best bass straps

The Top 5 Affordable & Reliable Bass Guitar Straps

Whether you like practicing with your band, performing live, or if you simply enjoy playing your bass while standing up, you must find a sturdy bass guitar strap that provides you with great comfort and security. In this guide, I’ll recommend some of the best bass straps that should last you a long time while also being conscious of your budget.

Can You Use A Guitar Strap For Bass?

While there are no rules saying you can’t use a generic guitar strap, they’re not recommended for bass since they are usually too thin and narrow.

Basses weigh more than guitars, so you’ll want a more robust strap to support the weight of the bass and so it doesn’t add unnecessary discomfort to your shoulder, neck, and back.

However, there are certainly guitar straps that fit these criteria, so they are suitable for bass players. Regardless if they’re marketed for guitar or bass, below, I will show you some straps that are precisely what you should be looking for when trying to choose a strap for your bass guitar.

1. D’Addario Planet Waves 74T000 Bass Strap

One of the cheapest options you can find that gets the job done is D’Addario’s Planet Waves bass guitar strap. You can find this one for under $20, and while it’s not overly fancy and appears like your ordinary cheap strap, it’s 3-inches wide and does have some padding on the inside, which is a lot better than some of the basic straps out there.

So, if your budget is on the tighter side, but you want a strap that’s suitable for bassists, you can’t go wrong with this one since not only is it wide enough with padding, but its length can also be adjusted from 35” to 59.5”, which accommodates a lot of bassists.

 

 

2. Lekato Bass Strap

Next up, an option that provides more padding but is slightly more expensive than the D’addario strap is the 3” inch one by Lekato, which is one of the best bass straps for around $30. 

While they are all adjustable, what I also like about Lekato is that they offer different sizes that suit your playstyle. I personally play with my bass up fastened up higher on my body, so I can work with short or medium straps, but others who like to play bass a lot lower will probably benefit from a longer one. Also, if you play with a pick, I think the little slot to hold them is a very nice touch to have.

 

 

3. Levy’s Leathers M26PD Strap

Leather straps will always be timeless because they look nice and they’re durable, so if you’re looking for this style, Levy’s Leathers M26PD strap may be right up your alley and typically hangs around the $30 to $40 range.

It’s 3-inches wide like most of the straps that will be recommended, but in addition to the durability that the leather provides, it also has a foam padding which adds to its thickness of it, and it can be adjusted from 37” to 51”.

 

 

4. KLIQ Aircell Strap

One of my favorite straps I’ve ever used has been the KLIQ Aircell, which is constructed from neoprene, and as you can probably tell by the name, it has small, raised cells that make this strap super comfortable to wear, especially if you have a 5-string bass or even more strings.

For a strap under $50, I think it’s well worth the money, and it comes in different sizes if you choose a black one. As far as I know, the other colors come only in the regular size, but it’s still adjustable from 46” to 56”, and therefore, it will be suitable for most players.

 

 

5. GruvGear SoloStrap Neo 4.0 Inch

Another neoprene bass strap I really enjoy but will be the priciest option on this list is the GruvGear SoloStrap Neo, specifically the 4-inch one that’s made for bassists, making it a wider bass strap than all of the others here and great if you have a heavier instrument.

However, while this is made with neoprene, a significant part of it consists of faux leather for that classy look. Overall, it’s easy to adjust (38”-48.5” for regular and up to 62” for the XL Neo straps) and very durable, so if you don’t mind a bass strap that usually runs a bit more than $50, this is probably the best of the best and recommended for professionals. 

It’s also worth checking out GruvGear’s fretwraps, which are super popular for muting string noise and cleaning up your playing, and I personally don’t record without one of them.

 

 

Don’t Forget Your Strap Locks!

If you’re going to invest in a decent strap, it’s also a good idea to pick up some strap locks to keep you and your bass secure while playing.

If you don’t know already, strap locks are designed to help prevent your strap from coming loose and falling off the buttons that are screwed into your instrument. By having a pair of them installed, you can potentially avoid disastrous incidents, like damaging your bass or, worse, getting yourself hurt.

Some products come with special buttons that you can easily install, and one of the systems I like the most is the Ernie Ball strap locks that you can find at Amazon, but the Dunlop and Schaller ones are amazing too! 

I’ve actually written another article that talks about each of them, similar to this one, so if you’d like to learn more about the best straps for guitar and bass, be sure to check out this guide to find out how they work to keep your instrument and strap secured.

You can also get away with using the round rubber blocks that you can put around your existing strap buttons, but they aren’t as reliable as the aforementioned options. They are better than nothing, though, and worth considering.

Conclusion

The best bass guitar straps should always make you feel comfortable and fastened in, especially when paired with some good strap locks. To recap, the top choices I’ve selected are:

A good strap will be one of the best bass accessories you’ll own, so these suggestions should help you achieve the reliability that you’re looking for at different pricing points. Hopefully, one of these will be able to serve you for years to come by not only staying intact and keeping your instrument safe, but also keeping you pain-free.