Tales from.. ..The StrapLab!
- Thread starter TVvoodoo
- Start date
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The dude is a regular posting member here, not sure what makes this spam, dude.
Eagle
Rock Star
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- 4,162
Ok if you’re good with it
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New today... SuperFortress! If you're gonna bomb, do it up right! Double stitched, goes to 61" if you are a low-hangin'
orangutan-armed guitar guy. BTW, today happens to be the anniversary of Steve Clarke's passing. 24 years ago. :-(
Also, this weird (but very comfy) mongrel/hybrid I call "Prowler."
Raised Leopard velvet on black with metallic ribbon monstrosity!
Both nicely padded, mostly fabric straps, strong leather ends, 3" wide.
and.... Son-of-a-Gun!
Today I think a Well-Hung record was set. I posted a new listing for the new "GeoMatrix" early afternoon. Within seconds, it got snatched-up and will be heading to Cali tomorrow, probably a less-troubled zone. What a nightmare for so many, and all that insurance madness? OMG. I run a wood stove up here for home heating, and there's a lot of chatter on future regulations and insureability. Unless you have that eff you money, uninsureability can make a place unliveable.
Anyway, it's good and bad on the strap sale. Good for the quick hit for me, which is the end goal, but bad in that now by showing these finished pics, nobody can get it. Well, actually you kind of can. More on that later. But first a couple of pics.
Crafted of 4 oz vegtan. 42-56" working length, 2-3/4" wide, lightly padded. I did go with the off white almost cream stitch, and it sings.
There is a beige/gold tweedy lining, not real slippy, not real grippy, kind of neutral.
Ok, it sold off fast, but you can still get one, or something much like it, or even better if you wish.
Over the past two days I have been working on something new. After much hesitation, I have gone and opened up an Etsy store. I'm not going to offer too many things there, only some of my premium custom ordered "bespoke" things. I don't want to risk inventory mess-ups between platforms because almost all of my wares are short run, or one-offs and I'm the first to admit I'm not the most organized guy around.
Four items in there so far. ZERO followers, ZERO sales. Perfect record! - No way it can get worse from here
So, this "GeoMatrix" was my first crack at it, but it can be made similar, in various bursts. Blue, Red, Purple, Green, HoneyBurst, CSB, '59 style or solid dye colours. Please, also don't expect a bang-on match to your "2014 Bourbon-Laced August Sunset Tea in the SouthWest While Wearing Birkenstocks Burst" or "The exact purple of the '68 Deep Purple Debut Album Cover" because dye on leather is rather unpredictable - it's not like paint, you can't just pick a pantone. How dye sets depends very much on my mix, the hide, how the clearcoat saturates the colours, my wife's mood, the stock market and the politics on that particular day, etc. Again, I will do my best, and I've been at this for a while now.
Also available with a back-buckle "Class Act" design, choose none, light or medium padding, or strap width. And because it was my first try, I figure the next ones will likely be improvements, I suggest you allow me to NOT do the exact same pattern unless you are extremely risk-adverse. This also available on Reverb, or direct if you wish. Reverb is better. If you don't like any of those options, you can wait for one to show up on craiglist, FB marketplace or your local store. LOL!
I wanted to show you something else, but I can't find it, maybe tomorrow. duh!
orangutan-armed guitar guy. BTW, today happens to be the anniversary of Steve Clarke's passing. 24 years ago. :-(
Also, this weird (but very comfy) mongrel/hybrid I call "Prowler."
Raised Leopard velvet on black with metallic ribbon monstrosity!
Both nicely padded, mostly fabric straps, strong leather ends, 3" wide.
and.... Son-of-a-Gun!
Today I think a Well-Hung record was set. I posted a new listing for the new "GeoMatrix" early afternoon. Within seconds, it got snatched-up and will be heading to Cali tomorrow, probably a less-troubled zone. What a nightmare for so many, and all that insurance madness? OMG. I run a wood stove up here for home heating, and there's a lot of chatter on future regulations and insureability. Unless you have that eff you money, uninsureability can make a place unliveable.
Anyway, it's good and bad on the strap sale. Good for the quick hit for me, which is the end goal, but bad in that now by showing these finished pics, nobody can get it. Well, actually you kind of can. More on that later. But first a couple of pics.
Crafted of 4 oz vegtan. 42-56" working length, 2-3/4" wide, lightly padded. I did go with the off white almost cream stitch, and it sings.
There is a beige/gold tweedy lining, not real slippy, not real grippy, kind of neutral.
Ok, it sold off fast, but you can still get one, or something much like it, or even better if you wish.
Over the past two days I have been working on something new. After much hesitation, I have gone and opened up an Etsy store. I'm not going to offer too many things there, only some of my premium custom ordered "bespoke" things. I don't want to risk inventory mess-ups between platforms because almost all of my wares are short run, or one-offs and I'm the first to admit I'm not the most organized guy around.
Four items in there so far. ZERO followers, ZERO sales. Perfect record! - No way it can get worse from here
So, this "GeoMatrix" was my first crack at it, but it can be made similar, in various bursts. Blue, Red, Purple, Green, HoneyBurst, CSB, '59 style or solid dye colours. Please, also don't expect a bang-on match to your "2014 Bourbon-Laced August Sunset Tea in the SouthWest While Wearing Birkenstocks Burst" or "The exact purple of the '68 Deep Purple Debut Album Cover" because dye on leather is rather unpredictable - it's not like paint, you can't just pick a pantone. How dye sets depends very much on my mix, the hide, how the clearcoat saturates the colours, my wife's mood, the stock market and the politics on that particular day, etc. Again, I will do my best, and I've been at this for a while now.
Also available with a back-buckle "Class Act" design, choose none, light or medium padding, or strap width. And because it was my first try, I figure the next ones will likely be improvements, I suggest you allow me to NOT do the exact same pattern unless you are extremely risk-adverse. This also available on Reverb, or direct if you wish. Reverb is better. If you don't like any of those options, you can wait for one to show up on craiglist, FB marketplace or your local store. LOL!
I wanted to show you something else, but I can't find it, maybe tomorrow. duh!
- Messages
- 214
New Burnishing Tool Day!
Looked under chairs, looked under tables. To find my tool, for burnishing enabled.
They call me The Seeker, I was searching low & higgghhhhh.
I swear, I keep losing stuff here in my shop, lately. I think I little bit I might be losing my mind too
Ended up just making new one from a 1 X 2. Vegtan one side, cotton canvas web the other. V-groovy for strap edges, and with my high tech, Scienterrifically™ Designed Ergotronic™ Handle. About 30 min. later, my regular tool shows up. Sigh.
Also shown, a yet-to-be named 80's patch leather gatstrap with a tobackky strip up 'n down. She's long! It'll be up online tomorrow.
They call me The Seeker, I was searching low & higgghhhhh.
I swear, I keep losing stuff here in my shop, lately. I think I little bit I might be losing my mind too
Ended up just making new one from a 1 X 2. Vegtan one side, cotton canvas web the other. V-groovy for strap edges, and with my high tech, Scienterrifically™ Designed Ergotronic™ Handle. About 30 min. later, my regular tool shows up. Sigh.
- Messages
- 1,701
He’s posting handmade, high quality straps in the “Do It Yourself” sub forum. If you don’t like it, adult and just stay out of the thread. Sheesh…Ok if you’re good with it
Eagle
Rock Star
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- 4,162
High quality is questionable.
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- 214
Well said.
- Messages
- 214
Today on the bench is a custom "Dark Shadows" build for Rusty in Alberta. A little longer than most.
He saw one I made before the holidays, and decided he wanted to give me a try at matching his own rather intense burst. Here's where I was at early afternoon today
Does anyone here know the name of this burst, is it simply a Tri-burst? I figure Gibson probably has a sexier name for it, such as...
"Tequila Sunrise Night" or "Magma Burst." Or something?
Once I hit it with black on the edges and clearcoat it (over the weekend), the colours will saturate more.
He says the his photo colour shows it a bit more intense than it is real life. Probably a flash.
OK yesterday I showed a bit of a strap, it's now online. It's a B-stock 'cause I was dumb. I had set it aside 1/4 done maybe a year ago for some reason, never remembered why. Yesterday when it was near complete I figured it out.
Presenting "Strap With No Name" now in the Reverb store as a B-Stock.
Two smallish 1/4 inch slits in the leather on the rolled over edge about a foot up from the tip of the nose. Can't hardly see 'em, for most, but they're there and I figure probably why I set it aside unfinished months ago. Didn't even notice again 'til I was stitching it all together. Even double-stitched it! So mad at it and myself, decided the damn thing doesn't even deserve a name.
But, I did get my logo emblem on it perfectly centered LOL! Goes 46-60
Good leather nose and tail, comfort-padded, long, strong, kind of sexy. But not flawless. It's priced lowish.
In the Reverb listing, if you look, you'll see there's even a way to acquire it FREE.
This morning's order was fun and gave me a big smile waking up. Check it out:
Collected me another celebrity customer! One-Speed Dean now joins up with Jeff Beck (still rockin'), Carlos Santana,
Thomas Pettie, (still rockin') in the W-H Tribe! But the best one? Gotta be Agnes Young.
I like to say it real fast, and sort of mumble: "Yeah, you know... even Agnes Young wears a Well-Hung guitar strap."
Happy Friday Warriors and wannabees, have a super weekend.
He saw one I made before the holidays, and decided he wanted to give me a try at matching his own rather intense burst. Here's where I was at early afternoon today
Does anyone here know the name of this burst, is it simply a Tri-burst? I figure Gibson probably has a sexier name for it, such as...
"Tequila Sunrise Night" or "Magma Burst." Or something?
Once I hit it with black on the edges and clearcoat it (over the weekend), the colours will saturate more.
He says the his photo colour shows it a bit more intense than it is real life. Probably a flash.
OK yesterday I showed a bit of a strap, it's now online. It's a B-stock 'cause I was dumb. I had set it aside 1/4 done maybe a year ago for some reason, never remembered why. Yesterday when it was near complete I figured it out.
Presenting "Strap With No Name" now in the Reverb store as a B-Stock.
Two smallish 1/4 inch slits in the leather on the rolled over edge about a foot up from the tip of the nose. Can't hardly see 'em, for most, but they're there and I figure probably why I set it aside unfinished months ago. Didn't even notice again 'til I was stitching it all together. Even double-stitched it! So mad at it and myself, decided the damn thing doesn't even deserve a name.
But, I did get my logo emblem on it perfectly centered LOL! Goes 46-60
Good leather nose and tail, comfort-padded, long, strong, kind of sexy. But not flawless. It's priced lowish.
In the Reverb listing, if you look, you'll see there's even a way to acquire it FREE.
This morning's order was fun and gave me a big smile waking up. Check it out:
Collected me another celebrity customer! One-Speed Dean now joins up with Jeff Beck (still rockin'), Carlos Santana,
Thomas Pettie, (still rockin') in the W-H Tribe! But the best one? Gotta be Agnes Young.
I like to say it real fast, and sort of mumble: "Yeah, you know... even Agnes Young wears a Well-Hung guitar strap."
Happy Friday Warriors and wannabees, have a super weekend.
Last edited:
- Messages
- 214
Creepin' in on a couple of hand rubbed bursts this Saturdye afternoon... first this custom for Rusty. Think I'm gonna call it a "Bantam Burst," farm kids get it
Don't know about you, but if I come across a snake lookin' anything like this in the wild? I'm backing away reeaaalllll sloowwww.
Same time, I got this more laid-back one on the go too...
Lookin' like a "Dirty Blonde" to me
Don't know about you, but if I come across a snake lookin' anything like this in the wild? I'm backing away reeaaalllll sloowwww.
Same time, I got this more laid-back one on the go too...
Lookin' like a "Dirty Blonde" to me
- Messages
- 214
Completed Dark Shadows Dirty blonde this morning, it'll be in the R-store soon/
Padded, a bit skinnier up front, and goes as long as 62" for you shape throwers
Today on the bench, grommets. I figured I needed to make a few of these for the store, I've mostly just done in the past a custom work
Got some antique brass grommets, some gunmetals. These straps take a different kind of padding inside, and a fair bit more work than my normals because I really don't want you to feel 'em. So many strapmakers just have metal bits, rivets, grommets, stud claws etc... pierced right through the strap then just a-bangin' away on your shoulder, damaging your clothing, etc. Not my style.
As someone special to me noted earlier in this thread, metal bits on straps is firm no-go territory for certain tight clenchers. However, I can say with confidence way more people want this stuff on straps than those who absolutely don't, and, I'm not the one to decide. What I do, in many cases is try my best to minimize contacts, such as making sure the metal doesn't start right at the very end. In this case you can pin on a back button on most gats without any worry. And of course, they take a little extra care. But how else you gonna get those relic mojo road miles to show honestly?
I'm also incorporating my old "Amp'd" concept of like seven years ago... with some Fender silvergrill, Mojotone black 'n tan, and some Marshall salt 'n pepper visible in the portholes. As you may expect, details like this enable these black leather straps to send out way purer toanz
A ways to go on these yet, tail straps, button holes etc... should be ready tomorrow and hopefully in the store.
also invented something the other day to help me get my rivets punched in the center of my button. Way better, but not quite perfect yet.
Pics are pretty self-explanatory. drill out slightly for my tin emblem. Go right through with the proper size for my 8mm rivet setter.
This keeps things in place when I press, but getting the dang rivet through the hole is kind of a pain in the butt. Need to make a bigger
carve out on the other side.
Padded, a bit skinnier up front, and goes as long as 62" for you shape throwers
Today on the bench, grommets. I figured I needed to make a few of these for the store, I've mostly just done in the past a custom work
Got some antique brass grommets, some gunmetals. These straps take a different kind of padding inside, and a fair bit more work than my normals because I really don't want you to feel 'em. So many strapmakers just have metal bits, rivets, grommets, stud claws etc... pierced right through the strap then just a-bangin' away on your shoulder, damaging your clothing, etc. Not my style.
As someone special to me noted earlier in this thread, metal bits on straps is firm no-go territory for certain tight clenchers. However, I can say with confidence way more people want this stuff on straps than those who absolutely don't, and, I'm not the one to decide. What I do, in many cases is try my best to minimize contacts, such as making sure the metal doesn't start right at the very end. In this case you can pin on a back button on most gats without any worry. And of course, they take a little extra care. But how else you gonna get those relic mojo road miles to show honestly?
I'm also incorporating my old "Amp'd" concept of like seven years ago... with some Fender silvergrill, Mojotone black 'n tan, and some Marshall salt 'n pepper visible in the portholes. As you may expect, details like this enable these black leather straps to send out way purer toanz
A ways to go on these yet, tail straps, button holes etc... should be ready tomorrow and hopefully in the store.
also invented something the other day to help me get my rivets punched in the center of my button. Way better, but not quite perfect yet.
Pics are pretty self-explanatory. drill out slightly for my tin emblem. Go right through with the proper size for my 8mm rivet setter.
This keeps things in place when I press, but getting the dang rivet through the hole is kind of a pain in the butt. Need to make a bigger
carve out on the other side.
- Messages
- 214
Got a pic back from the owner of an Ammunition strap. Lookin' pretty sweet on this Stanley Iceman.
Not the easiest guitar to take pics of!
As mentioned, three new Grommet straps in the store. Flavoured in the Amp'd realm with grillcloth.
Very good black leather, nicely padded, super sturdy. The two gunmetal grommeted ones go to 60" and beyond
for any low slingin' rockers out there! Most ladder back type straps max out at around 51 or so.
Not the easiest guitar to take pics of!
As mentioned, three new Grommet straps in the store. Flavoured in the Amp'd realm with grillcloth.
Very good black leather, nicely padded, super sturdy. The two gunmetal grommeted ones go to 60" and beyond
for any low slingin' rockers out there! Most ladder back type straps max out at around 51 or so.
- Messages
- 214
Couple of new things in the store as of earlier today... No series, not really a theme... just me freestylin' yesterday.
"Five O' Diamonds", and "Crocodile Style." These will be one-offs. Not repeated.
I could go on about them, but what's the point? You already know they're going to be longer, stronger and way more comfortable than off-the-rack straps. hundreds of folks have said so.
What else is new... Oh! "Rusty" in Edmonton, got his Bantam Burst Dark Shadows custom!
Truth is, I was a bit worried about it, as I don't really hardly ever make anything unpadded, but he demanded it.
All seems to have worked out ai'ght!
"I am so impressed by your work on this strap. It matches the guitar perfectly in color. It is so comfortable, feels like I've had it forever, and it's not even broken in. None of my straps are padded, this one is just the right width and feels completely natural on this guitar with no padding.
I have several crazy custom straps, but this one takes the cake. It just became my favorite... ...It's literally the least expensive of all my custom straps, and by far the most painstakingly crafted of them all. Thank you very, very much. In truth you should charge more, that's very high custom work you're doing on straps like mine." HT in Edmonton.
Words like that are good enough for me to strut around on for a solid week!
He's already thinking about another. And, if he really wants to pay more....
Other than that, I decided this morning to start another GeoMatrix. I know I was just going to do them as custom, but I want at least a couple to show people. And really, it's kind of fun. So here I am, after a couple hours of hammering before lunch time, slowly creeping in on another burst - I'm going for a '59 kind of thing, at least what I imagine one to be. Dye is still wet here, but once it dries, I'll have a look and see what it needs, if anything.
Probably a touch more of that Red Dye No. 3 would do the trick, I'm sure the food companies are dumping it in the rivers everywhere.
Oh, and some exciting news, at least to me! Due to the main strike, I never got an Xmas gift from the wife. So, I took that dough, and put it towards a little extra cash in my stocking and pulled the trigger on a guitar kit from the Hardly Dented folks! More details on that later.
It's been a couple years since I've had a fiddle project on the go, and I'm looking forward to a fun, and probably kooky build.
Here's my Friday song, lyrics are mine, music, voice and production by AI, and it's better than I can cobble together on my schedule.
Don't get upset. Roll with the times. It fun! The amount of comedy/novelty stuff being out put out is probably the best part.
There are a lot of hilarious people out there, but not many who are funny AND musical, so it's a real playground for that kind of thing.
But this one isn't real funny.
suno.com
Have a great weekend, all you, you... rapscallions!
"Five O' Diamonds", and "Crocodile Style." These will be one-offs. Not repeated.
I could go on about them, but what's the point? You already know they're going to be longer, stronger and way more comfortable than off-the-rack straps. hundreds of folks have said so.
What else is new... Oh! "Rusty" in Edmonton, got his Bantam Burst Dark Shadows custom!
Truth is, I was a bit worried about it, as I don't really hardly ever make anything unpadded, but he demanded it.
All seems to have worked out ai'ght!
"I am so impressed by your work on this strap. It matches the guitar perfectly in color. It is so comfortable, feels like I've had it forever, and it's not even broken in. None of my straps are padded, this one is just the right width and feels completely natural on this guitar with no padding.
I have several crazy custom straps, but this one takes the cake. It just became my favorite... ...It's literally the least expensive of all my custom straps, and by far the most painstakingly crafted of them all. Thank you very, very much. In truth you should charge more, that's very high custom work you're doing on straps like mine." HT in Edmonton.
Words like that are good enough for me to strut around on for a solid week!
He's already thinking about another. And, if he really wants to pay more....
Other than that, I decided this morning to start another GeoMatrix. I know I was just going to do them as custom, but I want at least a couple to show people. And really, it's kind of fun. So here I am, after a couple hours of hammering before lunch time, slowly creeping in on another burst - I'm going for a '59 kind of thing, at least what I imagine one to be. Dye is still wet here, but once it dries, I'll have a look and see what it needs, if anything.
Probably a touch more of that Red Dye No. 3 would do the trick, I'm sure the food companies are dumping it in the rivers everywhere.
Oh, and some exciting news, at least to me! Due to the main strike, I never got an Xmas gift from the wife. So, I took that dough, and put it towards a little extra cash in my stocking and pulled the trigger on a guitar kit from the Hardly Dented folks! More details on that later.
It's been a couple years since I've had a fiddle project on the go, and I'm looking forward to a fun, and probably kooky build.
Here's my Friday song, lyrics are mine, music, voice and production by AI, and it's better than I can cobble together on my schedule.
Don't get upset. Roll with the times. It fun! The amount of comedy/novelty stuff being out put out is probably the best part.
There are a lot of hilarious people out there, but not many who are funny AND musical, so it's a real playground for that kind of thing.
But this one isn't real funny.
The List by @tvvoodoo | Suno
90's alternative, dynamic, arena rock choruses song. Listen and make your own with Suno.
Have a great weekend, all you, you... rapscallions!
