a harness made, that sits on both shoulders and spreads the weight. He swears by it. They are available commercially, for example, [url="http://www.slingerstraps.com/harness-strap-guitar-strap.html."]http://www.slingerst...tar-strap.html.[/url][/quote] That looks good, but I'm afeared the belt part wouldn't fit round my muscular frame... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulo m Posted September 17, 2016 Share Posted September 17, 2016 (edited) Ive taken delivery of the Gruv Gear Neo 4in.....? & my first reaction to it is.. So' So.. even dissapointment in the materials used in its construction. @ this price' compared to brands such as Harvest' Levys' etc Who do use leather' this..its nothing special!!! I.M.O My decision to return this' is wavering...? Edited September 17, 2016 by paulo m Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubrad Posted September 17, 2016 Share Posted September 17, 2016 [quote name='paulo m' timestamp='1473527230' post='3131030'] The Comfort Strapp has that bouncey thing...going on.. also they wear out & become painfull ive found. I now use the Neotec Megabass which is far better for comfort & design. I arrived at this via' Levys Leather straps which are well made & expensive also...but not as comfortable as the Megabass Strapp for myself. Now im looking @ the Gruv gear Neo... which is expensive' plus they say it has faux leather?...@ nearly £50.00 that is a little trashy...i feel. [/quote] Among mine, I have an Overwater one with the elastic section at the front, bought best part of 15 years ago and used loads. Still comfortable, still on the go, sadly discontinued! Had a Neotech, overall elastic-ish vibe with the neoprene, but shock absorbing rather than comedy stretch. Brilliant. More recently got into Mono, of which I now have a few, bought both new and used. No elastic vibe, but very comfortable. Not had particular slippage problems meself. No leather at all.. they say it's the same rubber as used in US Navy Seals' boats! Deffo not a cheap feel. As one of my basses is around 13lbs weight, and I've been a sciatica sufferer for 15 years plus, good straps are essential. However, if your bass doesn't balance well it'll still all sit on one shoulder. Yon 13 pounder balances beautifully! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted September 17, 2016 Share Posted September 17, 2016 Most [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/290872-nsd-lakota-leathers-3-strap/page__view__findpost__p__3122109"]comfortable strap[/url] I've tried Nothing complicated, just extremely soft leather and 3" wide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassbiscuits Posted September 19, 2016 Share Posted September 19, 2016 I've got a GruvGear duo and it does distribute the weight very evenly over both shoulders. It does hold the bass fairly high, but I guess that's part of the 'correct' posture that I've been resolutely ignoring for the last few decades! But yeah it certainly does the job. It seems to also counter neck dive a bit as well - I wonder if the extra surface contact of having straps over both shoulders does something to stop it slipping in that sense. They are quite expensive (I got mine secondhand on here) but they do seem well made, and as far as I can tell it's possible to unscrew the second part of the strap and use it as a single, thick padded strap if you so wished. I haven't gigged with it yet as I've been using a very lightweight and balanced Lull with a comfort strap lately, which seems to hold things comfortably already, but with my old precision it should work a treat. If you're near Leicester you're more than welcome to pop in and try it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davethepie Posted September 21, 2016 Share Posted September 21, 2016 I have recently got a MONO strap to replace a leather one I was using, I defiantly found an improvement but it wasn't quite the revolution I was expecting! what I did found helped a lot was the fact there was a lot more adjustment in length unlike the set positions on the leather strap and this helps me make slight adjustments very quickly and this makes a massive difference over longer periods (may all be in my mind tbh!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricksterphil Posted September 26, 2016 Share Posted September 26, 2016 Just got a mono - seems to do the trick, holds my Sandberg nicely (mind you they aren't heavy) So go Mono for me Those nice chaps at Bass Direct have them in stock for £30 of your English pounds + delivery Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SH73 Posted September 27, 2016 Share Posted September 27, 2016 I don't think straps alone will solve the issue. Keeping fit and lower back strength exercises might help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost_Bass Posted September 27, 2016 Share Posted September 27, 2016 I use a heavy bass and found a solution for shoulder pain with the Minotaur straps: http://www.minotaur.gr/product_info.php/cPath/25/products_id/64 It's the widest strap i've found and has some padding for the soulder. I've tried neoprene straps in the past and found that the continuos bouncing of the bass made my shoulder more tired and also my arms as i had to be constantly holding the neck or playing standing still. The real right answer to this question is really to [b][u]get a lighter bass[/u][/b]. Until i find one with the same core tone as my current one i'll keep hauling it while i'm able. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrumpymike Posted September 27, 2016 Share Posted September 27, 2016 Those Minotaur straps look really nice - not too expensive either IMHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted September 27, 2016 Share Posted September 27, 2016 [quote name='Ghost_Bass' timestamp='1474997961' post='3142189'] The real right answer to this question is really to [b][u]get a lighter bass[/u][/b]. Until i find one with the same core tone as my current one i'll keep hauling it while i'm able. [/quote] That's what I thought when I was gigging my Road Ready EV Mesa cabs. They were way too heavy for me, weighed about 99lbs each, and I knew it but they sounded so good I thought I'd use them for a bit longer. Then I damaged a disk in my back and life became very difficult. Like the right time to use ear plugs is while you can hear everything clearly, before any hearing loss, the right time to get light weight basses and cabs is when you still find it easy to lift the heavy ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molan Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 Quick tip for anyone who likes the Neotech straps but found they aren't quite the right length. The Sadowsky Neostrap is more or less the same thing but comes in 3 lengths instead of 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 (edited) I have got a neotech strap that I had shortened to "short" when I used to play my bass around my chin. Always found them to be always a little too long for me, hence the tailoring. I don't know whether or not it helped my back - but it was very comfortable when I was using it. Edited September 28, 2016 by EBS_freak Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spectoremg Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 Just tried my new Neotech with my Thumb 4 for an hour and it felt great - no neck dive and no achey arm/shoulder afterwards. I also have a Comfort Strapp on another bass and that's great too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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