Tales from.. ..The StrapLab!

[TVvoodoo]

Ok, things are rolling again - lots of bad world trade news lately, not getting better, but not worse either LOL!

Some good news happens (most of the time) when I get a customer feedback, like Dougie and Patrick gave, both in Ontario

During the rush last weekend I noted a fun strap I call "Strap With No Name" sold out. It's not too often when
I make a few of something kind of different and they just blast off the shelf. So, whattaya gonna do but make moar?

These are still the same patch leather sent to me by the self-described handsome and somewhat loveable TGP rascal @Motorhed
but I'm quickly running out. The material was still at hand on the bench so it seemed a natural.

Six in my reverb store right now. If you happen to be in the land of the free/home of the brave, my entire stock must invisible
and unavailable to you, due to reasons. Hopefully only for the short term. Lucky you, I'll keep posting here, and hopefully
nobody suffers the hyper-intense GAS pains of unobtanium gear, when even just last week you had the entire world easily
available at your fingertips. Sad.

 

[TVvoodoo]

Howdy fellers, how's it hangin'?

Here's what's coming to the store soon, once I get all the nicey-nice photos done...

A couple of bitchin' new SwaggerMen! One in nasty black, one in supahot "Patina Mahogany."
If you are familiar with these you will know they are kind of rare in my store, even a little bit sought after.
I own two of 'em myself which I will NEVER sell, a couple of my absolute favourites.

These are 3" wide conversions of a hard to find ladies thick leather fashion belt, set up to adjust with a back buckle.

Super comfy, and look like they've been time-machined direct from 1974

God some nice guitar pics in over the weekend, we were camping... snapped this fun sunset shot... as purply-durply as it is...
No bears this time, thank goodness, same place we usually camp at.

Speaking of purple-durple, Casey in Cali who is a TGF brother got his custom... He and doggo seem pleased... Like I told him in messages, purple is a weird colour to work with - customers can send me multiple shots of the very same guitar and it'll often appear to be very different colours. Makes it a bit of a challenge for dye work Topping that off, purple guitar people seem to generally demand a more perfect match than anyone else, probably because
there's just so many strange and mysterious purples.

"I got the strap in the mail today (Saturday). Thanks for the cool swag as well. I'm extremely happy with the strap. I think the match is great, and even without breaking in the leather it already feels very comfortable ... I've gotta say this strap is pretty amazing. I was expecting it to be a higher quality version of other good padded straps that I have, but the comfort is on a different level. Straps have always been a necessary annoyance to me. With this one I prefer to keep it on when I'm sitting rather than play the guitar without it. Awesome work!

I hope you're able to open up shop again.... for what it's worth I think you could raise your prices to account for whatever extra crapwork you have to do to export to the US." - Casey

I'm toying with that very idea. It's not so much the extra work, but additional costs to my US customers. I simply cannot absorb them, and it puts my wares in a rather competitively disadvantageous position, price-wise, though certainly not quality-wise, my opinion

Also received this photo from Adam over in in West Virginy

"I received my "The Villain" strap today (Friday). This is on my Brent Mason tele. Your straps are impeccable! This is only my second Well-Hung strap, but I'll never buy one from any other maker. I understand why you had to stop shipping to America, but I'm sorry you had to. The quality and the look /appeal of your straps are superior to any I've ever had. They are a bargain for the workmanship you receive. Thank you sir."
- Adam N

Awwww Shucks! So nice to hear! I'm just glad it seems the last group I sent out have managed to escape the crazy extra customer cost levies added on by the authorities.

New in the store probably tomorrow (except for 'Mericans, who can't see all the things), some new "Tarnished" straps which I haven't made for a couple years now. Two silvers and one crazy metallic purple too. Just have to complete tail straps for these first thing tomorrow.

Happy National Coconut Day. Yes, it's real.

 

[TVvoodoo]

And boys, she's hump day already... those long weekends sure make for a short week!
I listed the three Tarnished straps just above, mid-morning. By lunch-time, purple metallic was GONE,
and it's now headed to Ontario. The two silvers remain in the store.

Funny, at this time I'm trying to think what I want to take to some guitar shows in a month, but if I build them, then list them on reverb,
it's both "yay!" and "hooray!" for the sale, but then I realize geez, that's one I can't take it to a show!

Today I started on a whole different thing... came to me in a dream while we were camping last weekend. Now, I'm not really "hip" enough to
be clued in on the whole Russian toilet dude humour deal, but I do know somebody is going to think this is "on point" -

The way I understand it, "skibidi" is one of those "catch-alls" all in the context, as much how it's used as in when it's used.
Could mean super cool, or super NOT cool. Kind of like how 'sick' is used. I plan to make the letters in a new metallic treatment
I've been trying to perfect

Ryan got in on the last gasp for USA customers nine days ago, and he's becoming one of my favorite Reverb feedbackers.
Dude should be writing for J. Peterman. - so far it seems I made the deadlines for no extra charges. phew!

Hope your day is going ...uh... totally skibidi!

 

[TVvoodoo]

I think in my entire history only my fifth strap sent to the land down under.
I did open up all my listings to Australia last week though, and the UK. Maybe five a year over there. At this point I need to be visible everywhere that treats me and my customers nice. Today I got to put a pin in Sydney.

I've been keeping my World Domination Map here in the StrapLab for only a couple of years now... Frankly, I'm constantly forgetting to pin new places. Unfortunately we won't be sticking too many over on the right side for a while, as apparently strap companies in that country don't dare try to compete with Well-Hung no more!

Today, work continued on Skibidi... painted all the letters a light gold metallic before retiring last night.

Then this morning I smeared some gross and nastly "Skibidy Goo" all over that thang

I used a Mahogany Antique which gives things a nice warm colour tone... turned the gold into copper!
Looks pretty nice on that dark, dark brown. Now clearcoating.

Also got some preliminary work done on some new "Mid-Evil" straps... Cutting the shapes, the basketweave slits, and all the components, as well as dyeing the tops and edges. Not real happy with the red, I think I might darken it all down with a light overdye of black.

Busy day.... kind of bushed actually!

 

[TVvoodoo]

The last few days a whole rush of reverb feedbacks came in, some really creative ones, a few expressing hopes I'll be moving product southward sometime again in the future. We shall see. I looked more into getting CUSMA certification, but it's going to require setting up new accounts with the government due to regulatory hurdles etc. It seems like a rather large mountain to climb to get serious about it. Around every corner it feels the bureaucracy is making it harder and harder for the "little" guy to truly participate.

But here's some fun words from recent customers, this feedback on an extra wide strap...

This feedback on an extra skinny strap! Short and to the point!

Four on the bench right now in various stages of completion, but was able to finish these two today. A Mid-Evil in an interesting coral/reddish brown -

While they are a little too labour intensive, I love my Mid-Evil design more and more. So bold, with all the texture and bling/shine. All those surfaces reflect light so nice when you move, and its wide and padded comfy too. Need to build one for myself someday. I try to keep at least one of each my own favorite/best designs in my personal collection. Mine will be wine red though, I think.

I was going to darken this one down, but when got into the shop and I looked at it again this morning, I felt it was just such a unique color, kind of beautiful. It's the sort of colour a fellow might try to repeat when asked, but would likely be difficult. I think this would look fine as frog's hair on a rose gold strat or likely something in the shell pink, or of course coral. It is a bit more red/brown than pink. Hard to describe!

And of course, Cowboy Skibidi, which is pretty awesome in the darkest brown possible without being actually black.
The contrasting copper/gold stitching really sets it off too.

 

[TVvoodoo]

Hello friends, been posting less, everywhere... this past week health issues seem to have slowed me down a fair bit. I'm generally real healthy so it's been very strange getting used to moving around a lot slower, and not meeting my own expectations of what I can get done in a day. But... I'm not one to lay in bed and moan, still picking away at stuff here in the shop.

Completed and on now on reverb, though not visible to my USA friends for the time being...

A couple of new ZAP! straps

Bronze Python - a fun metallic shine up front,

ZAP! Snow Leopard, with a touch of luxe hair-on hide... I think it's actually dyed goat...

And of course I got the Reverb listings up of the three new Mid-Evils, in "AweBurn" "Tan" and "Black"

And finally, the "Skibidi Kid" turned out real nice... for what it is LOL!

I did a test mailing to Finland early this week with 15 pairs of Pro-Pins, it was in my mind a real pain to deal with the HS product codes and VAT and all that for Europe, etc... but in comparison to trying to ship anything below the 49th parallel these days a relative cakewalk.

Still building, remaining hopeful and trying to get myself better. If anyone here has been on the BRAT diet, I now understand.
I'm in my sixth day and boy do I crave some real food again, and a beer!

 

[Chocol8]

If the BRAT diet is dragging you down, may I suggest the Taco Bell and Cheap Tequila diet? The theory is that crap is so disgusting and toxic, any bacteria, viruses, amoebas, worms, or other parasites will bail out and seek a more suitable host to infect. The scientific evidence is currently lacking, but it’s always worth a try!

 

[TVvoodoo]

@GuitarGorilla Yeah that diet is gonna clean out anyone real good. But at least some protein in it? I can feel myself getting weaker and weaker by the day.
Probably headin' to a clinic tomorrow if things don't begin to "firm up" back there today. Two weeks of "runnin' for the border" without Taco Bell has me pretty drawn out.
Worst of it is they'll probably just send me for the ol' alien probe procedure, which guarantees even more needle threadin' ahead for me....yay.

 

[TVvoodoo]

Today I completed FIVE new Sum Yung Long Hung Guy straps ... I recently made similar, was hoping to take them to a couple of gear enthusiastr shows coming up but they sold off real quick. So, only thing a fella can do is get some more done up! Five should do it!

These in a darker brown than the other set, the leather nose and tail sections, could be maybe even a bit nicer than the last set.

I've been kind of inundated with feedbacks over the past week, all super positive fortunately! I just have been a bit knocked back so not showing them all off.. but Joe in Georgia picked up a couple, a "Serpentine" with the red and black, and a "Grommet" just before the USA order window closed. This message came in a few days ago.

" Straps arrived today, they are even more stunning in person. Perfect fit and finish. True works of art! Awesome, awesome, awesome! Really appreciate you and your work! Thank you so much!"
~ J. Dell in Georgia

 

[GuitarGorilla]

@GuitarGorilla Yeah that diet is gonna clean out anyone real good. But at least some protein in it? I can feel myself getting weaker and weaker by the day.
Probably headin' to a clinic tomorrow if things don't begin to "firm up" back there today. Two weeks of "runnin' for the border" without Taco Bell has me pretty drawn out.
Worst of it is they'll probably just send me for the ol' alien probe procedure, which guarantees even more needle threadin' ahead for me....yay.

Not sure if you're unfairly blaming me for something I didn't do (this time) or just wanted to tell me about your poop. My hopes were up for a second that you opened US sales back up!

 

[TVvoodoo]

Authentic Mexi-blanket strap in "Vino Tinto" now available to the UK, Australia and Canada! One of my favourite original Well-Hung offerings for you loco desperados out there. Goes 44"-59" lightly padded, and makes you want to holler "Arriba!"

Ideal for any nacho-caster or an acoustic needing a little extra attitude, now in the Reverb store!

Happy Friday compadres!

 

[TVvoodoo]

NEw the Reverb store... I sold an "In the Pocket" strap crafted from a very nice leather jacket during my last gasp, so I decided I wanted to take another to the guitar shows. Very cool strap, nothing like it on the market anywhere. Beautiful leather.

Then a couple of No Prisoner themed straps where I found some rather "metal" looking belts on sale at a reasonable price, new and decided to craft one in brown saddle and one in black leather.

Once again the products in my Reverb store remain invisible to my American brothers while the current situation is ongoing with the punitive additional cross-border levies. Effectively, it doubles the end-price of my products to US citizens only, in an obvious effort to remove my offerings off your shopping list. Still 100% available to consumers in the UK, Australia and Canada.

 

[TVvoodoo]

Interesting couple of weeks here. I picked up something back a bit, maybe camping?
but i've had the squirts now for three weeks. I've been to the sawbones, checked out negative
for giardia and the like, in fact he told me if he didn't know how old I was, he'd think my
stats were those of a 19 year old man. That was encouraging. But it don't help that it's
really scary right now to cough or sneeze. Won't go into details, but it has gone wrong several times.

so, I'm on immodium now for a while. He figures I'll heal myself, because i'm so healthy. I also gave another tube of blood today to test for celiac disease. Anyway, it's been weird, and the worst part of it is, I'm kind of getting used to it... I can sense the gurgle coming on...

Anyway, new in the store are a couple new ZAPS - Black Lizard and Alumigator

I've got Two Ace of Spades on the bench, and also finished a couple more No Prisoners straps that I still need to take pics of. But this was a fun set of pics from Fitz over at the Tone Rooms...

He's invented a unique "constraption" to store and display his significant Well-Hung harem by bending slat wall pegs a couple of 90 degree turns to be parallel to the wall. Well-Hung, hung well!

 

[TVvoodoo]

Immodium?

Yay! Weekend!

 

[TVvoodoo]

So I head down to the shop this morning and holy cow! Somebody left the Well-Hung guitar strap-making machine going all weekend long! Here's what it came up with...

Something called "Soul Collector" in metallic silver skull embossed leather, conchos and rivets. Wow!

The machine also cranked out some updated modified vintage saugerties straps on black leather,
3" wide, nicely padded! The Devil's Leash, one of my more popular straps, one of the few I like to repeat in my store, as there is simply nothing else that can complete with this whole vibe and the level of comfort/security.

Also Ace of Spades #10 in vintage tobacco was completed...

It also crafted three bangin' ZAP! Straps... Surf Surge, The Wrath of Grapes, and Pink Power!

If that wasn't enough, the machine also conjured up two more "Soul Collectors" in metallic gold skull embossed leather, again with the conchos and rivets to dress. I'm thinking the machine had a specific line of guitars in mind for this one... we'll see if the customers put two and two together.

Lastly, much to my surprise the machine also completed a custom job for a particular triple creme cherryburst signature paul, Yeah, you probably know the one! Ace of Spades #11 is fully ready to go to eleven!

Still not well, healthwise, but I'm just working through it anyway. What else is a fella gonna do?
All of these will be on my tables at the Edmonton and Calgary guitars shows, coming up over the next two weeks.
(unless they get claimed, of course!).

 

[TVvoodoo]

These are almost the very last things I want to build for the Edmonton and Calgary Guitar shows coming up over the next two weekends. I want to take a good representaton of all things I can do - Is there another strapmaker who crafts the sheer variety of things I do? This may be my downfall! I see other companies focus on one or a few specific types then build it over and over again. Maybe, they'll offer it in a different colour for some major excitement!!!! This certainly offers surety and stability for a factory/business. But OMG, that would fairly bore me to DEATH!

It's always been in my mind to believe guitarists deserve to have something a bit differenter from the rest of the crowd, with unique personality that doesn't compromise on the trustiness or comfort. Probably not all guitarists feel that way, a good number of 'em are OK just pulling pretty much anything off the rack from Guitar Depot and seem just as happy.

Here's what's new off the the StrapLab bench...

I figured I'd better take one of my tooled Dragonfly straps... Always seems to get a second glance...
This is the first one I've made one in super dark brown... the gold wings really pop on top of that

A few more python straps... A couple of skinnier Dirty Honey pythons in 2.5" wide, and a 3" wide Swampbottom python in natural green/gray/brown

My daughter bought me a kimono thrifting early in the summer, she wanted to see if I could make some silk Sum Long Hung Yung Guy straps out of it... interesting details with the big dragons and birds of paradise, and plenty of embroidered gold and other great colours. She'll be helping me at my booth in Edmonton, so I figured I'd better bring at least a couple of these in appreciation of her thoughtfulness.

These two beaded straps have been works in progress for a long time, finally completed this week. "Spotlight" on the left in a really sexy leopard beaded pattern and "Showoff" with the added rhinestones on the right - these both are really gorgeous... a bit heavier, and a bit wider at about 3-1/4 inches wide, plenty of black leather - These glass-beaded straps really tend to bust needles though!

A couple brand new No Prisoners series straps... "Stud-Muffin" on the right with the Class Act Back buckle set up, and "Velvet Fist" on the left -

Lastly I hammered out Bouquet #4... known as "Blüdflower." Started out as a pretty bright red, but then toned down with black overdye to get this effect. I'm VERY happy with this finish.

All of these are nicely padded, strong and long! I hope they might sell at the shows, or at least spur some buzz and/or custom work. Tomorrow my plan is to make one last piece... an Allman ring type strap in the Zebo style, then I'll be starting to pack my wares, polish up a couple of my more fun guitars and do all the other things I need to do to get ready, which is actually quite a lot. If you are watching this thread, and are near Edmonton or Calgary over the next couple of weekends, drop and say hello! Who doesn't like the quiet, relaxing and peaceful environment of a guitar show? LOL!!!!

Happy Hump day amigos!

 

[ᛗᛜᛜᚺDᛜᎶ Ꮤᛨᚳᚴ]

LOVE that Dragonfly strap! Good luck at the shows ;~))

 

[TVvoodoo]

Thank you 'Dawg! With the current situation I'm banking on a good show to carry me through until the new year

As it turns out, adding insult to injury... Canada Post workers went on strike yesterday going into the holiday retail season ... it's like the Universe is fairly hollering right in my face to change careers!

Inevitably year after year, this guitar show attendee visits my booth:

"Cool stuff, have anything like 71 inches, in leather?"
(Extra long strap lovers always seem to know the exact length they need and they usually crave leather).

No my friend. The last five guitar shows I've never brought anything like that. But, as a builder I'll offer my card and custom-crafting.

"Nah, that's OK. I really need it in the next couple of days.

Dude is barely six feet tall. At 70" extension he'll hardly be able reach even the lower pitched strings.

Anyway bro, at this year's show I'm ready for you. Say hello to "Samsquanch."

59 glorious inches of black 80's patch leather with a metallic gold and orange ribbon. 2.75" wide, nicely padded. Max adjustment via the ladder... 74 inches.

 

[TVvoodoo]

Strap aficionados need to introduction to this one

I don't make 'em often due to a highly limited availability of this old-school harness/rigging hardware.

A famous Southern guitarman wore one of these back in the day..I craft my version a fair bit more "upscale." I include a 3" wide oil-tanned leather body, padding in the shoulder, lined and stitched too. Plus I add a far wider range of adjustment in a convenient Class Act back buckle affair.
Some see this "Whippin' Post" rig as kind of a holy grail thing... shown version has the original-sized large ring which may act as a blues-vibe soul antenna of some sort. This remains 74% unconfirmed!

It'll be lovingly fondled by many at tomorrow's Edmonton guitar show.

 

[TVvoodoo]

Brothers, sisters and those not sure, I'm back a few days after a grueling guitar show run to Edmonton now getting ready to stray even further from my fortress of solitude here in northern Saskatchewan, heading to Calgary this weekend.

Sunday's show was ok... I'd purchased two extra tables rather than a single, as I saw the last show what was happening was lookers clogged-up around my circular display rack, leaving no room for others to elbow their way in. Anyone who's been to these events will know that during the peak hour, it can be elbow-to-elbow traffic... and you kind of just get moved along by the crowd.

I aimed to solve that problem by tripling my "frontage" and display area. This was just before the doors opened. The show basically gave me the whole end of a larger hall.

I had set up the display rack as a sort of clearance area, then the pieces laid out on the tables got progressively more detailed/pricey nearer the end where my daughter CJ is sitting. I wish I had more pics of the show - there are some nice ones on the Canadian Guitar forum here

It turned out to be an ok strategy as far as the increased frontage goes, but it seemed to me overall show traffic was down by about a third. It was a lovely autumn day and I'm sure many folks had better things to do, as summer winds down up here. I did hand out a lot of business cards, but my experience in that regard is, it seems more a way to make a polite exit, ask for a card and just move on. Rarely I ever get further contact. I did get to chat with about seven previous customers, Rusty grabbed up his "Ace of Spades" Frehley custom with apparent joy. and we received nice words from so many of those looking. I 100% enjoy the look on the faces of those who discover the level of padding on the underside of my straps.

Even with fewer attendees, servicing 30 feet of frontage and engaging folks made for some effort to dance on my part, my daughter was kept in place with transactions. Still rather physically ill and a little weak didn't help much on my part, I was far lower energy than I'd be typically in this situation. Feeling slightly better now, like I'm on the mend... though today in the shop I was forced to punch a new hole in my belt - my jeans have been falling down for the past few days!

Overall I invested more than I'd ever have before into this show, turned out my least successful yet. I got the overarching feeling the economy isn't the greatest for a lot of folks right now, and where in previous years a stated price would get an easy "yes," more negotiating was required, or people just moved on, unwilling to counter-offer. Still made positive gain, though about half of my goal for the show. Right or wrong, I had my hopes pinned on a couple of profitable guitar shows (Calgary coming this weekend) to salvage a near-disastrous end of 2025. Now the with Canadian postal workers on the picket lines as of late last week, it's like the universe is screaming in my face

"DO SOMETHING ELSE!"

Will I listen? No! As I noted in Edmonton, three fellows asked me if I had any "Slash" style skinny leather straps. Watchers of this thread will know I'm not really in for such things, being more about "comfort" than strap-masochism, but I'm ain't so dumb to not get that I gotta play to the audience at least a little bit. So, started Monday, completed today, two such monstrosities now crafted. They are rather nice, sturdy too.

Both thick hand-dyed vegtan, one is tooled with conchos, one has ribbon, both feature showy western buckles. The black one is better as a back-buckler. Anyway, I'll take these to Calgary, see if they can quench the thirst for pain (and cool), of a couple of needy guitarists. Oh, and the guy wanting a 71" strap failed to show last weekend, maybe he'll be in Calgary on Sunday LOL!