Review: Best Guitar Strap
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Gibson Fatboy Leather Guitar Strap -
DiMarzio Luxury ClipLock Guitar Strap -
Hola! Music Guitar Strap -
Ball 2 Poly Guitar Strap -
DiMarzio Nylon ClipLock Guitar Strap -
Planet Waves Joe Satriani Leather Guitar Strap -
Buyer's Guide
Any guitarist will tell you that having a quality guitar strap is crucial to performance, whether it’s in the studio or onstage. We all like to treat our guitars like they are our babies, so having a strap that is sturdy and stable is essential because there’s nothing worse than watching your guitar fall to the floor. At the same time, a great strap and bag can also offer something on an aesthetic level because while looks aren’t everything, but there’s nothing wrong with looking cool with your axe, either. After all, if you didn’t want to look cool, you’d have taken up the clarinet instead. Here are the best guitar straps in 2022, with each one we've chosen being adjustable to fit your body and guitar type, they're manufactured with materials designed to provide extra comfort when worn across your body, and they're also available in a range of flattering colors so that you can coordinate a strap to match your axe and/or outfit.
Best Guitar Straps Worth Considering in 2022
Gibson Fatboy Leather Guitar Strap - Best Guitar Strap Overall
The Gibson Fatboy leather guitar strap has a name that may bring to mind pure plushiness, and quite frankly, that image is not far off. This strap is padded with a half-inch of memory foam; combined with its leather build, this is a strap that you might find yourself falling asleep in due to how soft it feels. It’s wide and thick, which gives you more support for you and your axe. If you’re playing long gigs or using heavier instruments, this is definitely a great strap to use, as it prevents against the kind of typical aches and pains that come from wearing the guitar around your neck for too long. Being fat sometimes has its perks.
DiMarzio Luxury ClipLock Guitar Strap - Runner Up
Made from fine calf skin, DiMarzio’s Luxury Leather ClipLock guitar strap is soft unlike most guitar straps in its class. Before being stitched, the sides are first rounded, resulting in a feel that is extremely comfortable. A High tech foam filler also serves to pad this strap out to make sure it doesn’t feel abrasive against your shoulders after extended use. The strap itself is adjustable from 41.5 to 60.5 inches. The ends are made from Italian leather, and they feature the company’s logo on the end – this is some serious high-class stuff.
Hola! Music Guitar Strap - Best for Stringed Instruments
Guitar straps help you keep your instrument in place and safe while you play. They are like a carry handle that straps your guitar no matter how active the carrier gets. Hola Music has designed a guitar strap made from genuine leather, ideal for electric guitars, acoustic guitars, bass guitars, and other stringed instruments. If you have a mandolin or a ukulele, this strap will also work fine for you. The strap has two locks and three picks to secure it close to your body and better adjustability. This brown leather belt guitar strap comes at such an affordable price that you would think Hola was a charity. You should get this if you own a guitar or any stringed instrument now.
Ball 2 Poly Guitar Strap - Honorable Mention
Ernie Ball has been making guitar-related accessories since the 1960s. They first broke into the game with their guitar strings (which are still utilized by players all over the world today), before moving into the world of straps. Their Poly Strap provides a two inch width that makes wearing it very comfortable. It’s adjustable, so you can change the length from 38 to 68-inches. It’s also very durable, so you can take this guitar strap out on the road and not have to worry about detrimental wear-and-tear when you’re at your most rocking.
DiMarzio Nylon ClipLock Guitar Strap - Consider
Steve Vai, John Petrucci, and Steven Morse are just some of the guitar gods who have used the clip lock system that DiMarzio provides in their 2” Nylon ClipLock guitar straps. This secure yet quick to change system allows you to easily switch between multiple guitars without having to get in and out of wearing the strap, which can sometimes lead to a tangled mess, especially in the heat of the moment when you’re onstage in the middle of a performance. The strap’s nylon build conforms easily to your body, making it a comfortable wear. Despite its smooth and accommodating feel, the strap itself is no pushover as it's capable of supporting up to 150 pounds.
Planet Waves Joe Satriani Leather Guitar Strap - Best Guitar Strap
Planet Waves and Joe Satriani teamed together to present his signature leather guitar strap. The strap itself is premium leather, and features artwork both from Satriani himself as well as artwork inspired by his famous guitars. The strap is adjustable in length from 35 to 59.5-inches long and made exactly to Satriani’s exacting specifications. Comfortable and durable, you really can’t ask for much else in a guitar strap when you’re looking for something to reliably support your guitar. Hey, if this strap is good enough for Satriani, it’s more than likely going to work wonders for you.
Buyer's Guide
Play Standing with The Best Guitar Strap
Here’s a little guide to help you get the best guitar strap in 2021.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Guitar Strap
There are four main considerations when buying a guitar strap:
1. Width
Typically, guitar strap width ranges from two inches to four inches. Consider the weight of the guitar you’re using. The heavier it is, the thicker your guitar strap should be.
Wider straps distribute the heavy weight of your instrument evenly on your shoulder to avoid straining on back and shoulder blades. Also, if you intend on playing for long hours, you might want to consider a wide guitar strap even if your guitar is not that heavy.
2. Length
The length of a standard guitar strap is adjustable between 40-60-inches. If you’re exceptionally tall, play bass, or just like your guitar to hang low, you must choose a guitar strap that can extend up to 70 inches or even more if you like.
Make sure you thoroughly check the length because a short strap will make your guitar sit uncomfortably on your chest and affect how you play. While a longer strap will make it difficult for you to hit the chords and impact your posture.
3. Material
The material of your guitar strap is another important factor to consider. As it sits on your shoulder, the material ultimately will determine the level of performance, comfort, and durability. There are four commonly used materials for guitar straps.
They are cotton, nylon, neoprene, and leather, or two or three of them in a combination. Amongst all, nylon is the most durable. It won’t rip or stretch and is also very smooth.
4. Locking System
The locking mechanism on the standard leather loop kind straps is that they have can sometimes slip off. This can happen either due to the heavy weight of the instrument, the movement of the player as they play on-stage or due to wear and tear of the strap’s end.
This is why players usually prefer guitar straps that have a custom locking mechanism such as a clip lock or strap lock. Such locks are almost impossible to crack up and cause accidents.
Types of Guitar Straps
All guitar straps support guitars, but different types of guitars require different kinds of straps. Here are three major kinds:
Electric Guitar Straps
Electric guitars are heavy and you need to choose the guitar strap that can handle the weight of the instrument and the placement of buttons. Most electric guitar players play while they are standing and this means they move a lot. Electric guitar straps come with different kinds of custom locking mechanisms to keep the guitar securely on your shoulders.
Acoustic Guitar Straps
These guitar straps are typically thinner and lighter than electric or bass straps. They are fastened to the guitar with a single strap button and a single tie at the headstock. Most of them won’t have a second button. Make sure that the strap you’re getting isn’t too small after all as it will eventually take a toll on your shoulder and back.
Bass Guitar Straps
These straps, just like electric straps have two buttons to secure the guitar. Bass guitar straps are made to support the size and weight of a bass guitar. They are generally heavy so a strap with a wide area is needed to equally distribute the weight of the guitar on the neck and shoulder. Most of these are also padded.
Benefits of Using a Guitar Strap
Here are some advantages of using guitar straps:
Style
For many brooding guitarists, their looks and style are a defining factor in their fame. A trendy or bold guitar strap can be used to express yourself better. There is a large variety of guitar strap materials, kinds, and textures that you can choose from. You can get leather ones, unique ones with patterns, and much more.
Security and Stability
The main purpose of a guitar strap is to offer stability to your guitar as you play. A well-fitted guitar will stay in its place no matter how much you move as you play. For beginners, a strap can help you better focus on learning the chords rather than balancing the instrument itself.
Stand and Play
Guitar straps help you play while standing and moving around. All kinds of guitar players like to move on stage. Even the heavy ones like bass or electric guitars can be carried on shoulders with the help of the right strap.
What is The Right Placement of a Guitar When Using a Guitar Strap?
Your guitar should be hanging at a flexible height where you can easily access and play all chords and tunes without having to twist, hunch or stretch. They should be high so that the playing hand is at ease and has the required flexibility for octaves.
As a rule of thumb, you should hold the guitar in a way that the neck makes a 30-degree angle inclined upwards. You can also place your foot on higher ground or step if you prefer to hold the guitar at a lower angle.
Conclusion
When picking the right guitar strap for your guitar, make sure that it is a comfortable one. This is because it will be in contact with your body the whole time and the wrong one can affect your body posture in the long run.
This guide tells you how you can choose the best guitar strap and about the different kinds you can get so it gets a little easier for you when deciding.
Best Guitar Strap FAQs
Some frequently asked questions are:
Are expensive guitar straps worth it?
Yes. A wide, thick strap is expensive and totally worth your money as it will sit comfortably on your shoulder and neck.
Are guitar straps necessary for electric guitars?
Yes. They are heavy and need support at all times.
Is there an alternative to guitar straps?
Not really. If you just play for fun, you can fashion one from fabric and belts.
