Straps

Lap steels, resonators, multi-neck consoles and acoustic steel guitars

Moderator: Brad Bechtel

Post Reply
User avatar
Jon Light
Posts: 13745
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Saugerties, NY
Contact:

Straps

Post by Jon Light »

Is there a cheaper alternative to a $45-50 reso strap (Beardguitars.com)? Or will your answers be "go for it, Jon--you won't regret it"?
Bob Storti
Posts: 98
Joined: 27 Sep 2002 12:01 am
Location: Matthews, North Carolina, USA

Post by Bob Storti »

Some reso players might consider the $45-50 range straps as the cheap ones. Bobby Poff makes wonderful custom straps that start around $120 and go up from there.

I use a Webb 2" strap with a quick-release headstock loop (about $40-45) - it's fine for now. I wouldn't go too much cheaper then that. Good Luck!

Bob
User avatar
Jon Light
Posts: 13745
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Saugerties, NY
Contact:

Post by Jon Light »

Gaaa! Thanks for the education. Yeah, it's the Webb that I'm looking at. I guess I can buy it now without wondering if I should have looked for something more 'sensible'. Or I can tie an old extension chord to the guitar. That always screams 'class'.
Dana Duplan
Posts: 766
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Ramona, CA

Post by Dana Duplan »

Well, would you believe $225 as the base price for the Poff straps? I know, I just placed my order this week--basic black Beavertail. This is the only model he makes now--of course the sky's the limit on options. So, the newly acquired Webb is on the chopping block to help recoup some of the $$
DD
James Brown
Posts: 439
Joined: 11 Oct 2002 12:01 am
Location: Mt Uniacke, Nova Scotia, Canada
Contact:

Post by James Brown »

Image <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by James Brown on 05 March 2005 at 03:55 AM.]</p></FONT>
User avatar
HowardR
Posts: 8127
Joined: 3 Apr 1999 1:01 am
Location: N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville

Post by HowardR »

Jon, I've owned dobros since 1972 and have gone trough various straps.

Leather is nice in a John Wayne kind of way. I had one for several years and it broke on me (got rigid and cracked due to age) while playing with my guitarist friend on his gig.

I tried the webbing type strap and found them too slippery. I ended up with some plain black heavy cloth woven straps. They are the extra long guitarist's straps and I bought them at either Manny's or Sam A$$H.
I think they're $19.00 if I recall correctly. They are inexpensive and comfortable. I use the quick connect thing also. No problem. I the happiest with this kind.

I'll spend thousands on a reso, but I will absolutely not put down a couple of hundred for a strap when it will do the same thing for one that is one tenth the price. Maybe that's because I'm a manufacturer in the garment industry and know what my end products end up selling for.

This is my personal preference without any intentions of slighting anyone else's.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by HowardR on 04 March 2005 at 07:18 AM.]</p></FONT>
David Yannuzzi
Posts: 291
Joined: 18 Dec 2003 1:01 am
Location: Pomona , New York, USA

Post by David Yannuzzi »

I have tried long guitar straps, leather straps,and a cheaper dobro strap. My opinion was the webb was the most comfortable and i am not worried about slipping off the strap nut because it has a nice locking system. -Dave
David Yannuzzi
Posts: 291
Joined: 18 Dec 2003 1:01 am
Location: Pomona , New York, USA

Post by David Yannuzzi »

I have tried long guitar straps, leather straps,and a cheaper dobro strap. My opinion was the webb was the most comfortable and i am not worried about slipping off the strap nut because it has a nice locking system. -Dave
User avatar
Gerald Ross
Posts: 3205
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
Contact:

Post by Gerald Ross »

Wow!

Jon Light from NYC, David Yannuzzi from NYC and HowardR from NYC, all play Dobro, all on the Steel Guitar Forum!

I can't believe the coincidence!

Do you guys know another Dobro playing friend of mine who lives in NYC? I can't remember his name but he lives on one of those numbered streets in an apartment. His apartment is near a bunch of stores and offices.

Come on fellas, help me here, this guy owes me some money.

------------------
Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
Image
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
Board of Directors Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association
<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 04 March 2005 at 12:24 PM.]</p></FONT>
User avatar
Jon Light
Posts: 13745
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Saugerties, NY
Contact:

Post by Jon Light »

Gerald--yeah I know him. Name starts with a letter, I think. Kind of a jerk, right? About yea tall and this wide? Wears pants? Likes to do things? Yep, that's him.

Dana and James--thank you kindly. I'm hoping to have something in hand by tomorrow--the beauty of NY is that I have several music mega-stores and some smaller boutiques--chances are good that I will score. Howard--thanks for sharing the experience. Good info. BTW--after you all starting thinking highly of me, truthfully, this is for my new Melobar, not a Dobro.

Gerald I'll, pick ol' whatssisname's pocket next time I see him and I'll send you half.
User avatar
HowardR
Posts: 8127
Joined: 3 Apr 1999 1:01 am
Location: N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville

Post by HowardR »

The slipping that I was talking about was not the lock, but the strap slipping around on my shoulder. I would always have to adjust the guitar back to a comfortable position because the strap was slippery.

Jon,.....you gonna' be playin' that thang at Hank's anytime soon?
Andy Greatrix
Posts: 1561
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Edmonton Alberta

Post by Andy Greatrix »

If you want to save money and make your own, try laminating a length of heavy grade canvas between two pieces of naugahyde.
It will look like leather and wear like iron.
Make sure you stitch around the edges and end holes.
User avatar
Jon Light
Posts: 13745
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Saugerties, NY
Contact:

Post by Jon Light »

Way beyond my patience, tools, inclination etc. , Andy. I get tremendous satisfaction out of doing some things for myself but I don't see this one as a fun or gratifying (or economical) project.
As it is, I couldn't find an honest to goodness Dobro strap in NYC but a $5 Ernie Ball nylon strap will fit the bill until I need o want something better.

Hey Howard--this guitar won't see the stench of Hank's until A) I have brought it up to speed--the nut & bridge just plain suck and the strings don't ring worth a damn. I'm making new ones--10 string ones to boot---and B) until I am having the kind of fun and inspiration with this that I am suddenly having with the Stringmaster---I just recently fell in love with this SM that I've had for several years and I am really jazzed about this E13 tuning. If I can get the ideas flowing on the Melobar that are spilling out all over the SM (what a mess) then I will have an exciting new axe here. Punch a dogie for me.
User avatar
Peter Jacobs
Posts: 982
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Northern Virginia

Post by Peter Jacobs »

I use a standard leather guitar strap -- it's 2 1/2" wide, thin, smooth black on top, unfinished on the underside. To attach it to the the neck, I use a Planet Waves quick-release thingie -- it's a soft cord that goes around the headstock. Works perfectly, very stable, doesn't slip.

Peter
Travis Bernhardt
Posts: 798
Joined: 10 Feb 2003 1:01 am
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Post by Travis Bernhardt »

Cheap guitar strap + shoelace to extend length = dobro strap.

-Travis
Post Reply