Official Luthiers Forum!

Hello Everyone,

I have fooled around with leatherwork a big part of my life and would like to run something by the list. I know a lot of you are players,and I have an idea bouncing around in my pea brain about a guitar strap that "should" be considerably more comfortable that the conventional leather straps available now. I detest those nylon/vinyl things so this is not about them. I would like to know what you like about a guitar strap, what you don't like, what you would like see on a strap that you can't usually get, width, size , adjustability,decoration, etc. If this works out, since I didn't feel comfortable with helping out, I'll donate one to Lance for the OLF guitar.

Thanks in advance.

I have always thought that a harness would work great if it could be made to look half way cool....

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

[QUOTE=Brock Poling]
I have always thought that a harness would work great if it could be made to look half way cool....[/QUOTE]

Somebody makes one of those things, can't remember right off hand. Like you say, it looks kinda goofy and it looks like it would be a pain to get in and out of.

I'm a big fan of very wide across the shoulder, and taper properly from there, which usually means you have to get a strap that's a custom fit.

I'm also always worried about what chemicals the strap has on it that might react with a guitars finish.

Beyond that, it's all about the softness of the leather, and the details. The best non-custom strap I've ever found is the highest dollar Taylor strap. Best I've seen.

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

I like them wide on the shoulder (at LEAST 3", 4" works well too), soft leather (rawhide on one side), and gently tapring to narrow for the tail pin.

I really don't like decoration. Give me a nice, leather strap (natural browns, tans, black, whatever, but darker browns are my thing), no trip, let me fit my straploks, and just enjoy it.

The absolute best guitar strap is a foot stool and your thigh!

Oh, did I mention that I play classical?

Steve Brownsfbrown38788.6726273148

I'd appreciate some kind of feature that would make it easy to adjust the
strap shorter if I'm sitting or longer if I'm standing. Kind of the strap
equivalent to a multi-tune bridge.

On an acoustic, I prefer narrower at the shoulder than most leather
straps. On an electric, they're usually heavier, so I like the extra width.

And for what it's worth, the strap on my main guitar has to be tied on
behind the nut - there's no button on the heel.

Jay

Of course I don't play guitar so it's not an issue for me personally. The best strap I ever bought for my son was a super soft, leather, Fender strap. They seem hard to find, and the only equivalent is the Fender Cool Straps in Pastel colors now. This one was black and maybe 1 3/4 wide, very supple and adjustable.

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

I agree that the nylon web plastic shoulder strap combination is both uncomfortable & unattractive. (opinion only)
My favorite strap is one I had made at a leather shop decades ago. It is thick, soft tanned leather with four holes at each end to adjust the length. It's 2 1/2" wide over the shoulder, tapering to an inch & a bit at the ends.
If I was playing a heavy electric, I'd want it wider but this width is great for acoustics.
I thought the leather would stretch over time, but it hasn't. The rough side stays on my shoulder with no slipping & it's so supple that it doesn't dig in anywhere... Really comfortable.
If you are thinking of making some for sale, I might be interested.

Let's see this puppy.

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

The traditional strap for lutes, more to hold the long neck up on archlutes when sitting down, is red silk ribbon!

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

[QUOTE=Bruce Dickey] Let's see this puppy.[/QUOTE]

Come on Bruce! You know the drill. If I do that, then I gotta kill ya!!

I have one roughed out and I should have it finished sometime this week if I can get enough time to work on it. ( My wife thinks yard work is much more important than guitars and guitar straps. sigh!!) I'll post pictures then and ask for "brutally" honest comments.

Hint: Think Boomerang.Jimmie D38788.2797800926

Thanks everyone for their input. I guess I need to explain a little about where I’m coming from with this. I have worked with leather in one form or another since I was about 10 yrs. old. I have always liked the look and feel of hand carved leather. I have built everything from saddles to key chains and just about everything in between. I even made a couple of guitar straps years ago, but used a design that is still pretty standard today.

When I got interested in playing the guitar again about 5 yrs. ago, I went out and bought one of those nylon straps and promptly threw it in the trash. I then bought a cheap off the rack leather strap and didn’t like it either. I still have all my tools, so I figured I would just make one. So I did. Looked great, but guess what. I didn’t like it either.

Then I got to thinking (very dangerous). First of all, I think 7-8 oz. and 8-9 oz. leather, (This is what most commercial straps are made of, and I’m not talking about garment leather, that’s another issue), is too heavy and thick for a guitar strap. Conventional straps are straight. The problem with that is, when you attach the strap to the front button, put it over your shoulder and hook it to the end pin, it wants to stay straight. It wants to tip on its edge and digs into the side of the neck. Even soft garment leather straps will do this, although not to the extent of stiffer leather. They will eventually conform to the shoulder, but it can take some time and (personal opinion) I don’t’ think they ever fit quite right.

OK. What I have done is cut a strap out of a side of leather with an angle in it. Picture if you will a boomerang with a short leg, or if you’re heading west from Memphis to Little Rock, it’s a straight shot. When you get to Little Rock you have to cut northwest if you want to go to Tulsa. This is cut out of 2-3, 3-4 oz .leather so you still have the beauty and durability of the leather without the stiffness and weight. It will be lined with suede for a finished look and to prevent slipping. I personally don’t like real wide straps but I know a lot of people do. I think 2 ? to 2 ? is about right. This tapers from the shoulder area to about 1 ?” at the pins. There will also be a subtle cutout on the inside of the angle where it crosses the shoulder to help alleviate the “Neck Jam Syndrome”.

As far as adjustability, if the strap is fit properly with about 3 measurements, unless you use it for a bunch of different size guitars, you shouldn’t need a lot of adjustment. There will however be some adjustability to it. I have one roughed out and from all indications, it might just work.

Anyway, that’s my story and I’m stick’n to it.

Thanks,

Jimmie Sorrels
Germantown, TN