Focusing on Design! Introducing Cool Guitar Straps

There are all sorts of guitar straps out there, right? For an acoustic guitar, it’s not as big of a deal, but when you're hanging a 4-5 kg electric guitar from your shoulder, a sturdy strap that doesn’t put too much strain on your shoulder is definitely ideal. But that’s kind of boring—it’s not very rock 'n' roll. So, with that in mind, I decided to choose some guitar straps with a focus on design.

■ So Many Straps on Sound House!

When I searched for guitar straps on Sound House, a ton of results popped up—2,511 to be exact. How are you supposed to pick one from all that? Well, I went through them one by one.

ERNIE BALL / 4097 Indigo Orchid Jacquard Guitar Strap

This one's a true classic, but the pattern is just beautiful! And it’s affordable, too. My acoustic guitar has a tobacco sunburst finish (a kind of dark brown color), so I thought this blue would go really well with it. Plus, since Eric Clapton has used it, it’s something you can brag about… The jacquard weave gives it a refined, retro vibe. It’s got a mature feel, which is great.

Epivo / Azure Retro Guitar Strap 50mm

Handmade guitar straps are super expensive, but being made in Germany gives it that undeniable sense of craftsmanship. The design also has a really artistic feel to it.

I found out about this strap from the Sound House staff’s blog. You can check out detailed photos in their article.
Related article: “The German Handmade Epivo Straps!”

FENDER / NEON MONOGRAM STRAP GRN/YLW

This is a rare neon-colored guitar strap. And the fact that it has Fender’s classic pattern *in neon* is just irresistible. It has that slightly unique vibe, which makes it stylish. The material is soft and comfortable to use. The way it has "Fender, Fender, Fender" all over it makes it super *Fender-forward*, and that’s what makes it so emotional.

Right On STRAPS / FAKEY Woody

What’s this? It’s a bass clef! Why not a treble clef? Choosing the less common bass clef is actually pretty cool! Since bass parts are often written with a bass clef to make lower notes easier to read, maybe this strap is aimed at bass players? Or maybe they just thought the bass clef has a cleaner look… Either way, it’s intriguing!

FENDER / 2" Serape Strap - Green Multi

This is a multicolor strap. Even though it uses a lot of colors, it doesn’t look too busy—that stylish balance is nice. It would look great on an all-black guitar with just this strap as the pop of color. Fender really knows how to keep things classy!

DIMARZIO / STEVE VAI PRINT-BLUE CHERRY UNIVERSE DD3144

I thought it was just a marble pattern, but it turns out this is a custom design drawn by Frank Zappa’s guitarist, Steve Vai—it’s his signature strap! It would look awesome with an Olympic White Fender electric and that pink marble. Or, I’d love to pair it with the pink on the Ibanez Ichika model.

JIM DUNLOP / STRAP JACQUARD GREY SKULL-EA

I was looking for something subtle in black with a bit of a pattern, and it turned out to be skulls. But the skulls are small enough that they’re actually pretty nice! The strap is jacquard-woven on the front, with nylon webbing on the back and leather ends, so it seems durable too. Perfect for skull fans!

GIBSON / ASSD-WHT THE SPLIT DIAMOND

Pure white looks cool too, doesn’t it? And since it’s Gibson, you’d think it would be around 10,000 yen, but it’s actually selling for 4,780 yen. I really like this kind of simple design!

GET'M GET'M STRAPS / Aussie Gator Bubble Pink

This strap has a pattern that makes it look like it could be snake or crocodile skin. It’s pink, bold, and super cool. It’s a product from an American apparel brand called Get'm Get'm Inc. Handmade, with a nylon backing that makes it smooth and easy to use.

JIM DUNLOP / ILD04 ILOVEDUST Strap Skulls Black/White

This strap has a unique, monochrome design with high-quality artwork. Turns out it’s a collaboration with the British artist collective I LOVE DUST. There’s also a colorful version, but personally, I think the monochrome one looks the coolest!

ARIA / SPS-2000AL2

This one has an Alice in Wonderland pattern. If I were a girl, I’d love to try a strap like this. It’s Alice-themed, but not overly sweet—very stylish.

■ I Want All the Straps!

Just changing the strap can really change the overall look of your guitar. It’s easy to just stick with the same strap all the time, but switching them out based on your mood makes it more fun, doesn’t it? I hope everyone enjoys experimenting with strap designs!

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