Revo Guitar Straps are gaining popularity, spotted on artists like Zac Brown and Ziggy Marley, known for their distinctive style. The core concept behind Revo is simple yet innovative: crafting comfortable guitar straps from wood, all handcrafted in Costa Rica.
The Uniqueness of Wooden Guitar Straps
Revo Strap Maple Bullet 1
Wooden guitar straps might sound unconventional at first. They may bring to mind those wooden beaded seat covers, but the principle is surprisingly effective for a guitar strap. The idea is that wood offers a different approach to weight distribution. Instead of concentrating the weight of your guitar on a narrow point of your shoulder, a wooden guitar strap spreads the pressure more evenly across a broader area. This can lead to enhanced comfort, especially during long gigs or practice sessions.
I recently had the opportunity to test drive a Revo Maple Bullet guitar strap, priced at $89, to see if the reality matched the concept. Here’s a breakdown of my experience.
Hands-on Review of the Revo Maple Bullet Guitar Strap
The packaging was straightforward – a simple plastic sheath with a cardboard tag. Inside, the setup process involved two primary steps: attaching the strap tail and fitting the strap to the guitar’s strap buttons.
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Strap Tail Adjustment: The strap tail is designed to be adjustable, allowing you to customize the strap length. It attaches by weaving through slots in the wooden segments of the main strap. As someone of average build (Men’s Large shirt size), I found myself needing to use the largest adjustment setting. Revo states their straps are adjustable from 43″ to 55″, and it seems I was nearing the 55″ end of that range.
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Strap Hole Fit: Attaching the strap to the guitar neck’s strap button was smooth. However, the strap hole intended for the guitar body’s strap button proved to be a tighter fit. It was actually too small to fit over the strap peg initially. To resolve this, I used a pocket knife to carefully enlarge the strap hole slightly. This adjustment provided a secure fit. Interestingly, upon contacting Revo about this, they confirmed that this is their preferred approach. They intentionally make the strap holes snug to ensure compatibility with all guitars, allowing users to customize the fit as needed for their specific hardware.
Revo Strap Maple Bullet 3
Once properly set up, the Revo strap immediately impressed with its comfort. The promised even weight distribution was noticeable. My guitar felt more stable and secure, with less of the “swingy” feeling sometimes experienced with traditional straps. The wooden beads moved smoothly and conformed to my shoulder, enhancing the comfortable feel.
Important Consideration: A point to keep in mind with wooden straps – if you typically leave both ends of your strap attached when setting your guitar down (perhaps by just sliding it over your head), be aware that the wooden strap can make contact with the back of your guitar when placed down. It’s advisable to detach one end of the strap before setting your guitar down gently to prevent any potential bumps or scratches.
Customization Bonus: While I didn’t personally test this feature, Revo offers the option to have custom inlays added to the strap to complement your guitar’s aesthetics. This sounds like a particularly appealing option for acoustic guitarists looking to add a touch of personalized style to their instrument.
Explore More Revo Guitar Straps for a unique blend of comfort and style.
