Good neck straps??? [Archive] - Sax on the Web Forum

Frank D

04-24-2003, 05:14 PM

Kinda depends on what "good" means to you. Here are some possibilities:

1. Comfortable, appearance not an issue
2. Funcitional but not dorky looking (like some extremely padded straps)
3. Locking hook that won't let your sax accidenlty slip off

If you narrow your requirements, you'll get better answers. Otherwise you'll just get everybody recommending the kind of strap they have :D

Chris04

04-24-2003, 08:49 PM

Thanks for te advice. I'd like it to be comfortable, and definitely keep the sax from falling. As far as dorky looking, I haven't seen any neck straps that look that bad.

Joseph Boucher

04-25-2003, 03:23 AM

Neotech, Thick comfortable padded neck and locking hook. Hook is also non-metallic and won't scratch your sax like metal hooks will.

Stencilman

04-25-2003, 11:43 AM

I bought an S-Series padded strap, a knock-off of the Neotech but about $10 cheaper. Fine for long practice seesions but I won't wear it in performance situations since it is so bulky looking.

Fred

04-25-2003, 03:47 PM

How about a recommendation for a decent non-padded strap? I don't go for that look myself. :?:

Morry

04-25-2003, 06:17 PM

I've played a Hyman Super Sling on alto for years and years, but I like my tenor to hang a bit lower, so I'm going to get a Brancher like the ones that Selmersaxman sells. He doesn't have the XL version in right now, though. I also need a strap short enough for my curved soprano, so I'll get one in the short length also.

alsdiego

04-25-2003, 07:28 PM

About a year ago, I purchased a Planet Waves adjustable strap (available from Music 123). It's a cord-type strap with an adjustment button, similar to the old Brilhart straps everyone used in the good old days :D I love it! the neck is leather (unpadded), and the adjustment button is great when you are playing sitting down, and want to stand up for a solo, for example. Just another point of view. BTW, does anyone know if they still sell the old-style Brilhart straps with the adjusting button (ivory on one side, black on the other)???

Al

ZenBen

04-25-2003, 07:32 PM

I'm using the dejaques strap. I find comfortable and stylish - best of both worlds!! :D

Chris04

04-25-2003, 08:01 PM

Okay, two questions:
1) Is there much of a difference comfort-wise between the padded and nonpadded straps? (I realize this is probably a matter of opinion, but I'm curious, LOL.)

2) What difference is there between Neotech's Soft Sax Strap and their Classic Strap?

Also, some recommendations on non-padded straps would be great. Thanks!

super20dan

04-25-2003, 11:12 PM

the first part of my career i only played tenor and went tru a lot of neckstraps . the best non padded is the paul brodie sold by ww&brass . its perfect for heaver horns and DOSNT SLIP! its got the best slide adjustment mech i have ever seen. its also pretty cheap . check one out and you wont use any thing else.its too bad its too long for alto

saxmanjack

04-26-2003, 12:32 AM

My problem is finding a strap that easily adjusts to fit both Tenor AND Alto
(will get 'short' enough for alto without strangling me!). Been using an old. thin Hyman. Recently tried a Supersling: comfortable, but too hard to adjust, and not really short enough for my Conn 6M, which seems to have a higher-mounted hook.

Helen

04-26-2003, 01:00 AM

I've used Neotech for the last 4 or so years and like them. I don't buy the ones with the plastic clips. I get the plastic coated metal. About a year ago I saw got their new model. Looks more like a regular strap,( don't know if that's what was refered to as a "classic" strap) but still has the weight reduction system. I like it. Works on my straight soprano, alto, tenor and bari. I know some people don't like the Neotech because they say they slip. I've never noticed that problem.

The regular Neotech has a wider (2 1/4" at its widest point where it sits at the back of your neck) piece of tapered (1 3/4" at the narrowest point where the nylon straps attach on either side) neoprean which the black nylon straps attach to. The edges of the neoprean are not sewn, just cut.

The newer strap I have of theirs still has neoprean, but is only 2" wide, and is the same width all the way until the nylon straps attach. The edges of it are sewn, and overall the finishing touches are nicer.

Jazzophone

04-26-2003, 11:01 PM

I use a NeoTech harness for tenor and bari. They're pretty good and the padding's not huge. Same for the neckstraps.

wattog

04-30-2003, 07:24 PM

Helen

04-30-2003, 08:43 PM

RE: the Neotech harness, I read a review at wwbw that stated the clip broke after 3 years of light use. Have any of you heard of that before? It sounds like SOME of the Neotech straps have a plastic coated metal clip ... can the HARNESS be purchased with one? Also, does the harness hold the sax rather close to the body? (The pictures of it make it look closer than a normal strap would position it.) I'm looking for a new bari strap/harness.

Yes, I've heard of the clip breaking. That's one of the reasons I don't use straps with plastic hooks. I don't trust them. There is too much money hanging on a .50 piece of plastic.

I don't like the Neotech harness for exactly the reason you list: the sax is held so close to the body, that you don't have nearly the mobility with the horn that I want.

I had a harness designed by someone who used to repair parachutes for the air force. He basically crossed a Neotech harness with a regular strap. Works great. Gets the weight of the horn off my neck, and still give me the mobility I want with my horn.

Morry

04-30-2003, 08:56 PM

If you get the WWBW catalog, you might want to check out a strap near the back of it. It is kind of like the DeJacques or Brancher with the double loop, but the hook is a very cool vinyl covered corkscrew type that doesn't look like it could come unhooked by accident. I may try one.

BigDaddyJ

04-30-2003, 09:14 PM

My favorite so far is the Oleg neck strap. Works great for tenor and alto. I have a Dejaques that I think is a touch more comfy, but I don't like the metal rubbing away my strap ring.

JOSEPH MCKIM

05-01-2003, 04:27 AM

I use the Neotech with the thick padding. Comfort is important.

MandoPaul

05-01-2003, 06:56 AM

Anyone tried the Codera Vario Clip:

http://www.codera.com/products/varioclip.html

One of the configurations has a double botton so that you can have both a
short hook and a long hook, letting you have an alto and a tenor setting
both on the same neck strap.

Seems like a cool idea but would be curious how well made they are and
if the doubler strap works right.

Troy

05-01-2003, 06:37 PM

There's a new Ligaphone neck strap in the WW&BW catalog. Can't see the image on the web site yet, but it looks really good in the catalog. Very thin cord, except around the neck, which is black leather about an inch and a half wide, with thick padding and a terry cloth interior layer. The hook is a metal spiral and the adjustment thingamabob is wooden. Looks sorta like a tent stake adjuster.

I might try it. My Neotech is kinda warm and sweaty sometimes, but I like the wider strap.

saxusa

05-09-2003, 08:39 PM

I would highly endorse the Neotech strap for use on the alto sax. It is both safe for the sax and comfortable for the player. I can't speak for heavier saxes like tenor or bari though. 8)

Wolf Codera

06-03-2003, 11:37 PM

MandoPaul,

the straps are hand-made in Europe and the M/XL works great with standard altos and tenors.

The S/L version is for people who are using the ADDjust balancer.

Main feature: once you have found the right length for the sax you never have to change the hook position, you don't have to loosen it to pull it over your head, just open the clip.

MandoPaul

06-04-2003, 12:07 AM

Wolf, I do appreciate the reply but I was looking for unbiased reviews also. (I'm presuming you like your products :))

So, any customers of the Codera strap care to step in?

Wolf Codera

06-04-2003, 01:00 AM

MandoPaul,

The BMG classics artist Carolyn Breuer (www.carolyn-breuer.com) is using the double strap for doubling on soprano/alto. Ask her.

BTW you are right, I like my products :-).

Morry

06-04-2003, 04:43 AM

I just got one of the Brancher straps sold on ebay by saxforte.com (formerly Selmersaxman), and so far I like it very much. It's cushioned slightly, but has a leather outer skin, so it doesn't bounce like a Neotech. The plastic covered metal hook is very deep so that it won't slip off, and they come in three lengths. The adjustment is done by moving the dual loops like some other straps. I'll let you know how it works over time.

BobD

12-17-2003, 04:53 PM

alsdiego,

Do you use that planet waves strap for tenor? It looks so light weight.

Saxturtle

12-19-2003, 09:59 PM

I've used a Planet Waves strap for almost a year now for my '60 King Super20. No problems except sometimes the plasti-coated hook flips 180deg when the cord crosses itself (very minor nuisance).

Vortex

12-19-2003, 11:34 PM

What about just tying the hood-pulls on your sweatshirt/hoodie into the strap-hook on the sax? I've actually had to resort to this a couple times :D

On a more serious note, look for a strap that's comfortable, won't leave huge indentations in your neck, holds the sax's height steadily and firmly, and gets a solid lock on the sax (one that completely closes around the strap-hook).

12-24-2003, 07:11 PM

If you play any doubling books with quick horn changes, you really want a hook that will hook/unhook FAST, some of the locking ones may not hack it.

I like my DeJacques. I find I can do the unlocking motion quickly, yet it does lock. It's fine for alto but somewhat small for tenor.

01-02-2004, 02:35 PM

i use neotech for tenor and alto. good strap but the only complaints i have is that they stain every freaking tux shirt i have !! i get this ugly blackish stain from the neotech ! who makes a white strap??? any other options. ?

Kritavi

02-27-2004, 03:26 AM

Emilio at Rayburns has a great strap of his own design. He uses the most heavy duty metal clip I have ever seen. I always used hooks before but his clip can be trusted. I've had it about 3 years now, lots of use, still in great shape and very comfortable.

Steve T Sax

03-12-2004, 03:17 AM

I'm using the Brancher Classic, and it is great. Comfortable and excellent quality!
I bought it from SaxForte. Great service!

Matt Carlton

03-26-2004, 06:17 PM

Actually I really like the neckstraps that come with the Yanagisawa saxes. It's a pretty simple strap but compared to a Ray Hyman, the strap is wider and softer...making it really comfy on my neck!!! I wish you could buy these seperately but I have yet to find a store that sells them!

WriterMom

04-12-2004, 08:23 PM

I just bought a Brancher "classic" neckstrap from Saxforte. It's a very comfortable strap. I especially like the fact that it doesn't have any cheap plastic pieces that could break, or a cheap plastic clip that could pop open. The hook seems quite secure, too.

Well worth the $$.

Beowulfmk

04-24-2004, 08:06 PM

My ligaphone strap has finally arrived. It is very comfortable. Treble clef hook hooks very easily and most importantly, it is very secure. It is plastic coated cork-screw shaped metal. This feels so much better than my old neotech with open end plastic hook.

3saxes

05-19-2004, 01:49 AM

The Oleg Strap feels good and works well with both the Alto and Tenor provided that you don't let it touch your skin. (it's leather and sweats)
The Oleg Harness is great for both Alto and Tenor very comfortable, adjustable and does not ride your neck like the strap. For soprano (curved or straight), I like the dejaques "bird" strap. Thin, short and very comfortable.

mgiaca

01-30-2009, 08:27 PM

I use Selmer's Ray Hyman and it's works find....

themacintrasher

02-01-2009, 07:52 AM

I like these
http://store.daddario.com/category/146394/Saxophone_Straps

bari_sax_diva

02-01-2009, 08:24 AM

My favorite so far is the Oleg neck strap. Works great for tenor and alto. I have a Dejaques that I think is a touch more comfy, but I don't like the metal rubbing away my strap ring.

I got one of those, but I found it to be stiff and uncomfortable. I'm trying to soften it up a bit by wrapping it up in various ways and using rubber bands to keep it that way a day or two. Hope it works, because I'm tired of staring at an expensive neckstrap that isn't being used...