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| Double Bass Central Strapping: The Contrabass Shoppe has two types of Central Strap available:
Why do professional players choose to use a central strap? We all know that the double bass isn't exactly the lightest or easiest instrument in the orchestra to carry. Well - when you've been on the pro circuit for some time - lugging your double bass, stool and concert gear about from day to day, gig to gig, session to session - you start to think of ways to reduce the effort involved. That's right - it starts to become a matter of getting your priorities right - and what could be more right than finding a cheap, efficient method of carrying ones 'dog-house' - sorry I mean pride and joy - about without buggering up ones lower back in the process. Yes pro-players have been using a central strap since bass playing began way back in the ....... well let's just say way back - an awful long time ago. How is the strap fitted? Once you've put your instrument in its cover you simply tie the strap firmly around the waist of the instrument. That's it - away you go. Well - because the waist of your instrument is so much narrower than the upper bouts - it is impossible for the instrument to slip through the strap. This means that the central strap is an incredibly safe and secure method of carrying your instrument about. In addition - because the strap is tied around the centre or balance point of the instrument those awkward manoeuvres - such as stretching to place the instrument into the back of the car or station-wagon becomes a much less risky procedure. What is the strap made from? The strap is made from mighty strong industrial webbing and it is fitted with a non-slip plastic retaining buckle. Is there a choice of colours? Yes - for those of you who are fashion conscious or simply want to colour coordinate with your bass cover there is a choice of three fabulous colours - black, maroon and green. Conclusion: You don't have to be a pro to use a central strap. Even if you've already got lots of handles on your cover it still makes very good-sense to use one because it's safe, secure and seriously good news indeed for your lower-back.
Is the function of the Shoppe Leather Strap the same as the Webbing Strap? Yes it is - so for more general information on why you need one and how to secure the strap to your instrument - please visit the relevant paragraphs under Webbing Strap. Why would I want to buy a leather strap when the Webbing Strap does exactly the same job? Well sure - you are quite right. The lightweight webbing strap will definitely do the job just fine but there is just that something about a real leather strap that makes the whole affair of packing your bass up after a gig feel so much nicer and the end result look so much better. You know what I mean - its just quicker, more practical, more professional, more business like - to buckle-up using a large quality brass buckle on a wide, thick leather belt instead of somehow threading a seemingly unsubstantial strap through a small, fiddly plastic buckle. So the Shoppe Leather Strap really is the biz? Yes that's right - I should say so. With a width of 40mm and a thickness of 4mm - this heavy-duty leather strap is what every pro player dreams of getting his hand on. The features of the strap are;
Yes it is - but if you wanted to you could easily alter its appearance by using a leather shoe polish, cream or even a dye. Are there any different lengths of strap for different size instruments? Yes - The Shoppe Leather Straps are available in two different lengths - a 160cm (approx) strap for three-quarter size instruments and a 180cm (approx) strap for larger full size instruments or for those players of three-quarter size instruments that use bulky heavy weight covers. When fitted around the instrument any excess length can simply be crossed over the top of the strap and tucked down behind it. Can you tell me how to work out which size strap I need? Yes. We reckon that the easiest way to work out what size strap is perfect for your instrument is to measure the Length of its Back (LOB). To find out what this figure is - measure in centimetres from the base of the back button to the lowest extremity (mid-point of the bottom edge) of the back. 3/4 Size: LOB of 107cm - 112cm. Perfect for French "Lamy" or "Jacquet" type instruments and smallish Germanic instruments of violin or viol outline, with either flat or swell back. 4/4 size: LOB of 112cm - 118cm. Perfect for all Classic English instruments, Large Italian, French Lamy and German instruments that are violin or viol shaped, flat or swell backed. Final Words: Tony Houska - Director of The Contrabass Shoppe comments; "If you've ever splashed out a really nice pair of leather shoes - you sort of feel a bit guilty about spending the money on them - well you do at first - but then again there is something very, very satisfying about walking about in them that you just wouldn't want to give up for anything. In the same way I am quite convinced that once tried - the positive, practical and aesthetic benefits of using a Shoppe Leather Strap will far outweigh any initial monetary concerns."
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Why is that so efficient?
I see that the colour is a natural tan. 
