What Strap Is Best For A Rickenbacker?

dano · Post by **dano** » Mon Sep 01, 2003 5:22 am

I am looking to purchase a couple new straps soon. I would like to hear some suggestions. I've been using nylon straps w/ leather ends up to this point. I'm really looking hard at the RIC straps. Anyone here use them?

philco · Post by **philco** » Mon Sep 01, 2003 6:47 am

Nylon straps slide around like crazy and really irritate me. I like Levy leather straps because they don't slip around because of the rough leather underside. They cost less than $20 at my local music shop and are easy to find anywhere in Canada or the USA.

dano · Post by **dano** » Mon Sep 01, 2003 7:03 am

Yes Philco, that is the reason I want to stop using nylon straps. It's cool you mentioned Levy, I was checking some out when you posted your message.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Mon Sep 01, 2003 7:50 am

I use Fender cloth straps which are very confortable, I have also used leather straps but prefer the cloth, because after a few minutes they are not there anymore, with leather straps I am always conscious of them. I don't like nylon either for the same reason.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Mon Sep 01, 2003 8:28 am

leather

bear · Post by **bear** » Mon Sep 01, 2003 8:38 am

If it will be a standing, long hours live, gig, I like to use the Levy DM1PDX. It's a padded, 3.25 " wide, leather strap, smooth grain on the body side, sorry Phil (o;}, that has the padding stich work .5" from either edge. The more one messes with them the more supple the leather becomes. They are large but so soft when broken in they just disappear remaining comfortable for the duration. Cloth and grainy sides always pulled my shirts out anyway.
In studio situations I usually use either a Rick or Fender "Mickey Mouse" strap. I sit, wearing phones, and have this amazing talent for getting the output cable, strap, headphone cable & H-phone cable boom, and anything else within migrating distance all sodded up into a ball by the third bass change. An MM strap is so skinny it just disappears as well as gets out of your way. No strap locks on an MM either, but then I am sitting down and don't walk around wearing the bass either. They are also easier to untangle, and I normally don't have the bass "on" for long periods as most session work around here invloves playback after each take, yawn, but hey it's work.
Levy offers a nice wide selection of styles and good quality materials and craftsmanship in my experiences. A Rickenbacker strap is always a nice conversation starter too.

philco · Post by **philco** » Mon Sep 01, 2003 9:55 am

Steve, I liked those padded Levy straps as well, but their price was over double what I gave for my standard Levy leather straps, and my econo leather straps fold and pack away easier. I don't and probably never will do a live gig, so comfort for long stretches is not really an issue for me.

The nice thing about cheap basses like my OLP MM2 is that I can save about $20 on strap locks, since it would be hard to do more than $20 worth of damage to the bass. I don't have to take the strap off to fit the OLP bass in its case, so I could just as well stitch the slit in the strap closed and never worrry about it falling off. However, trying to prevent every accident from happening can cause more trouble and aggravation than having an occasional accident. I only have strap locks on my two most expensive instruments, which happen to be my Rickenbackers.

Also, switching to a basswood body instrument like the OLP MM2 or Fender Aerodyne Jazz Bass can take about 2 pounds off your shoulder. I'll bet a lot of electric guitarists choose a hollow body electric over a solid body in order to lighten up the weight as much or more as the change in tone it gives. A padded strap is then not as big of an issue.

dave4004 · Post by **dave4004** » Mon Sep 01, 2003 10:06 am

I use Levy's M7G 2" leather straps, they are 2" all the way with a plastic belt-buckle type adjustment, not with a narrow portion with tab adjusters like a lot of leather straps. I have also used Levy's 2" cotton straps, they look very much like the nylon but they're much more comfortable and don't slide around.

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Mon Sep 01, 2003 10:39 am

Dan,
I've been very happy with the Levy's "Black Crocodile" vintage straps that go with my '98 4003 FG (plus Schaller locks), '86 Shadow (no locks since she sports the old style bolts which look nice but provide less "security"), Epi Viola bass and Michael Kelly acoustic bass guitar. Their soft and delicate surface texture of the underside is not abrasive at all to my babies' "skin". The shoulder pad is very comfortable.

Got the black Rickenbacker strap for my '72 4001 Fretles for a more vintage feel. It's however stiffer and not as comfortable as the Levy's ones. The underside is rougher and more abrasive, but that's ok since the '72's Mapleglo finish doesn't show strap wears at all.

bassman · Post by **bassman** » Mon Sep 01, 2003 10:42 am

I use a leather "Fret Sling" strap with Schaller strap locks on it. It's about 2.5" wide and very comfortable.

basshawk · Post by **basshawk** » Mon Sep 01, 2003 1:44 pm

It must just be me, but the Rickenbacker strap that I have adjusts right where the buckle rubs against the bass body (not a good thing). So I use the rick strap on my Galveston beatle bass and use leather on the my 4003. I have been using one of the Levy nylon, leather end straps on my 4000 and it doesn't bother me.

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Mon Sep 01, 2003 1:57 pm

I found that my Ricky strap was too narrow and therefore spread the weight over a smaller area and made my bass seem heavier. I like the more expensive Levy's straps 'cause they're wider and have more padding making the all maple Ricky basses seem lighter. The nylon straps slip around too much. I too use the Ricky/Schaller strap locks.

dano · Post by **dano** » Mon Sep 01, 2003 3:40 pm

Thanks to all who posted. Your suggestions have been very helpful. Paul, as always, beautiful babes and beautiful pics! Dane, I was wondering the same about the weight distribution on narrow straps. I'm pretty sure I'm going to purchase Levy's straps since the majority here recommends them. They even come in the colors to match each of my basses!

mortivan · Post by **mortivan** » Tue Sep 02, 2003 2:05 pm

As always, great pics Paul!

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Tue Sep 02, 2003 2:26 pm

Thanks, Dan and John.
Dan, you won't go wrong with the Levy's, with whatever types and colours you choose. They're really high quality straps.