TVvoodoo's Straplab

[TVvoodoo]

Hybrid strap, kind of a cross between a Matrika and a Stage King. Had a dude contact me, says he needs a strap that can max out to a very long hang. But, he's dealing with all kinda nerve pain issues in his carry shoulder. He says he tried a W&W but it wasn't cuttin' the mustard because it was jabbing into his neck and making his shoulder feel sweaty and nasty. My solution, some of that corduroy factor, that allows a lining to breathe, but is still minky soft against the shoulder. I think he's gonna be very pleased. Supremely comfy strap, and it goes all the way to 69" long!

And, a custom made from scratch inside a seven hours, not bad, right? Actually had the day planned out to take care of a fella on F-book, for a custom Genocide strap. He wanted something with a warm maple/spruce kind of feel, but a little knarlier. Dyed that skull embossed stuff a mustardy yellow, shown above,

Then yesterday I slathered it with antiqueing with a touch of mahogany stain in it to knarl it up, and pulled most of it off except what was in the nooks and crannies.

This would look pretty awesome on like a Micawber tribute or a dress up a plain jane BSB tele. Too bad I'm practically out of this stuff now, and seems to be discontinued where I got it from. Maybe I stashed some away somewhere secret from myself and discover it months or years later.

I tend to do that kind of thing too often.

 

[eSGEe]

wow dude ---- just WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Session 5]

Very nice quality goods you make Brad!

 

[Ghostman]

That skull embossed leather would have been awesome in a deep red/crimson for my "Hellraiser" V.

 

[Session 5]

I have two straps on the way .. will show some pics when they arrive..

 

[TVvoodoo]

can't wait to get this thing out of my shop. Morbid, scary and as cool as a crypt at midnight, Natural Genocide has caused me at least two nights of creepy dreams, or maybe it was the ice cream and beer.

How 'bout a couple of groovy Well-Hung customs?

Scar Tissue on the left, and King Midas on the right. Sometimes I feel like the mechanic who gets to tune Ferraris and McLarens all day but will never be able to own one

 

[TVvoodoo]

New order of Well-Hung ShockedGal Glow picks for easy-findin'-after-droppin' on your darkened stages, in orchestra pits, man caves, studios, even that sketchy alley out back of Wavmixers' pad... but please God don't pick anything else up you might find laying out there. Eeeeeewwwwwww!

These are possibly natural kryptonite-powered, batteries are neither supplied or required.

We get 'em delivered to the StrapLab by a friendly guitar-pickin' alien from Zorgon way, out on the edge of the Redshift 7 Cosmos.

Disclaimer: still-to-be proven in a court of law that they may cause hair loss, temporary beer-goggles, erectile dysfunction or hot sweats, cold sweats, infertility or a 27% increase in sweep picking speed and accuracy.

 

[TVvoodoo]

Changing things up a bit today in the StrapLab. Been a long while since I made few of these. got this nice hide sitting here doing nothing, so I cut a few strips off and had at 'er. - these are from a "Brindle" patterned bovine, some cowpokes call 'em "Tigerstripes" for obvious reasons. Basically I believe they are the result of a Hereford and Brahma (or sometime Black Angus) cross.

These are called "Cow Tippin' " - - Any you ranch kids out there know what I'm talking about. I think these would look pretty darn great on a sunburst tele, or a tobacco burst anything. Very comfortable strap, have just a little bit of longward flex in them.

Gorgeous hair-on cowhide guitar straps, simply made, and will be simply priced. A bit over 3" wide and padded in the shoulder. Feels real nice to the touch - wear these and people can't help but pet you. Very flexible strap. Obviously of a countryfied flavour, but cowboy style crosses all kinda boundaries and is forever cool.

I'd work with this stuff more, but it's kinda messy. Once you cut it and trim it, you gonna get these tiny shorthairs all over the place. Gotta keep the shop vac going, because it's little like working with glitter, they can really contaminate a shop if you let it get out of control. But the hairs on these straps? They ain't falling off, no-how. You're gonna go bald before these do, I reckon.

 

[Session 5]

Very nice work Brad..

 

[TVvoodoo]

Very nice work Brad..

Thank you Sesh! I'm an old ranch kid, did the whole ridin' and roundin' up thing for most of my youth, so these really please me.

 

[TVvoodoo]

Metal dude asked me if i could make hims a badass strap using some of that skull leather. Hell Yeah! I can do badass sometimes!
This is going on some crazy lighting bolt shaped BC Rich Bass in pearl white. First off he wanted a white strap. I told him no.
White straps are for SRV or girls only, and he confirmed he was not SRV. So we chose that smoke viper stuff I have, but dye it nasty nasty black!

Then he asked if I could match it the skull strip with dye to mimic the rosewood fretboard on that bass. Dyeing is not an exact science, it's kind of
hope and pray sometimes... err on the side of a lighter shade, you can always go over it again. Then, when you antique it, it changes
everything even darker.

Until the two are together, won't know for sure, but it looks pretty close to the rosewood boards I have over here.

Strap is called Misery. Does it qualify as badass? Let's see if he sends over the cabbage. If not, going straight to the Reverb store!

 

[Ghostman]

 

[TVvoodoo]

Seeing as it's -43 C below up here today, or colder than a witchs' tit, as my father-in-law is fond of saying, I'm staying in the house, except to grab a few armloads of wood, or grab a beer I stuck on the deck outside the patio door for quick chillin'

So, a little additional workshop time is the result. Still stuck on that ding-dang skull theme.

"King o' the Dead" sports purple-dyed skull-emboss on midnight black leather. 3" wide, ultra-padded, 3" wide, and built for pro use in the Well-Hung Guitar Strap way. - should be up on reverb in a couple days.

But I had an idea for a new series last night, and ordered up some materials. Something I can do at a lower price point, but still make
somewhat "comfortably hung" while oozing oodles of sexy hot-rod vintage cool.

 

[TVvoodoo]

Well, maybe you've already seen them, member @Session 5 finally had a visit from the postman... I should note to you guys on the fence... I do not put "Well-Hung" labelling on the package anywhere
just in case your post office people, wives or girlfriends might be asking questions of what you are ordering. I am very discreet.

So now another TTR Well-Hung Guitar owner joins the ranks... of course we don't have to reveal which exactly is Well-Hung here, is it the guitars? Or the owner? Use your imagination, but probably all three
Firstly we have this sweet, sweet flamey tele wearing a complimentary tweedy orange 2.5" wide all-fabric hootenanny... simply the most robust and comfy 2.5 inch wide strap money can buy, if you ask me.

And, another of this pretty Godin, festooned in a herringbone tweed all-fabric hootenanny again at his requested 2.5" wide.

I don't build often in this style or at this width, but these two custom jobs above turned out nice, and I think I might have to revisit this format to add a little variety to my store.
Here's the exact same fabric below under slightly warmer lightiing, which would be more "stagelike" , in 3" wide, but more padded and electrified... another ZAP! ...Tweedigator:

Thank you for the vote of confidence @Session 5 , and the wonderful photographin'

 

[TVvoodoo]

a few new Well-Hung guitar straps freshly made over the past couple of days...
A prototype for a new series I'm gonna call "Velvet Crush"
La Chevelle is a No Prisoners strap made out horsehide, mostly in saddle tan
and Burnt Orange, another No Prisoners sling meant for a shorter hang, or maybe a gal in dark orange suede leather.

 

[TVvoodoo]

Greetings strapoholics and those still in denial, this morning I'm gonna jump start your day in the very best way, with some hot pink foolin' around.

Years ago I found this crazy pink ladies leather jacket in a thrift shop, it was motorcycle style as I recall, and I made a couple hello kitty straps out of it and set
a couple of pieces aside for future considerations. It caught my eye the other day, and I've had an interesting fantasy/idea in the back of my head for months now...
that needed some adventurous exploring - time to give it a try.

I simply did some cursive "writing" with string, before affixing the leather to my strap base. Call me a dirty old man y'alls want to, but honestly? First thing comes to mind when I see this colour? "Love Me!"

Oftentimes here in the straplab I'll accidentally get some silly bit of something stuck under the leather and have to carefully pull it apart, to remove because they
really stand out. This time I'm using that production annoyance to my advantage.

I affixed a single pyramid stud "love button" on the front. One that's easy to find. Some naughty lady is probably going to love this. Or, perhaps it will
stay in my store for years.

Anyway, this idea needs further development. I could do names, was thinking about a "Redrum" in red or black strap for the metal dudes.
Or, does anybody remember "The Exorcist?" - that would be totally freaky LOL, and I actually have creepy a skin-coloured leather too

I don't know where my ideas come from.

 

[TVvoodoo]

Recently got a hide from a new supplier in, give them a try... this is a python print on super soft pigskin.
Feels much like lamb, real supple and soft on the skin and quite nice to work with, but still quite a bit tougher than lamb.
I think this will match a lot of guitars out there. Probably enough here to make four, maybe five straps.

 

[TVvoodoo]

The Saskatchewan Slough Skink makes a great strap. Up here our version is no tiny lizard... 'bout the size of a large dog, the scaley hide is glittery black in a cool way. Maybe you want a black strap that isn't quite so BLAHCK? This one throws off a few sparks, when the light hits it right. 3" wide, soft, comfy - frickin' gorgeous.

Couple of pics back from Colin out in the Maritimes, who's band Roadside Scarecrow has somehow managed to scare up a gig in these dark times. That's cool in itself, but doing it in Well-Hung style makes it even a little bit better. Here he is channeling a bit of Hank Jr. sporting "1969 Time of the Season", and "Praise the Paisley" straps on his teles

"That blackguard Tele is 10.1lbs, and I was able to sling it for over an hour with no issues." says he.

 

[Session 5]

Nice work Brad, another happy axe player!

 

[TVvoodoo]

Python Dijon.



Don't you just love it when a plan comes together? Watch for this one to hit the store soon. A firecracker. Might have to keep one of these for myself.