TVvoodoo's Straplab
- Thread starter TVvoodoo
- Start date
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- guitar straps
OP
TVvoodoo
Ambassador of The Comfortably Slung
What kind of bull
-tomfoolery am I up to last night and this morning?
Well the Vinegaroon concoction was a fail. Not going to bother showing that. I think my solution was bad. I forgot in important step in the making, that is dewaxing the steel wool.
Did you know steel wool comes waxed so that it doesn't rust? Now I do.
Anyway, I went with about eight or ten drops of black dye thinned into an oz and a half of IsoPalkyhol, and I got me a decent grey alright. Not bad. I learned me how to make gray!
Hard to get dye this thin even, and there was some sort of a driftwoody effect with the original leather colour showing through. got a bit of the black fade from the edges happening,
and I wiped the skulls a bit with black dye too.
Then, I dried it overnight, and in the sun for an hour this morning. Now we can all see those little bits inside the aces that didn't take the grey very well, still showing the original leather "pink." Well that was driving me a little crazy. So, I grabbed an old toothbrush, some "Antique paste" goop, (dabbled few drops of red dye into just to warm it up a bit) and proceeded to "antique" the middle zig-zag and all inside the Aces.
I'm not sure if I'm pleased or not, but it's kind of cool in it's own special way. I think once I neatsfoot it all up, everything will get a tad darker and blend real nice.
Then I can finish it with a bit of a shine, should be just fine and more importantly ...saleable.
The strip is a bit more apparent in this photo than in real life. Brightened the photo a little bit so it stands out a bit more.
-tomfoolery am I up to last night and this morning? Well the Vinegaroon concoction was a fail. Not going to bother showing that. I think my solution was bad. I forgot in important step in the making, that is dewaxing the steel wool.
Did you know steel wool comes waxed so that it doesn't rust? Now I do.
Anyway, I went with about eight or ten drops of black dye thinned into an oz and a half of IsoPalkyhol, and I got me a decent grey alright. Not bad. I learned me how to make gray!
Hard to get dye this thin even, and there was some sort of a driftwoody effect with the original leather colour showing through. got a bit of the black fade from the edges happening,
and I wiped the skulls a bit with black dye too.
Then, I dried it overnight, and in the sun for an hour this morning. Now we can all see those little bits inside the aces that didn't take the grey very well, still showing the original leather "pink." Well that was driving me a little crazy. So, I grabbed an old toothbrush, some "Antique paste" goop, (dabbled few drops of red dye into just to warm it up a bit) and proceeded to "antique" the middle zig-zag and all inside the Aces.
I'm not sure if I'm pleased or not, but it's kind of cool in it's own special way. I think once I neatsfoot it all up, everything will get a tad darker and blend real nice.
Then I can finish it with a bit of a shine, should be just fine and more importantly ...saleable.
The strip is a bit more apparent in this photo than in real life. Brightened the photo a little bit so it stands out a bit more.
OP
TVvoodoo
Ambassador of The Comfortably Slung
Over the next couple/few days I will be revisiting a design series I have not given enough attention to... the Well-Hung "Warrior" Series.
Previous straps in this series were made with light ivory buckskin suede. At the time I got several requests for a darker tobacco suede version, so here we go!
These will include the bone pipe-beaded chest armor, (really more a decorative nod to it), a seed-beaded rosette, and plenty of dangly fringe.
Rather involved process, but it's kind of fun getting my inner ancestral NDN on. I am guessing I have at least as much Native American heritage as Elizabeth Warren.
Previous straps in this series were made with light ivory buckskin suede. At the time I got several requests for a darker tobacco suede version, so here we go!
These will include the bone pipe-beaded chest armor, (really more a decorative nod to it), a seed-beaded rosette, and plenty of dangly fringe.
Rather involved process, but it's kind of fun getting my inner ancestral NDN on. I am guessing I have at least as much Native American heritage as Elizabeth Warren.
OP
TVvoodoo
Ambassador of The Comfortably Slung
Johnny, I put a couple up on my brand new Well-Hung page on Facebook yesterday, after putting a couple coats of Resolene on it, (helps lock the dye down so it doesn't bleed).
After you lay this on, best not to touch it, don't even look at it for a day or two. But tomorrow morning I'll be snapping more display pix. Strap is lined and padded in the shoulder,
goes about 46-57 or 58" if I recall correct.
Should be up in my store tomorrow, if you are interested. Will come with a Well-hung T-shirt. The stripe looks black in most light, except bright light it looks dark brown.
It's almost got a mirror shine to it. I anticipate the zig-zag will gradually show more over time as the strap ages and the colours begin to fade a bit.
I am really, really new to Facebook, and don't really like the idea much, but I kept getting pressure from people that this is something I must to if I am to be serious about this as a real business over the coming decade.
So, I relented. Facebook keeps telling me I need to invite people or get followers on there or it all might be just a waste of time, so.....
If any of you are facebookers, and know any other guitar folks, bandmembers etc that might be interested, please like and follow and share my page? Is this what I need to ask?
There is not much there right now just a few things, but I aim to keep building it slowly day by day, and will be adding different things up than what you just see here, so it should be real interesting.
Well-Hung F-book
I fee like such a whore for asking, but any TTR brothers you can help populate my follow list, I would TRULY appreciate it - and pledge that it will be a fun ride.
I don't want to go back to a real job if I can make it as a strapmaker for the next while, and expanding my social media reach is how I gotta do it.
OP
TVvoodoo
Ambassador of The Comfortably Slung
ust down to finishing touches on these... each includes a "medicine" pouch underneath the bone pipe beads, forward fringe should not affect strings, but if it does, easily trimmable. There is fringe on the back as well.
Also a finished shot of the Ace of Spades, now on the way to it's new home.
Also a finished shot of the Ace of Spades, now on the way to it's new home.
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Hmmmmmmmm.....I wonder if it will pop up around here someday.....Nice work on all of the above sir!
RVA
Ambassador
Done!
Kerry Brown
Ambassador of the Great Northern Bar Jams
Done
OP
TVvoodoo
Ambassador of The Comfortably Slung
Thank you for all liking the facebook... sorry to be such an asker, but starting from ground zero is tough on that platform -
Today new off the bench is something from the 1969 Series called black pearl
It's dark chrome kind of ribbon, on black leather base, kind of Vegas-meets-Metal, if you get my drift.
3" wide, generously padded. Goes up to about 62" long
Today new off the bench is something from the 1969 Series called black pearl
It's dark chrome kind of ribbon, on black leather base, kind of Vegas-meets-Metal, if you get my drift.
3" wide, generously padded. Goes up to about 62" long
OP
TVvoodoo
Ambassador of The Comfortably Slung
Imagine a black leather strap with a great surface texture, detailed adding a bit of a glow. Only when you get in nice and close you will see that that texture is made up
HUNDREDS and HUNDREDS of finely detailed rose impressions. Was going to call this short run series Rosae Mortis, which is some old language stuff for... you can probably guess.
But I think I will go with None More Goth instead. I'll put some more pics up on Facebook.
Dang I love this strap, even if it is black.
HUNDREDS and HUNDREDS of finely detailed rose impressions. Was going to call this short run series Rosae Mortis, which is some old language stuff for... you can probably guess.
But I think I will go with None More Goth instead. I'll put some more pics up on Facebook.
Dang I love this strap, even if it is black.
OP
TVvoodoo
Ambassador of The Comfortably Slung
Meet "Argigoth" from the No Prisoners Series. Brutally handsome, just like you!
Bunch more pics up on the new Well-Hung F-book page, go check em out, and hey, if you could do me a solid... share that page with a few of your cooler guitarin' friends, please and thank you!
Bunch more pics up on the new Well-Hung F-book page, go check em out, and hey, if you could do me a solid... share that page with a few of your cooler guitarin' friends, please and thank you!
OP
TVvoodoo
Ambassador of The Comfortably Slung
Princely paisley... made two. Elegant, padded guitar strap... a little bit boho, a little bit metal, plus a whole lotta groovy. Two freshly now in the Well-Hung Reverb boutique.
If you pick one up, let me know you are TTR material, one of these just might stow away in your package, to end up being well-hung in your rehearsal space.
If you pick one up, let me know you are TTR material, one of these just might stow away in your package, to end up being well-hung in your rehearsal space.
Johnny, I put a couple up on my brand new Well-Hung page on Facebook yesterday, after putting a couple coats of Resolene on it, (helps lock the dye down so it doesn't bleed).
After you lay this on, best not to touch it, don't even look at it for a day or two. But tomorrow morning I'll be snapping more display pix. Strap is lined and padded in the shoulder,
goes about 46-57 or 58" if I recall correct.
Should be up in my store tomorrow, if you are interested. Will come with a Well-hung T-shirt. The stripe looks black in most light, except bright light it looks dark brown.
It's almost got a mirror shine to it. I anticipate the zig-zag will gradually show more over time as the strap ages and the colours begin to fade a bit.
I am really, really new to Facebook, and don't really like the idea much, but I kept getting pressure from people that this is something I must to if I am to be serious about this as a real business over the coming decade.
So, I relented. Facebook keeps telling me I need to invite people or get followers on there or it all might be just a waste of time, so.....
If any of you are facebookers, and know any other guitar folks, bandmembers etc that might be interested, please like and follow and share my page? Is this what I need to ask?
There is not much there right now just a few things, but I aim to keep building it slowly day by day, and will be adding different things up than what you just see here, so it should be real interesting.
Well-Hung F-book
I fee like such a whore for asking, but any TTR brothers you can help populate my follow list, I would TRULY appreciate it - and pledge that it will be a fun ride.
I don't want to go back to a real job if I can make it as a strapmaker for the next while, and expanding my social media reach is how I gotta do it.
Liked and shared!
Me neither. I did Like and then Share.
OP
TVvoodoo
Ambassador of The Comfortably Slung
After some ribbon arrived yesterday afternoon, I set to work today on a custom for RC in Nebraska!
He was looking for a strap in my "1969" design style, 3" wide, rolled edges, padded ribbon on leather base. A real elevation of the old 2" wide hippie strap style.
Before beginning, I dropped the ribbon down on some base choices for him, tough project... note the three photos he sent me of his bass all show a different colour LOL!
I thought maybe reds would help pop that tort, but seeing it in person, didn't like the effect. Also tried some blue/teal coloured leather, but it wasn't worth taking a photo... too green, made me feel kinda nauseous!
Tried on some brown leathers too, to confirm the choice we already made at this point.
Getting that ribbon laid down on the base leather strap (we chose black), is one of the harder parts... keeping it centred! Id' be lying if I said I always got this perfect.
Beautiful ribbon, a little bit of gold sparkle - I think this robin's egg blue will really pop on that bass. The ribbon also has a bit of a brown/black flipflop effect. Here we have it assembled with the padded inserted, the lining attached ready for sewing
Here you can kind of see the flip/flop, after sewing is completed. Just some extra stuff with the nose and tail, strap is 75% done at this point. RC, hope you are watching,
Extra pics up on the Well-Hung F-book page too.
Going to be ready to ship tomorrow... soon to meet it's new owner.
He was looking for a strap in my "1969" design style, 3" wide, rolled edges, padded ribbon on leather base. A real elevation of the old 2" wide hippie strap style.
Before beginning, I dropped the ribbon down on some base choices for him, tough project... note the three photos he sent me of his bass all show a different colour LOL!
I thought maybe reds would help pop that tort, but seeing it in person, didn't like the effect. Also tried some blue/teal coloured leather, but it wasn't worth taking a photo... too green, made me feel kinda nauseous!
Tried on some brown leathers too, to confirm the choice we already made at this point.
Getting that ribbon laid down on the base leather strap (we chose black), is one of the harder parts... keeping it centred! Id' be lying if I said I always got this perfect.
Beautiful ribbon, a little bit of gold sparkle - I think this robin's egg blue will really pop on that bass. The ribbon also has a bit of a brown/black flipflop effect. Here we have it assembled with the padded inserted, the lining attached ready for sewing
Here you can kind of see the flip/flop, after sewing is completed. Just some extra stuff with the nose and tail, strap is 75% done at this point. RC, hope you are watching,
Extra pics up on the Well-Hung F-book page too.
Going to be ready to ship tomorrow... soon to meet it's new owner.