Revo Guitar Straps are gaining attention in the music world, and you might spot these distinctive straps on artists like Zac Brown and Ziggy Marley. What makes Revo stand out? Their innovative approach: crafting guitar straps from wood, all handcrafted in Costa Rica.
Why Wood for a Guitar Strap?
Close-up of a Revo wooden guitar strap showcasing its unique design and natural wood grain
Wood might seem like an unusual material for a guitar strap, but Revo’s design draws inspiration from the comfort principles of wooden beaded seat covers, often favored for their ergonomic benefits. The key idea behind a wooden guitar strap is weight distribution. Unlike traditional straps that can dig into your shoulder, a Revo guitar strap aims to spread the weight of your guitar more evenly across your shoulder. This can lead to enhanced comfort, especially during long gigs or practice sessions.
Recently, we put the Revo Maple Bullet strap, priced at $89, to the test. Here’s our review of this unique guitar accessory.
Hands-on Review: Revo Maple Bullet Guitar Strap
The Revo Maple Bullet guitar strap comes in simple, no-frills packaging – a plastic sheath with a cardboard tag. Setting up the strap is straightforward, involving just two steps: attaching the strap tail and fitting the strap to your guitar.
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Adjusting the Strap Tail: The strap tail is designed to be adjustable, allowing you to customize the length of your guitar strap. You weave the tail through slots in the wooden pieces to find your preferred length. As someone of average build (wearing a Men’s Large), I found myself needing the largest setting. Revo states their straps adjust from 43″ to 55″, and it seems I was close to the maximum.
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Fitting the Strap Holes: Attaching the strap to the guitar neck was easy. However, the strap hole for the guitar’s base pin proved to be a tighter fit. The hole was initially too small for the strap peg. To resolve this, I used a pocket knife to slightly enlarge the strap hole. Interestingly, Revo confirmed this is their recommended approach, preferring a snug fit that users can customize to their specific guitar hardware.
Guitarist playing with a Revo Maple Bullet guitar strap highlighting its comfort and weight distribution
Once set up, the comfort of the wooden guitar strap was immediately noticeable. The weight distribution felt significantly more even, making the guitar feel more secure and less prone to swinging. This enhanced stability is a real plus for guitarists who move around on stage or prefer a secure feel while playing.
A Word of Caution: If you tend to leave both ends of your guitar strap attached when setting your guitar down – for instance, by simply sliding it over your head – be mindful. The wooden strap can potentially tap against the back of your guitar if you’re not careful. It’s advisable to detach one end of the strap before placing your guitar down to prevent any accidental bumps.
Bonus Feature: While we didn’t test this feature, Revo offers the option of custom inlays for their straps, allowing you to match the strap to your guitar’s aesthetics. This customization could be a particularly appealing touch for owners of high-end acoustic guitars.
Explore More Revo Guitar Straps >> Maple Bullet Revo Strap on Amazon ($89) >>
