I like the sound of heavy basses. I’m lucky enough to own several great instruments, and few things record like my 1978 Fender Jazz Bass, which weighs a very substantial 13 lbs. Almost as soon as I became its caretaker two decades ago, I decided that it would stay in the studio with other basses I mostly play sitting down — in my world, anything over 9 lbs. is too heavy to put on my shoulder. The temptation remains, however, to stand up and boogie with these killer instruments, so when I saw the CFG ZERO-G Pro padded bass strap, I knew I had to try it.
How It Feels
My first impression: The ZERO-G Pro’s 3.5″ width distribute pressure over more of my shoulder, with far more cushion, than my similarly wide leather straps. Some neoprene straps slide more than certain leather straps, but the ZERO-G Pro stayed right where I put it. The 3D air-cells with upgraded cushions enhance airflow, the smooth backing and raised air cells help keep the strap from getting sweaty, and that thick neoprene core rocks.
After testing it on the ’78 Jazz, I tried it with several other 9.5-lb.-plus basses, including an Elrick 6-string, a Wal 4-string, a Cort C5 Deluxe, and a Dingwall Combustion 4-string. I also wore the ZERO-G Pro with a Sire P7 New Gen 4-string for a three-hour rehearsal. Did I forget that I had a bass hanging from my shoulder? Not for a second. Did the strap make my basses feel lighter? Hell no. But the ZERO-G Pro made it easy to concentrate on playing without thinking about my left shoulder, and I wasn’t sore the next day. My next move: A new set of Dunlop strap locks.
What’s Hot
With high-grade cotton canvas, sliders, and buckles, the ZERO-G Pro is built to last. CFG touts the double-layer microfiber-PU strap ends, the premium 8-oz. cotton canvas outer layer, and reinforced stitching. The ZERO-G has been tensile-tested to 110 lbs., plenty of headroom for even the heaviest basses. I was glad to see that the wide strap sat comfortably on my shoulder and neck. Dig the well-placed pick pockets, too!
I tested a small (39″-47″) ZERO-G, but CFG also offers large (47″-63″) lengths. Because the adjustment hardware is attached to a dedicated rear strap section rather than forcing the thick, padded shoulder piece to slide through a buckle, CFG can achieve a massive adjustment range without creating a bulky, multi-layered mess on your shoulder. Fortunately, the fat ZERO-G Pro strap fit snugly into my gig bag.
What’s Not
If you already have a wide, padded bass strap or a neoprene favorite, the ZERO-G Pro might not be a revelation. Some players have called out the strap for looking “tactical” or “medical,” but that must’ve been before CFG announced the multicolored designs on the website. Last but not least, not everyone likes neoprene; some folks feel like it’s spongy. In my experience, the ZERO-G Pro isn’t as bouncy as the OG neoprene strap, the Comfort Strapp, but your mileage may vary.
How It Compares
The ZERO-G Pro improves on CFG’s other models — the Slim (2.5″ wide, Lycra top, two-year warranty) and the Gen-1 (3.5″ wide, Lycra top, two-year warranty) — with larger air-cell studs, an 8 oz. wear-resistant cotton canvas, upgraded slider and buckles, and a lifetime warranty.
Several other companies, including POGOLAB, KLIQ, and LEKATO, offer $29.99-$47.99 padded bass straps with air-cell cushioning. If you’re trying to go wide, Walker & Williams offers the $47.95 4″ wide B-4B-XL leather strap, and Levy’s catalogue includes straps that are even wider, like the $79.99 MSSB2-4-BLK Black on Black strap, which is 4.5″ wide. Other options include the aforementioned Comfort Strapp (up to $35.99); the Ernie Ball Cloud Comfort (up to $44.99); another classic, the Neotech Mega Bass Strap ($49.99); Gruv Gear’s SoloStrap 2 Neo ($59.99); as well as the premium (and premium-priced) Mono Betty ($99.99).
Buy This If…
•Your favorite basses are the heavy ones
•You stash Tiger Balm in your gig bag for that sore shoulder
•You’ve googled “bass strap for heavy basses”
The CFG ZERO-G Pro padded bass strap is an affordable, durable, well-engineered solution for heavy basses and the people who love them.
$64.99
By: E. E. Bradman