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Best strap for a very heavy bass?


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Hi all, I've recently bought a bass that weighs just over 5kg. I'm currently using a 3" strap but the bass is killing my shoulder still. What's the best strap for a bass this heavy? 

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52 minutes ago, Doctor J said:

do exercises to strengthen your shoulder

Also “core strength” exercises will help prevent inevitable backache after gigging a really heavy bass. 

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I would suggest a well padded strap at least 4" wide. Also for heavy basses avoid straps with plastic fittings. I spoke to Pinegrove leather straps  st a guitar show and asked them to make a thick padded leather bass strap of my own design to deal with my own heavy basses. They did and it has been great. (Full disclosure i'm now an endorsee).

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I've a 4lb 11oz bass that is heavy and use a leather 3" RightOn strap that works well. However, the biggest change that helped was to shorten /lengthen the strap v slightly and changed the angle of the bass, which subtly moved where the weight lay across my neck/shoulder muscle. 

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Get in touch with Eric Silva in Brazil: https://www.facebook.com/Ericbaixo

 

His strap company makes superb leather guitar straps, their service is fast and efficient. and his prices used to be pretty keen. His English is very good.

 

Apart from normal wide, padded straps, he also makes excellent twin-shoulder straps which I use on my three heaviest basses. The twin-jobbies also pretty much eradicate neck-dive.

 

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=646408149307126&set=a.182025455745400

 

That photo is old enough to show me with my Covid Lockdown Pornstar tache ...

 

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51 minutes ago, jazzyvee said:

I would suggest a well padded strap at least 4" wide. Also for heavy basses avoid straps with plastic fittings. I spoke to Pinegrove leather straps  st a guitar show and asked them to make a thick padded leather bass strap of my own design to deal with my own heavy basses. They did and it has been great. (Full disclosure i'm now an endorsee).

I believe you now require supporting membership or must refrain from endorsing.

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51 minutes ago, Buddster said:

I've a 4lb 11oz bass that is heavy and use a leather 3" RightOn strap that works well. However, the biggest change that helped was to shorten /lengthen the strap v slightly and changed the angle of the bass, which subtly moved where the weight lay across my neck/shoulder muscle. 

 

Another RightOn user here, great straps and I appreciate the absence of animal products as well

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Jack is right, a double strap might help, but really you are not experiencing a comfort issue, you are experiencing a weight issue and straps usually don't fix those sorts of problems.

 

If 5kg is hurting your shoulder you really need to buy a different bass.

 

 

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2 hours ago, chris_b said:

Jack is right, a double strap might help, but really you are not experiencing a comfort issue, you are experiencing a weight issue and straps usually don't fix those sorts of problems.

 

If 5kg is hurting your shoulder you really need to buy a different bass.

 

 

 

 

This - while a wide strap can help with the digging in effect of a thinner strap, no strap on earth can negate that it is still 5kg pressing down on your shoulder and spine. Even a double strap shares the load between shoulders but your spine still carries it all.

 

Being physically strong is the only way to really deal with it, if you can. Get down the gym and build up the core so it's the muscles doing the work and not the spine.

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23 hours ago, chris_b said:

Jack is right, a double strap might help, but really you are not experiencing a comfort issue, you are experiencing a weight issue and straps usually don't fix those sorts of problems.

 

If 5kg is hurting your shoulder you really need to buy a different bass.

 

 

 

20 hours ago, fretmeister said:

 

 

This - while a wide strap can help with the digging in effect of a thinner strap, no strap on earth can negate that it is still 5kg pressing down on your shoulder and spine. Even a double strap shares the load between shoulders but your spine still carries it all.

 

Being physically strong is the only way to really deal with it, if you can. Get down the gym and build up the core so it's the muscles doing the work and not the spine.

 

Absolutely and totally right: heavy instruments are back destroyers.

 

The only viable solution if you absolutely need to keep that bass is to play seated in a classical position with a strap to avoid the bass to slip and even with a Hopf Dynarette: this way your spine will be straight with no pressure or torsion and your arm and wrist too meaning no muscles and tendons fatigue.

 

Check this for explanations about the Hopf Dynarette:

 

 

And the amazing Simon Zauels:

 

 

 

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My Warwick ThumbNT is getting heavier now I'm into my 60's 🥴 I've been using KLIQ  AirCell straps on both that bass and my fretless, they work for me 👍🏼

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Just now, spyder said:

Just checked out Pinegrove. They look really fantastic and a great price too. 

 

The heavyweight strap in green relic looks like a winner.

 

https://www.pinegroveleather.com/bass-guitar-straps/bs66-wide-bass-guitar-strap-green-relic-1

 

 

 

 

Yeah they are the only ones I use. Quality is amazing and handle heavy basses easily. Lots of padding plus the guys are super easy to deal with! 

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Oh and whilst I’m here - I don’t think any strap makes a super heavy bass worth it. I’ve had to sell some seriously heavy basses because at the end of the day weight is weight and even some made my leg go dead when I played sitting down 😂

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Yup ... in my early days on bass I had an Ibanez Precision (70s) which sounded amazing but weighed over 11lbs. It did my back and shoulders in if I played it standing up, and when I played it sitting down it cut off the circulation below my right knee. 🙄

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