Choosing Your Guitar Strap

Although guitar straps are an essential accessory, especially for electric guitarists, they are still often overlooked.

Nowadays, anyone looking for the right strap is faced with a confusing amount of choices, as is the case with guitars. This ranges from cheap plastic straps or belts to more expensive handmade leather straps.

What makes a good guitar strap?

Considering that a solid-body guitar, like a Gibson or a Fender Stratocaster, typically weighs three or four kilograms on the shoulders (some models even more), then the strap itself should be able to support this weight long-term. And in addition to that, always offer all the necessary freedom of movement, especially when you are on stage.

The strap must be comfortable to wear, spending many hours on your shoulder. Not only in well-ventilated rooms, but also at outdoor festivals during hot summer days and perhaps even on bare skin. Take a look at these straps for electric guitars.

And finally, there are the looks! Many guitarists may also want the strap to match a certain outfit. A pop guitarist won’t necessarily go with a studded black leather belt, and what if you prefer vintage guitar straps?

The Attachment

As you know, the entire weight of the guitar is supported by only two relatively small buttons. In cheaper straps, this is often where the problem lies, as the weight is concentrated around the hole at the end of the strap.

Too many guitarists and bassists have experienced those horrible moments in their careers when their instrument crashed due to a torn strap hole.

If not entirely made of leather, many straps are at least provided with genuine leather ends, which is a general sign of quality. Quite often, strap holes such as those on the Harley Benton suede strap are reinforced with stitching.

Some guitars come with strap locks or security locks instead of classic strap buttons. This is a two-part strap retention system, where the strap button is attached to a base lock and the strap itself.

Both parts must be specifically unlocked to release the strap to prevent accidental detachment. Anyway, you should always pay attention to robust end pieces, because the lock is useless if the strap fails.

The Material

As mentioned above, guitar straps are available in a wide variety of materials, such as leather as well as various natural and synthetic fibers.

In the case of cheap straps, nylon is often the standard, which is not only extremely stable but can also be easily dyed. In higher price ranges, nylon fabric is also often combined with other materials such as cotton or leather or neoprene, and sometimes there are some with rubber ends instead of leather.

Another frequently used synthetic fiber is polypropylene, which has the advantage of being 100% recyclable. Like nylon, this synthetic fiber is extremely durable and tear-resistant.

Cotton is a natural raw material also used in straps and not only in combination with other materials.

Of course, the development of guitar straps does not stop there, as many manufacturers experiment with plastics and other natural materials such as hemp, linen or felt.

By far the most used natural material for guitar straps remains leather. Because this material has many different sources and can be processed and tanned in various ways, there is a great variety. And not only in colors and shapes, but also in tanning methods (chrome or vegetable substances) and whether they are smooth or rough, firm or soft, it all comes down to many personal tastes.

Important Factors

Although personal tastes play an important role in choosing a guitar strap, there are certain factors that should not be ignored.

• Width
  The heavier the instrument, the larger the shoulder support should be. Standard straps are usually between 5 cm and 8 cm wide, and the narrower they are, the less comfort they offer, but a wider shoulder pad can feel restrictive around the neck.
• Length
  Most straps are adjustable in length, and it is recommended to measure the approximate distance along the shoulder from one strap button to the other. If you like to play the guitar at knee height, you should consider an extra-long version.
• Shape
  Basically, your strap should be comfortable. That’s why you should “try it on” properly, preferably with your instrument. One person might be content with a simple flat leather strap, while another needs thick neoprene-type padding on the shoulder.
• Material
  In our brief overview, you learned about the most important materials and some of their characteristics. Try to remember your last concert; if you left the stage as dry as you started, then you have a free choice. If perspiration was excessive, smooth leather straps will become slippery, as will nylon or other synthetic fibers. You might want to consider a suede or raw leather strap or a fabric strap that can better manage moisture. Polypropylene is also suitable for these challenges, as this material is often used in functional clothing for athletes.

What else?

Many standard guitar straps come with extra strings intended for acoustic guitars. While the strap at the lower end is attached to a normal strap button, the other end is attached around the neck at the beginning of the headstock under the strings and behind the nut.

Nowadays, more and more acoustic guitars feature a second button at the base of the neck, allowing any standard strap to be used.

Classical guitars, on the other hand, generally do not have the option to attach straps. In these cases, there are classical guitar straps that can be hooked to the soundhole, allowing you to play standing up.