TVvoodoo's Straplab

OK, still been fighting back bit of a bug over here, working at about 65% but over the past week or so I managed to build ten new Shock & Awe straps numbered #90 to #99. Exciting!

The Shock & Awe series was the one that started it all for me. Got me started at making straps for my guitar brothers. Made my first one for a raffle to raise money for a hurtin' guitar forum member a dozen years ago, then to my great surprise, other people started asking for them!
The first one looked a bit different of course, but I only had the one piece of 3" wide military webbing strap I found at a thrift shop.

But once people started asking I found a cache of VERY hard to find 3" wide Korean war military surplus COTTON webbing, (which is FAR superior to poly or plastic webbing for comfort and flex) from a US parachute supply company. Bought up all they had. I now probably have only enough left to make another fifteen or so.

I use a combination of actual militaria patches, and others I pick for "menace" value then make sure I place them for maximum badassitude. Shock & Awe straps are individually numbered, and I'm finally up the the high 90's after ten years of making them. I have also made about a dozen of these badged specifically for individual military careers as keepsakes for their own/or relatives' military careers.

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Usually about nine or ten patches, they are ironed-on (if they have that backing) AND sewn even if they do. So they are not coming off, no-how. That's kind of what takes a lot of the time. quite labour intensive. As you can see, some with brown leather, some with black leather. Quality thick ends to last a long, long time.

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On the back end they are adjusted by a hidden double D-ring system and cotton webbing tail strap that effectively gives you infinite micro-adjustment. One guy out of the 90 others who've bought one mentioned it slips on him, but I suspect he's put it together incorrrectly. When I send these out, the harder you pull on the tail end, the tighter the D-ring grips. You can easily raise the height of the back end by pulling on the free end of the tail strap. This system (which I sort of invented) allows a wide range of adjustment between 42" to 60" and looks plain cool!

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If that's not enough... I like to "relic" these up a bit... Bullet holes, various thread pulls, rasp marks, scrapes, cuts, and a little blast crater filth to tone down any bright colours so they look battle-experienced. And it's quite convincing!

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When it makes sense, like on the two below, I'll turn a patch on the front side into a small
pick pocket by leaving the top unsewn. As you can see there is a lot of detailing here.
It's kind of my Well-Hung flagship strap. There are several types of military fakey straps
out there, but I believe the Shock & Awe series destroys those commercial 2" wide weaklings with only one lonely patch. I pad these prior to sending out, as purchasers have a chance
to get the most popular faux sheepskin shoulder lining, or their choice of black or brown, suede or smooth leather, or fabrics and the level of padding they prefer.
While the theme hasn't changed over the last ten years, these are truly a custom, one-of-a-kind strap every time one leaves the shop.

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They look just plain awesome under low light like your typical stage type setup. Many professional players
own these, and there are members of the Shock & Awe militia in Great Britain, France, Brazil, Spain, Australia,
Canada and many USA owners, as you might expect.

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Ask if you have questions!
 
Two new Snakey straps slithered off my bench today! But first, a collection of personal/business horn honks recently come in on Reverb.

Alex in Louisville, KY picked up a 1969 Series "Crystal Blue Persuasion" blue ribbon on black leather
"Hands down the best strap I have owned. Really comfortable and well made. I can play for a few hours without a sore shoulder."

" Just received my 4th Well-Hung strap. All of them look, feel and work GREAT. If you are looking for a new upgraded strap, Brad has them.. Plus pretty good swag!"
-Noted Warren in Scarborough, ON about his Saskatchewan Snow Snake leather sling.

Alex Ledford in North Carolina gave my Old School Leather straplocks a go: "These are THE ONLY leather strap locks I can find on the internet, but I'd order them again even if they weren't. Solid quality, well made and functional. I can't say enough good about this seller and this product!"

Patrick in Victoria BC picked up one of my Sum Yung Long Hung Guy Dragon silk straps in black and gold.... "Probably the best strap I've ever owned. Well padded and the craftsmanship is just superb! Made my Les Paul weigh almost nothing. Gravity defying...Will definitely buy more from Well-Hung. It's definitely proven to be worthy of my first choice for new straps."

Thank you fellas. a whole bunch of these came in, just been kind of ill for the past few weeks. Head over the Well-Hung store on Reverb to go see! Link in my signature! I've got a bunch of new pictures in too... just have been feeling a bit too set back lately to ready them for your eyes.

OK... Show and tell for what happened today! I made Dark Desert Python out of this mid-brown pigskin that is laser cut with scales all over it, for a realistic texture. But I dyed it a bit darker brown, because how it came wasn't all that interesting. Plus a bit warmer in colour helps the black pop a bit more and matches the oil-tanned nose and tail leather better.

it''s about as subtle as python can get, which is not very LOL

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Also, completed one I started yesterday, probably one of the more striking python straps I've made. This python was normally kind of a mustard yellow and black. I oomphed it up a WHOLE LOT by adding some extra black dye to darken the sides down, and some saddle along the middle for a hot orange effect. The result looks completey wild and maybe even a bit terrifying!
It's cool that the scales have little glint to them too

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I should get the two above in the store probably early tomorrow. Really into snakes lately!

Remember a couple months back I was experimenting with rattlesnake patterns on ordinary white snake vinyl? Well the straps I made from those sold pretty fast

Jason in Burnsville, MS grabbed one up and his feedback almost made me pop my chest buttons! "My oh my. What can I say??? I feel as though I trotted through the dessert and tripped over the biggest Diamondback Rattler I’ve ever seen, grabbed him by the tail, and strapped him straight up to my PRS! Well-Hung knocking it out of the park as always!"

Great review on it, so I figured I'd mess with that material again, try for more successes but with some different dye colours/patterns - 2 I'm gonna call Murk Python, and another dark rattler coming up within a couple weeks. I'm getting a little better at the rattler every time too so that's a cool skill to have under the belt. And the Murk Python is dark dark brown with a hot amber orange undertones... These are gonna look killer on a vintage burst strat or LP!

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Just waiting for the dye to set in, and I will clearcoat these again a few times to protect then build a few awesome straps out of these. Like the other two leather ones above, because they are all hand-dyed... you will NOT find anything like these anywhere else.

Today on the playlist... I figured Johnny Winter would be perfect for all this snakey stuff!
 
Completed the new hand-dyed snakey straps this morning - Great aggressive texture if you dig things leaning a bit towards the dark side.

We have Murk Beast #1, with tan undertones and a distressy dark brown over-coat.

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Murk Beast #2 - Similar... but with orangy/amber undertones, instead of the tan, more angry!

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And Dark Rattler - more tan/brown like Murk Beast #1 but with added black diamondback markings

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All of the above around 3" wide, luxury padded, with velvety black lining that will fight neck dive. 44" - 60" for length (that's a pretty big loop!).

Find them all, strong 'n long on Reverb.com
 
Today, new in the store i put something together for a group of people I am actually quite fond of, but totally guilty of neglecting.
The ladies! The brand name is obviously not one they would gravitate to, but I have strapped several adventurous ones. ;)

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Blue Belle, is nice indigo denim, white lace and black leather. Cool combo for a rockin' grrrl, or a swangin' gal.
Either way, if you know one who complains a lot about bad straps, (which is pretty much all of them LOL)!
they too deserve the Well-hung comfort just as much as any of you dudes do! Your chance to be a hero!

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Might make it a regular thing, but I just made a first three for a test. They look rather sharp, and the luxe padding, rolled edges,
at 2-3/4 width won't look like too much on a ladies' frame. Also run between 34" to 44" which is ideal for most ladies.
How about some cool PrON?

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Charvel Tele, from Neil in Edmonton, wearing "Dead Flowers" Tapestry material strap
And how about this silverburst bass, wearing "Squirter" from my Genocide series?

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I think it's totally an inspired match!

Oh and this Reverb feedback came in yesterday from J. Paul in that Toddlin' Town. He picked up a "Handsome Devil," one of my Saugerties Alternate padded ribbon straps.

"Best strap I’ve ever had! Nobody makes a better strap hands down.. serious, this strap is the stuff of strap dreams. Not only is it absolutely beautiful, but completely functional as my SG now doesn’t neck dive at all. Did I mention how comfy it is? Cadillac in it's golden years has nothing on Well-Hung straps.. Beyond stoked and will be purchasing more. BTW shipped faster than the speed of sound! Strap from Canada came to Chicago faster than any domestic strap I’ve bought. Thanks again man!!!"

I have described my straps as "Cadillacky" before years ago, nice he picked up on that too. The key thing is they don't look like "old man" straps.
You know, words like his from gatbrothers everywhere is what fuels my passion to bring the ultimate in playing comfort to every seeker guitarist out there.
 
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