guitar strap

[Mike Phelps]

With this strap I tried a few things a bit different than what I usually do. Some of them didn't work so good and some did. On the shell for the pad I usually cut the bottom part of the shell for the pad 5/8" shorter than the top piece to get an arch to fit over the shoulder. On this one I also cut it an 1/8" narrower to give the top piece a rounded appearance. That didn't work so good as I got a few puckers that wouldn't go away. Might have worked better if I had molded it? It looks pretty good just not what I envisioned. Second I went with a Sam Brown Stud for the adjustment device. Now that worked out fine. I like that and wonder why I've never seen one on guitar straps before. What didn't work so well was when I cut the slot on the wrong side of the hole and had to put a second hole at the other end of the slot. It works alright though and even makes changing adjustments on it a bit easier because once this thing is locked down and under both loops it's not going to come loose. Sewing those loops down on a strap that narrow is a killer. Broke my fine little awl poking angled holes through 3 pieces of leather. Because I had to double up the leather for the adjustment piece gave me stitches all around the border I decided to put stitches around the rest of the strap also and why have stitches just for decoration. So I did something else I've never done on a belt or strap. I put a lining on it. Used some undyed pigskin. It's nice and soft but not very thick. Learned not to be so haevy handed with the glue because when I cut the excess lining away it left some fuzz from the lining and dried along the edge that had to be sanded off.

No Stains, no dyes, no antiquing, just "Tan Kote" on everything.

Strap is 1 inch wide, 1&1/2 inches on the Snake Head ends, 8oz. veg-tan.

Pad is 3&1/2 inches wide by 13 inches long 6oz veg-tan with 7/8in. gold shearling

Adjustment lengths are 46-53.

Mike

[Gray]

excellent work, mike. Thanks for the details.

--Phil

[Mike Phelps]

Thanks Phil.

How you coming with the strap for your working on?

Mike

[fortysomething]

I like that strap. Beautiful work!

Thanks for the info on the construction.

[Gray]

Mike--first one's in process. Got quite an education on straps from a couple musician friends of mine. Course they're both very particular and they like completely different styles, so I'll do a few different ones and let 'em try 'em out. Quite an experience!

--Phil

[Mike Phelps]

Phil, Tell me about particular, lol. That's the reason I started making them. One thing I've found out is you can't please everybody and some,,,,, well. Any more I make them to please myself and don't stray far from that. If they want something else they can go somewhere else.

One of these days I'm going to get some good bridal leather to make straps with.

Mike

[rawhide1]

Mr. Phelps very nice work. I've always liked stuff that was doubled and stiched I think it gives it a finished look. I also like the color of the leather and nice basket stamping. Mike

[Mike Phelps]

Thanks Mike.

I wish all the leather had come from the same source. I'm almost to the point where I can keep those lines going straight down the center of a strap. Made a little jig to butt the strap edge against and kept a triangle close by so the weave didn't spiral down the strap.

I really do like hand stitching. It's one thing I can do half decent. I like doing braid work around the edges and seams and appliqués. Both take so long to do it's hard to make it worthwhile except for the self satisfaction.

[Regis]

Very nice and thank you for sharing.

[Studio-N]

Very Nice work. I really like things that are more than just 'plain jane'.

The most unique one I've seen so far, was a chain mail guitar strap.

Very goth, but quite appealing. peace.