Matt Heafy Launches Ergonomic Two-Shoulder Guitar Strap

The world of guitar straps has stayed the same for decades, but Trivium’s Matt Heafy is looking to change that.

German guitar accessory manufacturer Richter has a history of developing new ideas for guitar straps, including a 3-point-suspension system that looks similar to a harness. But now, teaming up with Heafy, they’ve created a two-shoulder strap.

The strap is designed to distribute the weight of the guitar over both shoulders instead of just a single shoulder. The weight distribution ratio isn’t 50/50, but approximately 60/40.

The design seems to support the guitar by combining a standard strap with a secondary strap that wraps around the center of the guitar’s body, then goes up across the other shoulder and attaches to the main strap.

So far the reception has been very polarizing, with some guitarists loving the ergonomic design and others putting down the product as nothing more than a gimmick.

Regardless of your stance, it’s hard to deny the actual benefits of proper weight distribution. When you’re a touring guitarist spending thousands of hours with an 8-10lb weight pulling on one side of your body it’s not so crazy to want to create some balance there to prevent injury or muscular imbalances.

Most of us may not have these issues with conventional strap designs, but anyone with a basic understanding of the human body will see why this can cause potential shoulder, back, and other issues down the road.

The straps are currently being sold at a steep price of 189 EUR. For those who suffer from back issues, I can see this being worth the investment. For the rest of us who don’t suffer (at least, not yet…) it’s an extremely hard sell.

The market is certainly niche, but there’s something to be said about having a specialized product, and perhaps it’s worth remembering the target market. This isn’t for everyone, but you have to commend Richter for investing time and money into improving the health of guitarists so they can continue to pursue their passion pain-free. Our hats off to them.