Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I checked the Italia website, and they are running a 2-for-1 sale through May 13th, if anyone is interested.

johnthebassist wrote:Try an Italia (Not Italian) leather strap. They post on Ebay regularly, sorry I don't have another way to contact them. They make handmade straps in Ca and for 40 bucks, you can have something that looks good, is comfortable, and doesn't break the bank. I ditched my other straps when I had to consider putting my beloved 75 FG 4001 down due to shoulder pain after almost 25 years. Changing to an Italia strap made all the difference as they are very thick but soft and supple so the strap doesn't cut with the weight of a 9lb bass after 2 hours.

Those are exactly the kind of straps I like, with no metal in sight! Thats for the enlightenment.

How much does that Rick strap weigh? Is it lighter than the wide strap style?

kiramdear wrote:How much does that Rick strap weigh? Is it lighter than the wide strap style?

It's lighter than any other strap I own, including a Levy's cotton webbing strap.

jps wrote:

johnthebassist wrote:Try an Italia (Not Italian) leather strap. They post on Ebay regularly, sorry I don't have another way to contact them. They make handmade straps in Ca and for 40 bucks, you can have something that looks good, is comfortable, and doesn't break the bank. I ditched my other straps when I had to consider putting my beloved 75 FG 4001 down due to shoulder pain after almost 25 years. Changing to an Italia strap made all the difference as they are very thick but soft and supple so the strap doesn't cut with the weight of a 9lb bass after 2 hours.

Those are exactly the kind of straps I like, with no metal in sight! Thats for the enlightenment.

I got a Creme/Dark Brown Italia from my boss as a birthday gift. It's gorgeous, comfortable, and gave me a hankering for a red one...

Jeff, I'm glad to pass that along...my strap is the 3" wide basic in coach brown.
I've had it now for probably 3 years-weight I'll have to do a S.W.A.G. maybe 7-8 ounces. I compared it against a tube of Scratch-X I had lying around.

I bought a Rick strap earlier this year at my local dealer ($22.50). I didn't care for it so I returned it. My friend has a number of them and swears by them. You just have to find what is right for you.

johnthebassist wrote:Forgot abou the link. Here its is:
http://www.italiastraps.com/

That is where I got mine. I use the 4" one. Christmas present from the kids. Mine is Cognac brown, but I don't see it now on the site. Very like the Acorn.

Hi Chris,

Try one of these Italias. Soft heavy duty leather, I've never felt anything more comfortable personally.
http://www.italiastraps.com/

John

I purchased the maroon Ric strap right after acquiring my Montezuma Brown 4003 bass. The bass and strap complement each other for colour. I know the bass is rather heavy compared to some of my others (with which I use wide, padded straps) but the Ric strap looks and feels better than the wide ones. I find that I have to position the shoulder pad in a certain spot to get the most comfort.
The narrow strap thing goes back a long time with me - when I gigged with a Telecaster in another band and with my Hofner Beatle bass. The Hofner just didn't look right with a wide padded strap. Just my take on the subject.
Normally I'd go with a wide strap but not on the 4003.