Choosing a Guitar Strap for Your Needs
By Debbie Lynn
A guitar strap is a segment of material typically made of cloth, nylon, or leather worn to secure a bass or guitar to a player's
body. The principal purpose of the strap is to not only secure the instrument but to distribute the weight evenly across the
shoulders and keep the instrument balanced.
Most guitar and bass strap lengths are adjustable allowing large and small players to wear the same strap and adjust how high
and low the instrument hangs from the human body. The most common length of a guitar and bass strap is about 8 feet.
Typical instrument straps are around 2 to 3 inches wide, where as wider straps distribute the weight of the instrument more
evenly and less wide and less thicker straps are less expensive and don't distribute the weight as well as thicker, wider straps.
(top strap) 3.4'' Neoprene Leather Guitar Strap for Bass, Electric, Acoustic Guitar (middle strap) 2" Fender Monogrammed Woven
Polyester Jacquard Guitar Strap with Faux leather backing Made in Canada (bottom strap) 2" Fender Vintage Tweed Guitar Strap
Bass guitars are usually larger instruments than guitars and require longer, wider straps disperse the weight better and make
the instrument more comfortable to wear, especially for longer periods of time. Guitar and bass straps are not always
interchangeable, some straps may be too big or small for the instrument they're holding up making it more difficult to play
the instrument.
Wide guitar and bass straps will distribute the weight more evenly which is important when you are holding a heavier instrument
or if you have a bad back. Shoulder straps can be added for more comfort or when you are using a thinner guitar or bass strap.
The weight distribution can be calculated in the following way: you first use a flexible cloth tape to find the surface length
the strap makes solid contact with the body. For easy calculation this is around 10 to 13 inches of contact, and with a 2 inch
strap this is 20 to 26 square inches of total surface area depending on length of contact with the body.
(top strap) 2" Red and Green Plaid Guitar Strap, origin unknown (middle strap) 2" D'Addario Planet Waves Locking Guitar Strap,
Tribal (bottom strap) 2" Purple Polyester Guitar Strap origin unknown
A guitar that weighs 6 pounds, using a 2 inch strap (10*2=20 sq. in. total surface area) which equals 6 divided by 20 or 0.3
pounds per square inch. My Paulownia Flying V weighing in at 5 pounds with a 4 inch leather strap calculates to 4 inches
multiplied by 10 inches of body contact (40 sq. in. total surface area) and dividing my 5 pound guitar by total surface area
equals 5 pounds divided by 40 square inches or 0.125 pounds per square inch. A 2 inch strap with the same guitar would equal
0.25 pounds per square inch or twice the weight per square inch.
Many people prefer a leather strap because of their appearance, whereas nylon is common because of the ability to dye and print
designs in the fabric. And cotton straps have a higher friction which will help keep the guitar in place on the shoulders.
Whatever the choice there are many types and fashions of guitar and bass straps which to choose that can accommodate your wants
and needs.
(top strap) 2" Levy's '60s Polyester and Vinyl Guitar Strap Brown and Yellow Sun Graphic (bottom strap) 2" Red Embroidered Guitar
Strap origin unknown
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