Straps
Straps, like most other bass related things, will depend on how much you want to pay. There are Levy's straps which will run you in the $20 - 40 range. There's also ComfortStrap which is designed to help distribute the weight of some of the heavier basses (one of my basses weighs 13 1/2 lbs). Personally, I prefer wide straps. At least 3" wide, but preferably 4" wide. If they have fleece or suede on the bottom, that works better, since it'll grab onto your shirt, bloause, or robe and keep your instrument from slipping out of position. There are hig end and custom made straps that can cost you from $60 to several hundred dollars. Moody's straps and Italia straps are both very nice high end straps. Trivia: Alison Moody of Moody straps and the guy that runs Italia used to be married and both started Moody's. They had a rather difficult divorce and he started Italia.
Strap Locks
In my opinion, they are cheap insurance. I did have a bass strap slip off of a strap horn a few years ago. Luckily I caught the neck in mid air, a couple feet before it would've smashed to the floor. This particular bass cost me 4 digits, and the first digit is not a "1", so you know there were moments of stress involved. There are two principle types of StrapLoks, Dunlop and the other brand that I don't remember right off hand. I have 6 basses. All of them have strap locks. The first thing I do when I get a new bass is put strap locks on it. I have some of both brands. The way the Dunlops work is they have a ball bearing actuated sleeve. You have to pull up on the cap to expand the ball bearings to allow the two parts to separate.
The other type, which I prefer, has a horseshoe shaped sleeve that clips over the strap button. I actually RARELY take my straps off my basses. They each have their own strap locked on. I just drape the whole thing over my head when it's "playtime".
Peace,
James
