Guitar straps - how long do they last?

[uncle fester]

Hey folks - do you ever worry about the ends / slots of the guitar straps wearing out (that go over the buttons on the guitar), to the point they they could slip off the buttons?  

[TheLeadFlatpick]

I only worry about this when Im playing guitar. Last week I almost dropped my ovation because the strap slipped off the button. Good thing I didn't like the ovation or that could've given me a heart attack. I guess why theres plastic washers to go on strap button ends and strap locks. I really need to get some of those

[Lars68]

Nah, I worry more about the strap button falling out. Happened to me while playing a Martin recently. Fortunately I managed to catch it before disaster struck. 

Lars

 

[dhanners623]

The strap I use on my J-35 is one I've had since my junior year of college. That was roughly 1975.

As I recall, I did have the leather ends replaced somewhere along the line. Took the strap to a cobbler and, using the old ends as templates, he cut new ones and sewed them on.

if the holes for the strap buttons get too big from wear, Fender makes flexible hard-rubber washers that fit over the strap and button and keeps the strap from coming off.

[MissouriPicker]

I'm literally always sitting-down when I play, so it's not an issue for me.  However, if I were standing, I've be very concerned with the strap  slipping-off the guitars.  As mentioned, Fender has some washers that seem to work fine and there are some other enhancements that make the strap pretty secure.

[MorrisrownSal]

This is a great selling point for Sully Straps.

I have several,  He cut the hole in the pickup end of my straps so that the fit is appropriate. If you happen to play with a guitar with no pickup installed, he will cut that hole(s) differently.

 

https://imgur.com/NWE66rF

[uncle fester]

Thank you all.

[TheLeadFlatpick]

4 hours ago, ThemisSal said:

This is a great selling point for Sully Straps.

I have several,  He cut the hole in the pickup end of my straps so that the fit is appropriate. If you happen to play with a guitar with no pickup installed, he will cut that hole(s) differently.

 

https://imgur.com/NWE66rF

Theres a thing called “The Strapkeeper” that is supposed to be a strap lock for acoustics with 1/2” jack inputs. Seems cool, I think I may buy one today. Daddario makes a thing called “acoustic cinch fit” that basically does the same thing.

[MorrisrownSal]

I have both of those things and they are both great...

[TheLeadFlatpick]

4 hours ago, ThemisSal said:

I have both of those things and they are both great...

Cool, may I ask which one you like better? It looks to me that the Strapkeeper would be more secure than the cinch. When I get my new J45 back I have a Gibson Austin strap to put on it, but I don’t want to enlarge the strap end on it to fit the L.R. Baggs jack.

[MorrisrownSal]

The Strap Keeper is less substantial.... you actually say when you open it up “is that all this is?”. A little leather....

 

and yet... I like it better.  It works great.

Meanwhile the Cinch is attached to a ten dollar strap I keep in my gig bag. I have been using it with my D15 at gigs lately... and it also works really well. There is plastic, but it  won’t scratch. 

[TheLeadFlatpick]

I guess Ill go with the strapkeeper then, thanks for your opinion on both of them.

[drathbun]

For the price, this one better last well past my expiry date!

[Holiday Hoser]

plastic bread bag widgets will do the trick as well and they are free {well after you buy the bread)

[CoryB]

I still have the strap I bought in 1973. I had the ends replaced last year at a local leather shop for about $20 and I look forward to another 40+ years out of it.

[Murph]

I have one from 1969 somewhere. It's been patched up a bit, I'll try to find it. It's got decades of smokey bars in it's history.