Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

How are the Rickenbacker vintage style straps? Moody makes a similar one at $165, the Ric one is $35.

The RIC one is $22 locally. I bought one but didn't care for it. The pad that is now two layers of leather seems to wrinkle. On the other hand I guess I am just not a fan of that style of strap, thin with a shoulder pad. I have a friend that really likes these.

I got one, and have to say it's already on the dump. But that is not because it wrinkled (it didn't) or anything, but just because I couldn't get used to that padded thing. I now have a woven strap and much happier!

I use those vintage straps on a lot of my guitars. I have about six of those straps. I suppose they may need some getting used to, but for me they are comfortable, easy to get on and off the guitar, and they look real cool.

Plus you can dye them to match your guitar. I dyed a natural colored one orange to match my Gretsch; I'm thinking of buying a natural one and dying it red to match my Ric.

I have seen the same exact strap with Gretsch embossed on it.

ken_j wrote:I have seen the same exact strap with Gretsch embossed on it.

That orange strap above has GRETSCH stamped into the leather.
In fact you can get these vintage straps with RICKENBACKER, GRETSCH, FENDER, or GIBSON stamped into the leather.
For whatever guitar brand I have, I get a matching strap. Also try to match the guitar color.

I had a few of them but I've since passed them along. Not for me. I used to really like those style straps but I found that the RIC ones were a bit too stiff.

I personally prefer a wider strap pad that spreads the weight over a larger portion of your shoulder.

However, the RIC strap is offered for vintage enthusiasts of the original Bobby Lee Sottile strap that so many makers offered with their guitars and basses. Today these are produced by Levy's in Canada but the quality of materials and construction eclipses the originals. For example, the inner pad is now suede leather, while the original had a cotton felt pad, much beloved by rodents. Leave your old strap out in the wrong place overnight and it would be vandalized!

It's a vintage thing- you're either into it or not.

johnhall wrote:I personally prefer a wider strap pad that spreads the weight over a larger portion of your shoulder.

I'm with JH on this.....I have one of the vintage straps and have only used it once....that was enough. Too uncomfortable for my shoulder...

A few years ago I bought 4 of the Levy's straps (2 black, 2 brown) from our local music store, they're wide and comfy....haven't looked back since.

Yeah, I like 'em wide and comfy too...

I use Rickenbacker straps for almost all of my guitars. . . including non-Ricks.

I bought a Rick strap just because. I needed a strap for the my 360/12 anyway. I like it. Must be one of the new ones.
JimK

I bought four Rickenbacker straps several years ago. Kept one and gave the other three away as Christmas presents.

I got a maroon-ish one as a Christmas gift over 10 years ago for my 360. I have tried using it, but I just don't care for it. It looks like a nice strap, but it just isn't for me. I went back to using a regular nylon strap.

I've been using "Buddy Holly" straps almost my entire playing life. I have many original Gretsch and Fender straps as well as several newer Levys Rickenbacker ones. Back in the '80s when I was on the Ginza in Tokyo, I purchased two old stock Rickenbacker straps at a music store. In '87 at the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society convention, Chet borrowed one of my straps for his Gibson Country Gentleman, later autographing it for me !