Good saxophone harness?

[keilwerth14]

Hi,
I am looking for a new saxophone harness, I've played with a traditional neckstrap for years and recently my neck has been hurting after I play. Does anyone have recemdations on a good sax harness? Thanks. JOHN

[Mango Birkie]

John, I went through the same thing last summer. I was having neck problems. On the recommendation of some people on this forum, I tried the spin strap, but it wasn't for me. (Still have it in almost new condition if you want to buy it.) Then I tried the BG, which I have seen several people use. I actually used it for 3 or 4 months, and it wasn't bad, but I had two major complaints. First, I felt it needed to be adjusted differently for seating and standing positions, and normally I do both in a typical practice session. Secondly, the more I used it, the more I found it wouldn't stay in adjustment. I was constantly tightening the straps. I finally gave up. I am now using an Oleg neck strap, and am very happy with it.

[retread]

I use the Neotech harness with bari. It's very comfortable, but you lose the freedom a strap allows. As harnesses go, it's a good one.

[Paul Coats]

I just saw the VERY nice BG harnesses made by Franck Bichon.

42, route de Brignais
69630 Chaponost
France

www.bgfranckbichon.com

They have two models, one made for men, and another model to better fit a woman's figure. They are very well made and very comfortable. Not just for baritone sax, either, they are useful for alto and tenor as well.

And Mr. Bichon is a friendly, outgoing fellow! He also has some excellent ligatures and other products.

In the USA, you can buy BG prducts at BG USA.

www.bg-usa.net

You can contact Keith Fisher at

bgusa@bellsouth.net

ph toll free 866-4BG-USA1

[SaxPlayer1004]

i play on neotech for marching band and when im playing solely bari, use a neotech strap for doubling. if you double and cant play on the strap, try using an adams bari sax stand. u can play on it, and stuff. its not that bad. hope this helps

[3saxes]

I use the Oleg Harness when playing Alto and Tenor. It is very comfortable and secure.

[timobrien]

I've commented on this before in other posts, but the Neotech harness saved my sax playing.

I have degenerative arthritis in the spine and was unable to continue playing with a standard neckstrap. The Neotech harness was the best accessory I've ever bought and only cost me $35 (a trivial amount to continue playing...)

[LarryG]

I use the NeoTech harness for my tenor, and it too saved my neck. I have two bulging discs from a car accident, and there is no way that I can ever go back to a regular strap.
I bought a Neotech harness for my uncle who is 75 and plays tenor, and he absolutely LOVES it! He wishes he had it 40 years ago.
Get one and try it.

[freddievetter]

I just bought a new harness from www.noslipproducts.com - so far it seems
pretty good - way better than the neckstrap I've been using.

FV

[Baje]

Way back in the 60s I was going through hell holding up a tenor sax with a neck strap for six hour dance gigs.

A girlfriend made me a harness which worked perfectly for over 30 years. My wife did a new version a few years ago.

Basically it is a strap around my chest buckled in front. Two straps are connected at the back about five inches apart, come over the shoulders and meet in a vee just under your neck.

There's a hook at the vee and I have a small chain attached to each of my saxes which goes to the hook.

Advantages:
1. I can play all night without feeling the weight.
2. Because the hook is not attached at the waist, you can lift the sax, swing it from side to side etc.
3. Never had the sax slipping down. Chain provides adjustment.
4. It didn't cost anything.
5. Because the hook is up by your neck, you can wear it (as I always wear mine) under your shirt and no one asks what size bra you take (as they do when you wear a harness).
6. Not saying it's better than anything else, but I've tried neck straps and harnesses and this is the only thing that has worked for me, 40 years and counting.