The BEST Guitar Straps for YOUR Axe!

You talked, we listened! If you are looking for the BEST guitar strap for your axe no matter if you play bass, lead or acoustic, we've got it for you. Top guitar strap makes such as Sully's handmade leather straps, Levy's Leathers LTD (shown below), Planet Waves NEW band collections with C.F. Martin's Leather Strap & Guitar Hoodie are all in the mix! To complete your experience, check out our NAMM 2011 Video featuring Ernie Ball Strap Locks vs Planet Lock Straps! It's all here and all for YOU!

PHOTO: NEW for 2011, Levy's Leathers LTD Suede Leather Strap MS71To1 with buckle and acorn embellishments!

PHOTO: Guitarist, Phil Keaggy whom Eric Clapton dubbed as the most under-rated musician of our time.

Keaggy is a Christian artist seen here during his set at RevGen 2010 in Frenchtown, NJ. He is wearing an un-padded adjustable leather guitar strap with the Fender.



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Ernie Ball Strap Locks vs Planet Lock Strap NAMM 2011 Release

A NEW RELEASE, literally! We got lots of feedback regarding the best strap locks and concerns about drilling into your guitar to install them. NEW at the 2011 NAMM Show this month, Planet Waves, Booth # 4834, will be featuring their revolutionary PLANET LOCK STRAP. The Planet Lock strap is a Strap Lock + Strap in one so you can change them in a snap! Check out the video and see how it stacks up to our Ernie Ball Super Strap Locks.

See the other Planet Waves guitar strap styles including their new Rock Band Collections in the banner ad section on the left! Be sure to see our 2011 NAMM SHOW Musical Montage too. Do share the LOVE and TWEET this post with the link below!

Phil Wickham doing You're Beautiful, RevGen

No drill locking straps!

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Ernie Ball Super Strap Locks

This Fender Stratocaster gets the full treatment with Ernie Ball's Super Strap Locks. Get your axe locked in and ready to rock! See these locks in action right here and in the banner ad section to your left. Check out Eclectic Sound TV's HOT Guitar Gear Videos

A Few of My Favorite Things!

We asked readers to tell us about their favorite guitar gear. Well, here are some of mine! Ernie Ball Super Strap Locks on the job. Sully's Soft Leather Guitar Strap and the handy Stage Player II Guitar Stool from Farley's Musical Essentials. Oh yes my Martin D-18 in Sustainable Cherry of course. Be sure to visit Eclectic Sound TV for all of our HD videos on tap. Video Credits: Camera by MAM. Music written & performed by Dr. M. Vintage tee by C.F. Martin & Co. 1833 Shop

Best Guitar Gear for 2010!

Guitar Straps




Continuing our list of Best Guitar Gear for 2010 with guitar straps! We've checked out and tested the best straps for both acoustic and electric guitars with some very cool ideas for people with shoulder and or neck problems. In order to improve form and playing posture, most guitar instructors tell their students to practice playing standing up. You need a strap to do that! This also prepares you for the time that you will perform on stage. These selected straps all make great gifts for the guitarist in your life and will be cherished for years to come.


Sully's New Leather Guitar Strap

PLAYER's CHOICE!!!
The Sully Strap has been voted the hands-down favorite of our guitar playing readers! Handcrafted one at a time in the U.S.A. and made to last as long as your instrument, (or longer)! 1" wide, #1 harness leather strap Shoulder piece 2" wide by 11.5" long harness leather. Also available with 7/8" wide strap and 1 3/4" wide x 9" long shoulder piece for smaller size guitars.

Infinitely adjustable several inches on both ends to the exact length required by the user. These are really custom guitar straps, cut to your size specifications and can be ordered to accomodate oversized pick up end pins if needed. This is the one that fits my Martin D-16GT with a pick up and is my choice for quality and value. $42.00


Martin High End Leather Strap
Martin's latest! This is truly a high end leather strap. Strap is made from the highest quality soft naked finish garment weight cowhide leather on the topside and underside, with a 1/4" foam and suede split core. The strap is complimented with the CF Martin embroidered logo and double stitched heavy thread detailing.
Buttery soft, it hugs you like a fine Italian leather glove!
Highly recommended for use with lighter, acoustic guitars. Available in Brown 18A0000 or Black 18A0001. $90.00


Planet Waves Deluxe Padded Leather Strap

The Deluxe Series sets the standard for leather straps. This particular strap is made of a very stiff leather and would be perfect for use with heavier or solid body guitars such as a Gibson Les Paul or Fender Stratocaster. However, good leather straps like these tend to break in, becoming softer over time. This two-ply garment leather strap has a padded inner core right where you need it.
The Deluxe Series exudes class and style, fashion and function. All feature an exclusive tapered contour designed to prevent twisting when used with acoustic guitars. The body of the straps is 4" longer than standard straps, giving you more support where you need it most. All are adjustable from 44.5" to 53" long. Price $89.00

I recommend using Meguiar's Gold Class Rich Leather Cleaner & Conditioner on all leather guitar straps. Meguiar's cleans, moisturizes and preserves leather with aloe and other anti-aging nutrients. It protects them from UV rays while imparting a beautiful luster to the leather. I've used it to restore faded, dried out leather too.

Planet Waves DARE Strap - Electric Guitar

Planet Waves has teamed up with product designer Troy Dare to bring you the patented Dare Strap. Unlike conventional straps, the Dare Strap allows your to equally distribute the weight of your instrument over both shoulders.Great for heavy instruments and players with back / neck conditions. This is the strap that I use on my Fender Stratocaster which is the heaviest solid body guitar that I own next to my Aria Pro II Fullerton model.

I've coupled this strap with a set of Ernie Ball Super Strap Locks for a amazingly secure connection. These strap locks also make it easy to take the strap off without overstretching the leather end holes. Ernie Ball Super Strap Locks can be used with all of the straps shown in this review except for perhaps the Martin High End Leather Strap due to its thickness.

Be sure to check out our other picks for Best Guitar Gear for 2010 at the following links!

Best Guitar Gear for 2010 - Player's Pack

Best Guitar Gear for 2010 - Care & Feeding

Video Credits:
Camera by Magda
Music by Paul Pugliese
Produced by Dr. M
mariejmiczak.blogspot.com
The New Eclectic Sound Experience

Best Guitar Gear for 2009 - Guitar Straps

Dr. M. & her Martin D-16GT with the super-soft premium High End Leather Guitar strap from C.F. Martin.

GUITAR STRAPS

Unlike other publications, we are looking ahead into 2009 to give you the best and most current guitar gear list to help with your holiday shopping. Since guitar straps are the accessories most intimately attached to your instrument, (and YOU), we are going to start with ones we have found to be at the top of their game:

Photo: C.F. Martin High End Leather Strap

This is the strap that I am using in the photo above with the Martin D-16GT. If you are looking for the best in luxury and quality, here it is. This guitar strap is made of the highest quality, supple, naked finish, garment weight calves leather. The underside is non-slipping suede and the core is padded with 1/4 inch of foam. The gold embroidered Martin logo finishes the design in style. This is my favorite strap for acoustic guitar. The strap holes are thick and tight enough to prevent slipping and the ultra-softness of the leather makes it a dream to wear. Other leather straps pale in comparison to this one. Available in black or brown. Made in the U.S.A. Order online at Martin's website store right here: https://www.martinguitar.com/1833/newitems.php

Levy's Leathers Ltd. Platinum Collection

Coming in at second place, another leather guitar strap we liked was one from Levy's new Platinum Collection. This long fringed strap looks great on both your guitar and you! The metallic colors of the leather Platinum Collection straps set them apart, (shown here in green), helping you to be seen and heard. Beautifully done, this strap has so many details added into the topside of the leather including a metallic inlay that Levys is so famous for. This one is a head turner, not really for wallflowers! If you are ready to make a statement on stage, go on wearing this strap. Made in Canada. Visit Levy's online at: http://www.levysleathers.com/

Photo: Planet Waves Dare Strap

Now for the electric guitar strap of choice. We've found that Planet Waves makes the most comfortable, ergonomic strap available for the electric guitar. Here's where it really counts. Solid body guitars often weigh much more than their acoustic counterparts. That extra weight can stress your back and shoulders over time. The dual strap design of the Dare Strap evenly distributes the weight of your guitar over both shoulders. Can also be used with most strap lock systems but it has been easy enough for me to simply slip my head between the straps. Fully adjustable too. Non-bulky so I don't even have to take it off my strat before putting it in the case. It folds pretty flat next to the instrument and gets neatly packed away in my leather gig-bag! You can spend more for a fancier strap but you won't find one as well made and comfortable to wear for long periods of time as this one. Another gem from Planet Waves! You might also take a look at their quick release system which can be used with most acoustic and electric guitar straps or buy one of their straps with quick release built in. Check it out online at: http://www.planetwaves.com/pgeardetails.aspx?ID=1

UPDATE! We tested Ernie Ball Super Strap Locks on our Levy's and Planet Waves guitar straps and they are fantastic! Easy to install, very secure and super quick to get your strap off and on. The low profile design helps avoid accidentally unlocking your strap in the middle of a gig. Simply depress the two curved buttons at the top of the lock and you're good to go! Available in Black, Gold and Chrome as shown here in the photo. Check out Ernie Ball Online at: http://www.ernieball.com

Also see 2009's Top Gifts for Audiophiles over at the Best Picks BLOG!!!:
http://www.angelfire.com/ak/anakee/drmiczak/index.blog/1345195/2009s-top-gifts-for-audiophiles/

We're going to continue our most wanted list of Best Guitar Gear for 2009 with even more top picks for Christmas and beyond. Keep checking back as we count 'em off for you!