Guitar Straps

W

Warheart

New member
I need some help finding a good leather guitar strap.

I'm not sure what companies to look for, but I would it to have these features:
1. Black Leather
2. Finished on both sides (I hate the underside being brown, and grippy)
3. Tapers towards the strap button holes.
4. Doesn't need to be overly long
5. 2 1/2" wide.
6. Not too thick at the ends that I can't put a straplock on it.
7. Just Plain, no designs, weird buckles, snake texture, anything like that. No padded straps, or straps with sheep on the back...etc.

I want a plain black leather guitar strap, I don't need anything fancy!

I'm looking on the levy's website now and man, its so hard to filter through this stuff.

At the same time, I'm not opposed to a more expensive guitar strap, I just want it to be well made.
 
Re: Guitar Straps

My favorite leather strap company is Franklin.

But I also find it fun to search Ebay straps from high to low, and see everything in a reasonable price range.
 
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Re: Guitar Straps

Moody's and Eldorado are very spendy. Moody's are plain and unadorned but probably have the best leather around. Eldorado does a lot of carving and silver work. I bought a used Moody's off ebay--it was still $85.

Franklins are probably my favorite. I just bought one of their padded straps in cocoa brown and it is really nice ($60). Their basic 2.5" or 3" strap runs about $35. Guitar Center carries them.

Long Hollow straps are similar to the Franklins, but harder to find and more expensive. Very nice quality, though.

Levy's--they probably have everything you could possibly want in a strap, in all price ranges. Read the descriptions carefully, as some are longer than others. I like the tooled leather straps (under "Classic Straps"), and I have several of them.

If you want top quality, check out Italia Straps. They are a bargain, for what you get, and they do custom work. I think they are having a sale right now. One of the nicest straps I own. I think I will be ordering a strap from them soon, probably an extra long custom order.

Double Treble has some nice straps, and you can have them embroider your name or initials on it. I have their "Shooting Star" strap--it is not all leather, and a little short for me, but it looks really nice and the quality is really excellent. Some of their are made from buffalo, as are the straps from Buffalo Leather Straps--another company that can get spendy, fast.

Another favorite of mine is Eyeland; they have some quirky designs, but another fine, top quality strap. I LOVE their "eye" straps. They have a different adjustment method for the tail.

For a basic budget strap, Fort Bryan straps are decent, I've got a 3" strap that I've had for 15 years, and it is still beautiful. Atlas is another brand of inexpensive straps--I have two of their croc print leather straps. Perri's is another brand; and there's also Jodi Head. Jodi does more cloth and graphics, but has some leather. I don't care for the Perri's straps, the end where it fits the guitar is too wide.

Check your guitar's manufacturer--sometime you can get a great leather logo strap cheaper through them.

And check your local leather crafts people, You might be able to get an incredible custom made and decorated strap for a very reasonable price. I have a strap from a local leather guy--a birthday present for an old flame--and it is a beautiful work of art.

Forty-eight guitars, each with their own leather strap. I'm not just a player, I'm a fashion coordinator!!!

Good luck,

Bill
 
Re: Guitar Straps

LtKojak said:
Forty-eight guitars? And I thought I had a problem... (I own seven)

There's no way in Hell you play'em all, right? :foot:
Click to expand...

Oh yeah, every one. I take 'em all out and play them, though I have some I won't play in bad clubs or in bad weather.

15 G&Ls, 11 Gibsons, 7 Martins...

Hey, next time I do some restringing--I'll call!

Bill

P.S. And yes, 48 guitars is INSANE!
 
Re: Guitar Straps

Look no further http://www.actioncustomstraps.com/

I have 7 of their beautiful straps inc 3 of the " simply classy " plain black leather.

They are leagues ahead of any other straps in terms of quality and customer service.

Really lovely people to deal with.
 
Re: Guitar Straps

You're hanging an expensive guitar from it.. $100 is money well spent.

The best is never the cheapest but it is always the best !!

try one of their straps and I guarantee you'll use nothing else, they're that special.
 
Re: Guitar Straps

Boogie Bill said:
If you want top quality, check out Italia Straps. They are a bargain, for what you get, and they do custom work. I think they are having a sale right now. One of the nicest straps I own. I think I will be ordering a strap from them soon, probably an extra long custom order.

Good luck,

Bill
Click to expand...

Look no further. I own two of their straps. Extremely comfortable, top notch quality, great price. I plan on ordering more from them in the future.
 
Re: Guitar Straps

First of all, thanks for all the replies!

Some thoughts:
Italia Ones are too short, I need it to be longer than 54 inches, which is their extra long.

Also, I'm not paying over $100 on a guitar strap, especially for a plain black one. With no designs. I basically just paying for the material in a certain shape, and I don't believe that equates to that much money.

At the end of the day, a strap is a strap, I'd like quality, but not I cannot justify $100+ on a guitar strap.
 
Re: Guitar Straps

Longer than 54? Really? Are you crazy tall or just rounder than normal and need it longer than that? Or do you hang your guitars at your knee caps? ;o)

I can't remember if mine are the extra long or not but I'm 6'3", 185 lbs and they are plenty long for me. I can get it to sling like Page if I want, that's for sure.
 
Re: Guitar Straps

Its for an Explorer, about 57" is what I'm going for, I didn't think that was particularly long either.

I'm 5'10 and it puts the bridge at belt line!
 
Re: Guitar Straps

Ahh, an Explorer. Yeah, due to the strap button locations, a little longer can be a necessity. I bet Italia would do an extra 3 inches if you ask them about it.

A tip regarding the Italia straps, at least when getting black on the back. Make sure to let it sit out with the back side up so the dye dries completely. The two I got were so freshly made that some of the dye came off on my shirt at the first gig, which was the day after I got them. The fact that it was 101 degrees out and it was an outdoor gig may have had something to do with it. I was sweating like a pig.
 
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Re: Guitar Straps

Call Italia, they can do custom orders!!! And for custom orders, they are relatively inexpensive.

The Franklin Straps typically go to 56".

Or, have your store order you a Levy's strap with the longer tail. I also like a longer strap, being roughly the same body shape and mass of Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet. I have a tooled leather Levy's in the 3" Paisley pattern, in burgundy, with the long tail and it is a gorgeous strap. Nice width, and very comfortable for my Les Paul Elegant.

You might find it hard to find a good leather strap in the length you want, without doing a custom order.

Bill
 
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