Bari neckstraps? [Archive] - Sax on the Web Forum

retread

10-11-2003, 06:02 PM

I'm new the the baritone, and have a Neotech harness, but have played it long enough to know that I prefer a neckstrap. For tenor I use a traditional Hyman, but it's not very confortable on bari. The choices are mind-boggling--Oleg, BG, Ligaphone, Brancher, Wiseman, Planet Waves, etc., etc. Any advice?

Morry

10-11-2003, 09:02 PM

I love my brancher on tenor and bari. It is slightly padded like Neotech, but not overly bouncy. The wide leather-like neckpiece distributes weight nicely. The double loop slide is very nice, and I think it has the best hook I've ever seen on a strap.

Check out www.saxforte.com. That's where I got mine, and I plan on getting a short for my curved soprano.

retread

10-11-2003, 09:22 PM

Morry, do you use the classic or the contoured?

Morry

10-11-2003, 11:10 PM

I got the contoured, but I have a short neck, so the classic probably would have been better for me. I think it will eventually mold to my squat frame. :-)

Mitch A

10-12-2003, 04:21 PM

Try a bassoon sling (guitar style). BG makes them for saxes, available from WW&BW. Over the left shoulder with a metal hook. I use them for all my saxes - even the bass. I wore my bass sax for 2.5 hours a week ago, standing! There is no way to do that with a neck strap. I tried harnesses and found them too constricting.

Mitch

Gandalfe

10-12-2003, 05:42 PM

Morry, this sounds like an excellent option for bari players. I really like my NeoTech for alto and tenor but have never found a suitable solution for the bari. I use a alto clarinet strap from NeoTech as my curved sop solution.

I've tried various harnesses for the bari but although they distribute the weight well, they are awkward to wear. I have sent off for this strap with hopes I will have finally found the perfect solution.

mark_m

10-13-2003, 06:25 PM

I ordered a Brancher contoured strap for alto and tenor, but found the inner edge dug into my neck a bit. I believe this is a design problem, so I'm curious to hear if anyone else notices this.

I returned it and got the classic style, which I am keeping.

I use a very comfy Neotech harness on bari for practicing, and I have a nice sling I made from a leather guitar strap with a sheepskin shoulder pad - I use this in public. The harnesses are bit kinky-looking for me.

Saxa

10-13-2003, 06:42 PM

Sheepskin Guitar Strap http://www.eldoradostraps.com/products2.htm Works great with the bari, classic look, smells good :D for now :?

mark_m

10-13-2003, 10:05 PM

Yeah that looks great. Much like what I've got but mine doesn't have that classy stitching on it. I might even buy one and put my current strap back on my bass. Or just get one of these for my bass...

Glad to hear that's working out for you Saxa.

shmuelyosef

10-17-2003, 04:30 AM

I use the Neotech on bari...I agree it looks kinda kinky, so for gigs I put it on over a light t-shirt and wear an overshirt that buttons down the front. I can just skip one button and the hook comes out. Makes it look like the bari is magically floating on my thumb...

Ritchie

10-17-2003, 07:50 AM

For bari I'm using the "Stella":
http://www.saxophon-service.de/homep/infozube/gurt3603.jpg

It has a rubber padding in the right place to keep the weight from the spine. I never could get used to a harness, although I would not worry about the looks (I still have one, but never use it).

I ordered the strap from http://www.saxophon-service.de/ (Mike Duchstein's shop in Berlin, Germany)

Perfect Pitch

10-25-2003, 01:21 PM

I sewed up my own from seat belt webbing. The next one will be really custom fitted.

Tonehole

10-28-2003, 02:58 AM

I only started on Bari last year and got a harness, felt a little foolish at first. Use it on all my horns now, found it helped my posture and improved the angle I maintain the sax at when playing. Helped when I saw Jerry Bergonzi using a B&G harness on tenor.

top_gun25

10-29-2003, 11:14 PM

http://www.wittman-spins.com/spins.html

Spinstrap.
AWESOME for bari!

padded shoulder strap. distributes weight great! i love it! and they make them for bass gituar, sax and basson.

Perfect Pitch

10-30-2003, 02:05 AM

I must say it looks good. Anyone compared a spinstrap to a harness?

MusicMan

10-30-2003, 08:16 PM

I just got my SpinStrap from Ken and I love it. I have absolutely no neck or back fatigue now, even after a three hour gig.

Physically, I a bit too large for harnesses, so I've never found one that would work for me. Ken was willing to add some length to the SpinStrap for me and it's worked out great.

top_gun25

11-01-2003, 02:46 AM

same here. i'm kinda large too. tall and otherwise. (tho not BIG just built heavy) i have wide shoulders so harnesses dont work. and neckstraps? :lol: Come on! really! no way.

i love my spinstrap. it works great. i live quite near where he makes them so getting one isnt hard either. infact most bari/tenor players use them in my school. I have no problem marching with it, or standing, or sitting, it balances the instrument nicely, and with 2 adjustments on it you can move the padding forewards or backwards.

Biff

11-05-2003, 02:10 AM

I Use a Neotech, but that's only because that's my only option. i have found that they are really bad on my neck because of the stretchyness. as for the harness, the only one we have at chool doesn't fit me, so whatever.

Biff

retread

11-05-2003, 03:23 PM

I ended up with the BG sling. Took 2 1/2 weeks through wwbw, but it finally arrived. It's very comfortable, can be used over either shoulder, great support for the bari. I find it much easier to use than a Neotech harness, more comfortable than a neckstrap. The only possible drawback is that it could be too short for really big people. I have a 46-inch chest and if it were any shorter I couldn't use it. Price was about half the cost of a Spinstrap. As with all the BG products I've tried, it's well designed and high quality.

Saxa

11-06-2003, 02:36 PM

Early I posted about a couple straps but I too ended up on a BG France Sling for my Dolnet Low A Baritone. I'm 6' 2", 46 chest and have no problem with the fit. At first the metal hook (forget the plastic) doesn't look strong enough, it hasn't bent or disfigured in anyway but I'm going to replace it with a more substanial hook, probably brass. Rico is no longer the distributor for BG, Selmer is. I went through Muncywinds Music. www.muncywinds.com/ (800) 333-6415 in the USA and (828) 963-7083 internationally. Receieved the strap the next day with a $6.00 shipping fee. I wouldn't refer them unless I liked the service.

melvyng

11-06-2003, 06:37 PM

I tried out the Spinstrap last night, it’s definitely a superior product, and I like it a lot! For baritone sax a regular neck strap doesn’t cut it, it kills my neck. I’ve used the BG harness and that takes the strain off of my neck quite nicely but it’s difficult to adjust when it starts to droop. Next I tried the Oleg Ergonomic strap and it’s a lot better than a regular strap but it still puts more pressure on my neck than I like. The Spinstrap is better than all of them, feels secure, comfortable and easy to adjust on the fly.
It's designed so that you can wear it over either shoulder, I chose the left.

Ken Wittman sent me one on a trial basis, he sounded pretty confident that I would buy it and he was right. :P

Melvyn Bottom

shmuelyosef

01-06-2004, 12:48 PM

Ernie,
How easy is the Gemini to adjust when you're standing with a bari hanging from it. I like the Walt Johnson sling that I use, but is is a bear to adjust without setting the horn down...I have learned to accommodate, but...

shmuelyosef

01-06-2004, 12:51 PM

I tried out the Spinstrap last night, it&#8217;s definitely a superior product, and I like it a lot! For baritone sax a regular neck strap doesn&#8217;t cut it, it kills my neck. I&#8217;ve used the BG harness and that takes the strain off of my neck quite nicely but it&#8217;s difficult to adjust when it starts to droop. Next I tried the Oleg Ergonomic strap and it&#8217;s a lot better than a regular strap but it still puts more pressure on my neck than I like. The Spinstrap is better than all of them, feels secure, comfortable and easy to adjust on the fly.
It's designed so that you can wear it over either shoulder, I chose the left.

Ken Wittman sent me one on a trial basis, he sounded pretty confident that I would buy it and he was right. :P

Melvyn Bottom
What type of hook does it have? Metal or plastic? Is it high quality?

OnyxSax

01-06-2004, 04:10 PM

I second the Spinstrap. The hook is plastic, but of high quality. I used to use it to deadweight my tenors when I played keyboard...a broken back ended that practice. I did find that it still is a superior strap for baritone, though.

barisaxplayer

01-09-2004, 10:24 PM

shmuelyosef reccomended this site to me, at 16.99 or whatever... same exact thing... I think it's probly a better buy =)

www.johnsoncases.com/stp.htm

I had this same question on neckstraps it's about 8 posts down from this one. :) I gtta get that ordered...

barisaxplayer

01-10-2004, 07:38 PM

well.... your sax sits hard on your right... even stuff like neotech setup aint gonna be symmetrical. This side strap looks a lot better than what neotech or other neckstraps have to offer; or any side strap like it, it takes the sax off your NECK which is the source of back problems, because it pulls DOWN on the center of the back of your neck which in turn pulls your back outta wack... 25~ pounds of pressure on your neck over a period of time(different times for different people) HURTS. this is on the shoulder rather than on the neck, it will probly feel a bit odd at first, however I'm pretty sure it'll take the work load from the neck to a much stronger part of the body, in this case, the shoulder.