Strap lock belt for easier pulls...

Hey, it's been a while...

I was having a hard time being in tune when pulling up on the trem because my bass would just float away from me. So I took an old belt and a strap lock and set it up at the bottom of the back of my bass.



You don't get that 'Rocker -bass under the belt' look, but it makes pulls on the trem a whole lot easier...

Hey there Sly!

Can you explain how you use the added strap lock pin to use the trem better? I'm not sure I follow.

I think it's the 'being in tune' that wasn't clear - I was referring to the pitch I want to get when bending (half tone up) When I play standing up and pull on the trem arm to get a half tone bend, the strap lock at the waist keeps the bottom of the bass snuggly in place. Without the strap lock on the belt I would have to try to hold the bass back with my right forearm (and a little bit with the left hand while holding notes) when pulling up. This made getting a half tone bend properly in tune more difficult...

Or maybe it wasn't clear from the picture that I wear the belt (I put it on nice and tight). The bass isn't only on a standard strap - it's also fixed to my belt via the strap lock...

I think you need to post a pic of you with the thing on so we can see what you mean.

Maybe 2 pics will be worth 1000 words ;-)

2 pics = 2000 words
OMG blueJean rivits + bass = scratches galore ---ewwww
besides, I thought the guitarists LIKE to have the body come up when they pull up ( part of the act maybe ) ?

oh wait...your playing bass

Now I get it - cool idea. Hope it hooks in easily

amimbari wrote:

2 pics = 2000 words
OMG blueJean rivits + bass = scratches galore ---ewwww
besides, I thought the guitarists LIKE to have the body come up when they pull up ( part of the act maybe ) ?

oh wait...your playing bass

Yeah I know - I don't look out for the finish on my basses - but I make it up to them by spending lots of quality time together ;-).

well your right ---- whats quite a few deep ugly thru the clear scratches on the back from pocket rivets and a belt buckle gonna matter on a bass your playing and keeping.

but if I see it on ebay and the ad says "super clean, extremely light wear marks", I'm gonna report it as false advertising

Ah! Now I get it! Thanks for clarifying, Sly!

I couldn't do such a mod, since I like to throw my bass around my neck once in a while. And I don't pull up all that much on the bar anyways. But kudos to you for working out a simple solution! Actually, it makes me think that you might be onto something here. I'll bet that a lot of players have issues with their instruments going all over the place, but it appears you have a grand solution there. Maybe you could develop and patent something along those lines?

amimbari wrote:

well your right ---- whats quite a few deep ugly thru the clear scratches on the back from pocket rivets and a belt buckle gonna matter on a bass your playing and keeping.

but if I see it on ebay and the ad says "super clean, extremely light wear marks", I'm gonna report it as false advertising

If you see my basses on Ebay I'm in trouble! That would mean that I've sold my car, my computers, my ipod and had a major garage sale and am still strapped for cash! ;-)

EricHaven wrote:

Ah! Now I get it! Thanks for clarifying, Sly!

I couldn't do such a mod, since I like to throw my bass around my neck once in a while. And I don't pull up all that much on the bar anyways. But kudos to you for working out a simple solution! Actually, it makes me think that you might be onto something here. I'll bet that a lot of players have issues with their instruments going all over the place, but it appears you have a grand solution there. Maybe you could develop and patent something along those lines?

It's a pretty simple idea and definitely keeps the instrument in place - it would need some tweaking because with a standard strap-lock the ball end is at the back of the belt and can be a little uncomfortable for the waist bone if you don't position it properly...

ahaha well, it is a good idea, but if I can only find the thread on Talkbass I'll post it...someone already did that and the only feedback he got was "what about the people who play without a belt"....

then the "fat-boy flaming" jokes started, as well as the "buy pants that fit" jokes....

I think I'll refrain from those here

Everyone may notice how I haddent chimed in yet.

I dont have the need for nor do I find this functional or necessary in any kind of way. My trem works just fine and i've had no difficulty doing anything i've set out to do with it.

Such a thing will never find its way on my bass or any of my restoration projects.

But if it works wonders for you bro ... awesome.

I recently actually read about a dutch guy (I live in Holland) who made (and I think patented) such a system with only one strap lock in the middle of the belt. He didn't mention anything about tremolo's but he presented it as a invention wich could help guitarists and basists (he actually was a basist himself) who have trouble carying around a heavy instrument. (I personally have never had trouble with this since I am six foot five (1,93 m) and did Judo for 11 years so heavy lifting is no problem to me.)