PlungerModerno Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 [quote name='Karl Derrick' timestamp='1407535499' post='2521671'] I try to take a holistic approach with my design work. I'll get the function and features, then the final shape, then the pretty stuff. I'll bear a quick adjustment feature in mind, but everyone will want a specific feature and every feature added drives up the price of each strap. The final strap will be a reasonable compromise between quality/materials/labour/features and price. Karl [/quote] Sounds like you've thought it through - keep us posted with info (i.e. pics please!) and best of look with this endeavor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karl Derrick Posted August 8, 2014 Author Share Posted August 8, 2014 Sure will. I'll have a play tomorrow and see what my brain will tell my hands to do Karl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 [quote name='Karl Derrick' timestamp='1407538052' post='2521702'] I'll have a play tomorrow and see what my brain will tell my hands to do [/quote] I'll do the same, as usual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubinga5 Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 is it only me who thinks certain leather straps look like your in ZZ Top. maybe I've missed the few that don't.... nothing wrong with that of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolo Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 I think a pvc slide buckle will be a time saver, as you do not have to punch out all the holes that are in conventional straps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skej21 Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 I have three of these and they are exactly what I wanted. Price is good too and they do the gig bag to go with it :-) http://www.harvest-guitar.com/en/Cow-Antique-The-Classic-oxid.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karl Derrick Posted August 9, 2014 Author Share Posted August 9, 2014 (edited) Punching a few holes isn't a problem Leather and slide buckles haven't been a success traditionally. Usually the leather is too thick for the slide and it doesn't move through the buckle when you want it to. Here's a bag I made using the leather I'll make the straps from. Soft and very strong. This design is based on a WW1 Officer's map case. The belts are also my own design. I needed to come up with a comfortable equipment belt for use by film crews. the buckle is a Cobra-S tactical buckle. I want to incorporate them in the bass strap design. This kind of traditional but contemporary twist I love. [attachment=168736:bestsmall.jpg] [attachment=168737:MK2 Setbelt.jpg] Edited August 9, 2014 by Karl Derrick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karl Derrick Posted August 9, 2014 Author Share Posted August 9, 2014 So here's an example of the soft leather I was talking about, lined with the 1mm suede and hand stitched. All of my work is hand stitched, no sewing machines. I think it looks miles better (machine stitch has one good side, one bad side), is harder and longer wearing and is a traditional craft in need of sustaining. The sitiching is so much stronger there's no comparison. Hand stitching, and the use of the best materials, is why I'll never be able to compete with factory produced straps on price. But as they always say, you get what you pay for This is a contour strap on this bag. It follows the shape of the body, distributing the weight evenly. I can carry a shedload of heavy stuff all day and not get sore or tired. [attachment=168754:contour.jpg] Karl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 (edited) A strap that looked like your belts would be amazing. Not the buckle obviously, and a bit wider, but the brass studs and loops and so on look great. Edited August 9, 2014 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmo Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 Perhaps you should take a strap, or pass one on, and take to one of the many basschat meetings.There are plenty around, and you could reach a wide range of different people with different requirements. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karl Derrick Posted August 9, 2014 Author Share Posted August 9, 2014 (edited) Those are really good ideas, thank you. I'll make the prototype available for playing with. I don't know how many people I could get it to..... The hitch: If everyone I meet wants something different in a strap, I'll never be able to satisfy everyone. I'll need to settle on a design which appeals to the broadest market, otherwise every strap will need to be patterned from scratch. I couldn't charge enough to make it worthwhile. The goal here is to design a broad appeal strap, pattern and prototype it, then make them all the same. There will be variations available in colour and size of course, but the pattern will be the same. Having said that, of course I'm up for individual strap projects. But, if you bear in mind that designing, patterning and hand making an individual strap might take a couple of days, it won't be £35.00 The goal with the 'ideal' strap project is to put a well thought out, practical, hand made leather strap into the hands of bass players for as reasonable a price as possible. Considering of course that I need to make a living Karl Edited August 9, 2014 by Karl Derrick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 (edited) [quote name='Karl Derrick' timestamp='1407580068' post='2521934'] ...if you bear in mind that designing, patterning and hand making an individual strap might take a couple of days, it won't be £35.00 [/quote] I know there are those on this forum who appreciate quality and would be prepared to pay the price. Design a 'generic' strap of course, but the option of a custom order would be good too. Just don't ask for 100% payment up-front and don't implement a 35% re-stocking fee if the customer doesn't like the end result! Edit: What I'm asking of course, is how much d'you want for a Skin Job?? Edited August 9, 2014 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmo Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 (edited) That is why i say that you would be better going to one of the meet ups. If you see 1 person, that may have a required need, you may base it on the one person, but no one else wants the same.. At the bass meet, you may see 100 people who will have the majority saying they want certain things over otheres.It would be far better to make for the majority, and see which ones to specialise in. Mind you, i have no busness experience, so i have no idea if it is a good suggestion. Edited August 9, 2014 by timmo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 [quote name='timmo' timestamp='1407581841' post='2521968'] That is why i say that you would be better going to one of the meet ups. If you see 1 person, that may have a required need, you may base it on the one person, but no one else wants the same.. At the bass meet, you may see 100 people who will have the majority saying they want certain things over otheres.It would be far better to make for the majority, and see which ones to specialise in. Mind you, i have no busness experience, so i have no idea if it is a good suggestion. [/quote] Or start a poll on here? Give ten or twenty style and design options and see what happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karl Derrick Posted August 9, 2014 Author Share Posted August 9, 2014 (edited) Some good idea, thank you. At the end of the day, it's a strap. Its form must to a greater extent be dictated by its function. Past experience has shown that unless I ask 500 people what they want, the survey sample is ususally too small to be significant enough to base design decisions on. I think best thing would be to make one and see if you guys like it. Karl Oh, Skin-Jobs are not for sale Edited August 9, 2014 by Karl Derrick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 [quote name='Karl Derrick' timestamp='1407584677' post='2522019'] Skin-Jobs are not for sale [/quote] Aww, boo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karl Derrick Posted August 10, 2014 Author Share Posted August 10, 2014 Working out some ideas now. Rather than have a separate 'pad' which slides up and down a long strap (which doesn't stop the slippage issue anyway), I'm working on the premise that the strap will be adjustable for length at the rear end only. Like your standard 'Cobra' type strap. Can someone please supply me a meaurement from the front strap mounting point to the top of the left shoulder (assuming a right handed player). Many thanks, Karl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karl Derrick Posted August 10, 2014 Author Share Posted August 10, 2014 (edited) Something else that's becoming increasingly obvious is that, as a contoured strap, it cannot possibly have a range of adjustment of 50cm I think that, as the strap is curved along its length to fit the player's body, the straps will need to be ordered in a 'size'. There will be an adjustment range in the given size but it can't be all things to all people, and the curve dictates a finite length to the adjustment tail. I've mocked up the shape of the strap in cheap, rough 'suitcase' leather and it's extremely comfortable. Karl Edited August 10, 2014 by Karl Derrick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted August 10, 2014 Share Posted August 10, 2014 [quote name='Karl Derrick' timestamp='1407659491' post='2522594'] Can someone please supply me a measurement from the front strap mounting point to the top of the left shoulder (assuming a right handed player). [/quote] Will that not be different according to the height and strap-length preference of the player? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karl Derrick Posted August 10, 2014 Author Share Posted August 10, 2014 As I've said right from the word go, each strap cannot be patterned to order for each indiviudual player. There has to be a 'standard' front end with an adjustable length tail. When you buy an off the shelf strap, say a 'cobra hood' type, there will be a fixed distance between the strap mount hole and the ideal position of the top of the shoulder. Karl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted August 10, 2014 Share Posted August 10, 2014 (edited) [quote name='Karl Derrick' timestamp='1407678907' post='2522897'] As I've said right from the word go, each strap cannot be patterned to order for each indiviudual player. There has to be a 'standard' front end with an adjustable length tail. [/quote] Then the distance from the strap mount hole to the top of the shoulder pad at its widest point is 45cm. Or at least it is on my strap. Edited August 10, 2014 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karl Derrick Posted August 10, 2014 Author Share Posted August 10, 2014 Thanks very much, very useful info. One more thing, if I may. The make and model of your bass, and the distance between the front and back strap buttons, the length of the body. I appreciate the help! Karl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myke Posted August 10, 2014 Share Posted August 10, 2014 [quote name='Karl Derrick' timestamp='1407570044' post='2521808'] [attachment=168737:MK2 Setbelt.jpg] [/quote] This is awesome! Do you keep them brown or do you dye them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karl Derrick Posted August 10, 2014 Author Share Posted August 10, 2014 Natural, undyed Oak tanned leather is a boring kind of beige/mushroom colour. I buy them through-dyed from the tannery. These are dyed a lovely mid tan. Karl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karl Derrick Posted August 10, 2014 Author Share Posted August 10, 2014 So, here we are with a rough mockup of the ergonomic strap. As laid out, it's about 125cm button to button. The tail section is adjustable in and out, but you can see the range is limited because of the curve of the main section. Please bear in mind this is really rough 'Suitcase' leather, and is just a mockup to show proof of concept. [attachment=168879:mockup.jpg] Karl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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