Careful my UK (London) buddies - I nearly dropped my Bongo!!!

[Grand Wazoo]

I nearly dropped my Bongo this morning!!!

Guys if any of you has bought a strap like this from the Bass Centre in London, WATCH OUT!!

I picked up my Bongo this morning and I heard a crack from the shoulder area of the strap, I thought wtf? and then I was quick enough, that by the time the second and final crack occurred I was already holding my bass safely by the neck and body, but if I hadn't, oooh dear!!

I phoned the Bass Centre straight away and they were very nice about it, a guy called Tom said that these straps have been upgraded ("does that mean other straps like these have been reported as broken in a similar way?" I asked, he wouldn't say) but he told me that a new batch is already on order and that they will send me a replacement.

I told him I wouldn't trust that particular strap anymore even though I had EB straplocks on it, the place in which it snapped does not expire me confidence.

It's a shame because it was a very comfortable, wide and spongy strap. But for me once bitten... twice shy, so I won't be having another one of those.

If any of you Londoners have bought this strap be careful, that's all!

And here are the gory pics.

Don't look if you are squeemish.

 

[koogie2k]

WOW....glad it was only the strap. I would take it back and let them see that. The strap I use is very thick and I have had it for years. But, glad your made it without any damage.

 

[adouglas]

Plastic sucks.

Multi-ply, high-quality leather for me, baby.

4.5" wide and it'll live longer than I will:

 

[Spudmurphy]

Wow!! - glad that no damage was caused to the guitar!

Yup, I agree with Adouglas - I've had the same leather strap for over 30 years - it's worth paying the extra for a good leather one.

 

[oli@bass]

plastic sucks.

Multi-ply, high-quality leather for me, baby.

4.5" wide and it'll live longer than i will:

+1'000'000!

Best. Strap. Ever.

 

[iamcatwarrior]

Plastic sucks.

Multi-ply, high-quality leather for me, baby.

4.5" wide and it'll live longer than I will:

+1, or get yourself a Levi strap for $20 at a local music store. I have a whole bunch and they don't have any plastic components, and have never snapped on me.

 

[five7]

I tried every kind of strap and I like the black Ernie Ball straps the best. They don't break and they let me move the bass around when I am playing. Plus they are the most comfortable. Wide straps and padded ones seem to make the bass feel heavier and don't allow me to swing the bass during a show. The black ones blend with anything I am wearing and any color of instrument. If you are really a musicman lover, why would you use anything else?

 

[MingusBASS]

It just seems like a bad design. It was only a matter of time before that strap broke. Not if, WHEN.

I like the Levy's straps but I prefer this one: Levy's M4GF | Sweetwater.com

I have one like adouglas and it's great, but it might just be a little too wide.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

Guys I already have a leather one just like the Levi's one without plastic buckles and adjustable laces, but it belongs to the StingRay, when I've got this Bongo, I wanted a strap with some soft support and that was the only one I found, now I will get another Levi's type, just so you know, for some strange reasons in London the only Levi's straps they sell are the thinner ones for guitars, I have not been able to find any bass ones. But I will look at ordering one from wherever even Papa New Guinee if need be.

Thanks for the advice and thank my lucky star that today has not been my Bongo on the floor day!

 

[adouglas]

I only own one strap, and it's equipped with EBMM strap locks.

Each of my basses has the requisite straplock buttons installed.

Of course this means I've got two redundant sets of male straplock pieces, but that doesn't matter.

 

[Kirby]

Every one of my basses has a Levi strap on it. Never had a problem with them, nothing but a class act. I have spoken with them on several occasions and they have always been great at customer service, much like Ernie Ball.

 

[Duarte]

I don't own a strap!

Seriously, it becomes a nuisance in a situation when a strap is needed, which is all the time

 

[MingusBASS]

Uhhh, what?

 

[LaneB]

Just buy Levys.....

 

[Grand Wazoo]

First off, I'm glad your bass is okay! Whew! Dropping one is something I've always been concerned with. Since I play some licks over the top of the neck strictly for "show," my fretting hand is reversed which would make it more difficult to quickly catch my bass if it were to slip off the strap (I don't have strap locks.) I own 10 basses and equipping them all with strap locks would add up, but it's a much smaller investment than losing a bass to gravity. Hmmm...
After reading your post, I threw away 5 straps with plastic connectors including a $40 "Comfort Strapp" which had 4 plastic connnector sections! I had never thought about this factor before. I will now only use all leather straps.
Thank you!

WHAT A STAR REPLY SOMB!!

I am truly happy that my "near miss" has been a wake up call for others and you have made my day. Now can you arrange for that helicopter to take me ashore, I have been waiting 2 hours and there is no wind!!! I wanna go home.

 

[7broccos]

Ernie Ball straps are what I use,never a problem

 

[Grand Wazoo]

Ernie Ball straps are what I use,never a problem

Yes the EB straps are great, we all know that, I have one too for my guitar, but they are thin for a bass and at least to me the thinner straps dig into my neck, a bass is heavier than a guitar remember. Thank you.

 

[five7]

My stingray is not that heavy, plus I like to whip it around.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

see this pic? someone else is using the same strap as the one that broke on me yesterday... be careful bud

 

[darkblack]

That's my rack, GW...The strap locks are going on the Bongo today, but I will say that I haven't had any problem with the North American version of that strap, on three different instruments. Very reliable, but there's always a first time.

Oddly enough, the Levy's leather straps that I own use the same plastic buckles, but I suspect a metal type would create friction wear in the fabric that could also lead to strap failure over a period. A zip strap at the buckle points might be a prudent safety measure.

In the end, perhaps the 3 basic laws of thermodynamics apply.