Allan1972

I do like my Strats:) Allan

Thanks for all the positive feed back guys. This strap idea lead to a sale, took it to show coworkers and a customer saw it. We got talking and after a half hour he says I need to make him a strap. I will post a thread in the Guitar straps section on this strap, my 3rd sale. Allan

This is a strap I made my brother for his birthday(after the one I made him for x-mas), he gave me some ideas on what he would like. one of the things he asked was about getting a copy of his tattoo on the strap and making it multi color. This is what I came up with….. I would like to try spraying on the clear super sheen at the end to avoid the dyes mixing, but I don't mind how it turned out. Allan

Nice job, love the color and interesting strap design. Allan

Thank you guys…. David that is not a bad idea, just need to get a sewing machine. Allan

I really like the color, nice looking strap. Allan

I started off by having a strap made for me 8 months ago by a well respected maker. I had spent almost two years looking on his website and finally justified the cost. I really like quality and craftsmanship, I was not disappointed. I have always been good working with my hands and thought I could do this if I had the tools. A couple weeks later I showed my bff the strap and he immediately stated that I should be making these as he felt this kind of work was right up my alley. This was the added bump I needed to take the plunge. So now at this point I was 5-6 straps in really only for my own guitars and the fun of it(just proving to my self I could do it). I run a menswear store and have a tailor shop in the back, I brought a few straps to show my tailor and other staff my hobby. My UPS driver stops for his daily checkin and he sees the straps and says I should take them to a local guitar builder. I state that it is just a hobby and I am not looking to turn it into business, he reluctantly accepts my answer. Up till now I have been getting a lot of urging from family and friends to start selling these, my response has been who is crazy enough to pay $250 plus for a guitar strap. My family has politely pointed out…. YOU DID. A couple weeks later my UPS guy comes in as usual and says that he has talked to the guitar guy. I am to take my straps to show him as he is interested. So I take my straps to show the guitar guy stating I am not sure why I am there as I am not looking to start a business. Turns out he likes them and wants me to make a few and he will hang them in his shop. If he sells them he would take 30% for consignment. I said that the whole point of making a custom strap is to get to work with me and pick all the details, otherwise a person might as well buy a good strap at a store for way less. I decided this was not how I wanted to sell straps if I was to sell them at all. As we were finishing our talk he stated that he really liked them and that he liked to support local business as that is how he makes a living(he builds acoustic guitars). We came up with a strap idea and he stated that he had a friend that he knew would want one. So here are my first commissioned works. This is a modified version of his logo, a challenge to get the narrow font and no room for glaring mistakes as you only get one chance here(I did one practice go on a coaster). This keeper was added later. This cord keeper was also added with the new strap keeper. This is the strap his friend and I came up with. Before:) After… still needs end pin hole. They loved them and were happy to part with there money….. Kinda like when I got mine. I hope this is not too many pictures or too many words, as I know when I read other posts I like to see the details. Allan

I really like a tooled guitar strap, nice job. Allan

The lining leather is 3-4 oz so too thick to fold under, it is just cut flush to the edge. Allan

What do guys think of these cuffs??? Allan

Not very much new stuff in this section so thought I would post something new. Allan

That is very nice, I have seen a few leather pick guards…... I was never a fan but this I really like the design. Good job!!!!!! Allan

really like the wallet….. nice color with the leather lace and the graphic looks cool. Allan

Thanks guys. I get a lot of positive feedback from friends and family, it is nice to get it from total strangers who are familiar with leather work. I will post some more soon. I just don't want to monopolize this topic, so I am spacing it out:) Allan

Here are some cuffs I made the other day….. I did not like the big one with the yellow stones so I made holes instead, I actually like the look of the holes. I found sizing very finicky, a little length adjustment makes a big difference. What do you guys think, these are my first cuffs for my wife, daughter and me. Allan This is after I hole punched out the yellow studs. I have since colored the holes black.

Thanks again for the encouragement guys, I made a second belt on Sunday. I will start a new post when I show it.

The brushed effect was not on purpose, it just kind of happened when applying on the super sheen with a sponge. When it started streaking I just kinda went with it and I think it turned out nice.

thanks for the positive feed back guys.

Thanks They keep it on loose, just slip it over his head.

She plays in grade 7 band second year and is doing great, also in the jazz band and loves it(I played bass in junior high as well). She is catching on way faster than I did. I seem to be better at making straps than playing.

Here is a strap that I made for my 12 year old daughter. I copied this from one I had custom made for me, I paid $450 plus exchange and shipping($495CND). Lets just say this cost me a bit less, but about 25-30 hours of time(the love I put into it is priceless). I guess it cost me a lot because the original strap inspired me to start leatherwork. What do you guys think(I used a craftaid) Alan

Hey guys, First collar and first post on this section….. I made it for a friends dog, what do you guys think? If I were to have someone ask me to make one, what would I charge? They wanted to pay for it but I would not take it, bought me lunch instead. Allan

Same here on the Masonic symbols but my uncle is a mason and he likes it:)

Thanks wild bill. It was a gift to my Godfather..... He loves it.

Thanks Wyoming……. It is about 30 hours of my life in that strap, the double loop stitch run is about 8 feet long(that was fun times). I have made to order 5 straps for people and I can't imagine what I would charge if someone wanted me to make them this one. Allan