The Last Bass Outpost

Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: morrow on September 12, 2020, 07:05:55 AM

Title: Gibson "Slingshot" strap !
Post by: morrow on September 12, 2020, 07:05:55 AM
Anyone tried these ?
Apparently there's hidden elastic that enables you to change the length of the strap while you're in the midst of that interpretive dance during your bass solo .
I think this was developed by the same creative team of mad genius that created robo tuners .
Now the regular price seems a little steep , although in some reviews they do say the leather smells quite nice .
I have a chance to pick up a used one at a more than fair price .
I'm tempted ...
Title: Re: Gibson "Slingshot" strap !
Post by: TBird1958 on September 12, 2020, 11:20:20 AM

Nothing says Lovin' like leather!  :gay:


Title: Re: Gibson "Slingshot" strap !
Post by: Pilgrim on September 12, 2020, 11:55:10 AM
It has a nice look to it, and the idea sounds good. If the price is reasonable, why not?
Title: Re: Gibson "Slingshot" strap !
Post by: westen44 on September 12, 2020, 11:59:06 AM
I think probably because I've already reached my limit on buying straps this year.  But never say never. 
Title: Re: Gibson "Slingshot" strap !
Post by: morrow on September 12, 2020, 01:18:58 PM
Heh , got it , there's a hidden elastic so you can pull down on the strap and lengthen it by about two inches . I don't know quite why someone invented that . That said , it seems to be a nice heavy duty leather strap. Original owner bought it because he had a heavy Les Paul .
It's just about brand new .
I'll try it out tomorrow night , I'm in the house band in the local blues dive .
Title: Re: Gibson "Slingshot" strap !
Post by: Highlander on September 12, 2020, 02:04:50 PM
I made a custom strap for my RD from a bit of old plastic strapping for securing an HR12 (cherry picker) to a trailer... works for me... the PC has a denim strap... the Jazz has my clan tartan... I have a couple of (Mork and Mindy) rainbow straps from the 70's...
The tartan one was the last one I bought...
No leather straps for over 30 years...
Title: Re: Gibson "Slingshot" strap !
Post by: Dave W on September 12, 2020, 09:48:06 PM
If the price is fair, I say go for it. I haven't seen one but the leather Gibson straps I've seen are very nice.

OTOH I bought my first guitar this month in 1959, and in 61 years, I've never once wished I could change the strap length mid-song.
Title: Re: Gibson "Slingshot" strap !
Post by: morrow on September 13, 2020, 07:29:26 AM
I'm kinda puzzled by the feature . I bought the strap through a musician's classified . The strap seems brand new , and is horrifically expensive new , but I picked it up for about 1/3 of the regular price , and was curious .
This was supposedly designed to make the weight of a fairly heavy instrument bore bearable . The two I'll be taking out tonight are featherweights . A Longhorn and DC Jr .
Title: Re: Gibson "Slingshot" strap !
Post by: Highlander on September 13, 2020, 08:04:08 AM
Quote from: Dave W on September 12, 2020, 09:48:06 PMOTOH I bought my first guitar this month in 1959, and in 61 years, I've never once wished I could change the strap length mid-song.
:mrgreen:
Title: Re: Gibson "Slingshot" strap !
Post by: Dave W on September 13, 2020, 08:12:10 PM
Quote from: morrow on September 13, 2020, 07:29:26 AM
I'm kinda puzzled by the feature . I bought the strap through a musician's classified . The strap seems brand new , and is horrifically expensive new , but I picked it up for about 1/3 of the regular price , and was curious .
This was supposedly designed to make the weight of a fairly heavy instrument bore bearable . The two I'll be taking out tonight are featherweights . A Longhorn and DC Jr .

I know (from an indie Gibson dealer) that Gibson was forcing dealers to carry straps and -- at least during the late Henry era -- were sending out way more than most dealers could sell in a reasonable time. Maybe yours was excess NOS inventory being dumped.
Title: Re: Gibson "Slingshot" strap !
Post by: morrow on September 14, 2020, 06:04:13 AM
I managed to spot the strap on kijiji so it was a private sale , and picked it up for about 1/3 of the regular price .
Used it with a couple of basses last night and decided it's a keeper although the elastic thing is a little odd . Previous owner bought it because his Les Paul weighed a ton and sold the guitar .
Title: Re: Gibson "Slingshot" strap !
Post by: uwe on September 15, 2020, 08:17:36 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr-aX3gNiOM

What's new about stretch straps? I played those famed "No1" stretch straps for ages in the 80ies with my Kramer XKB-10 "Flying Broom". Not because of comfort, but because I liked fooling around with different "bass altitudes" when throwing shapes on stage. The XKB-10, tremendously neck-heavy as it was and with a totally un-ergonomic body form to boot, required to be "carried" in any position.  :mrgreen:
Title: Re: Gibson "Slingshot" strap !
Post by: Highlander on September 15, 2020, 03:31:18 PM
Yeech... sorry, but what an ugly bass... imho... :o
Title: Re: Gibson "Slingshot" strap !
Post by: ajkula66 on September 15, 2020, 06:30:36 PM
Quote from: uwe on September 15, 2020, 08:17:36 AM

I played those famed "No1" stretch straps for ages in the 80ies with my Kramer XKB-10 "Flying Broom".

Wow. I haven't thought about those straps in decades. Had a few in choice colours back then...but not the XKB-10 so you win there... :)
Title: Re: Gibson "Slingshot" strap !
Post by: gearHed289 on September 16, 2020, 08:50:04 AM
I bought one of those nylon "seat belt" straps (not the stretchy kind) with my new Kramer Stagemaster SMB-2 back in 1982. Talk about neck dive!
Title: Re: Gibson "Slingshot" strap !
Post by: Pilgrim on September 16, 2020, 02:51:44 PM
Quote from: gearHed289 on September 16, 2020, 08:50:04 AM
I bought one of those nylon "seat belt" straps (not the stretchy kind) with my new Kramer Stagemaster SMB-2 back in 1982. Talk about neck dive!

The underside of nylon straps might as well be coated with Teflon the way they slide around....
Title: Re: Gibson "Slingshot" strap !
Post by: gearHed289 on September 17, 2020, 08:10:13 AM
Quote from: Pilgrim on September 16, 2020, 02:51:44 PM
The underside of nylon straps might as well be coated with Teflon the way they slide around....

For real! Lesson learned - try the bass on a strap while standing before buying!
Title: Re: Gibson "Slingshot" strap !
Post by: Pilgrim on September 17, 2020, 10:31:07 AM
Quote from: gearHed289 on September 17, 2020, 08:10:13 AM
For real! Lesson learned - try the bass on a strap while standing before buying!

I solve that the easy way - if it doesn't have sueded leather or actual wool fleece on the underside, I don't buy it.  I know it's not slipping and sliding if it qualifies on either count.
Title: Re: Gibson "Slingshot" strap !
Post by: Dave W on September 18, 2020, 12:19:42 AM
I upgraded to leather straps years ago, mostly Levys. They stay put.
Title: Re: Gibson "Slingshot" strap !
Post by: westen44 on September 18, 2020, 03:04:53 AM
I bought a Levy's for the first time a few months ago.  About $50, very wide and comfortable.  I wasn't sure how good they were, but I like them. 
Title: Re: Gibson "Slingshot" strap !
Post by: Pilgrim on September 18, 2020, 09:06:42 AM
Agreed. I have a number of Levys and IMO they make good straps that will stay put.  I generally buy a strap for each bass that complements the instrument.
Title: Re: Gibson "Slingshot" strap !
Post by: Dave W on September 18, 2020, 08:10:57 PM
I bought all mine off eBay over several years, all at way below usual street price. The markup on them must be higher than on instruments.
Title: Re: Gibson "Slingshot" strap !
Post by: westen44 on September 18, 2020, 09:36:27 PM
Quote from: Dave W on September 18, 2020, 08:10:57 PM
I bought all mine off eBay over several years, all at way below usual street price. The markup on them must be higher than on instruments.

I checked on Amazon and the Levy's M4GF strap was $49.99--the same as what I paid at AMS.  But I didn't check beyond that.  I've mostly used Neotech.  But I already like Levy's better.  You could go through calisthenics with one of these Levy's straps on your bass.  I'm sure there must be better straps and worse ones, too.  But this is just my own experience.  Lately, I've been on a streak in which I like everything bass-related that I buy. 
Title: Re: Gibson "Slingshot" strap !
Post by: Chris P. on October 02, 2020, 02:31:00 PM
https://youtu.be/tk7BjUX_VGQ

That is Jen Tabor who worked for Levy's for a year, but she's totally back with her own brand Souldier, I proudly endorse (*). And me with a Dutch orange Tele showing the working of this strap. She has Souldier for 15 years now, with a brief stint at Levy's.

I'm a Souldier fanboy, so some advertisement time! Souldier.us

Other Souldier users:  Harry Styles, Madelief van Vlijmen, Jimmy Page, Gary Clark Jr. Raymond Stolp, Wilco, Johnny Marr, Tame Impala, Chris Stapleton, Weyes Blood, Ty Segall,, Sonic Youth, Sturgill Simpson, The Black Keys, Adele, Norah Jones, Mumford and Sons, Michael Kiwanuka, MGMT, Larkin Poe, Aerosmith, Josh Klinghoffer, Jason Mraz, Eric Johnson, Govan Guthrie, Brian Fallon, Vernon Reid, Bob Weir, Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots, Kurt Vile. Dave Matthews Band, Decemberists, Courtney Barnett, Tash Sultana, Panic! At The Disco, Buddy Guy, Ace Frehley of Kiss, and many, many more!

Title: Re: Gibson "Slingshot" strap !
Post by: westen44 on October 02, 2020, 04:15:59 PM
Looks good.  I like the adjustment feature.