If you've been watching this thread even casually, you are probably well aware of the Shock & Awe military strap, that actually kind of started it all for me about 12 or 13 years ago. At that time I had found some really cool 3" wide Korean War surplus cotton webbing that was pretty thick and soft, just magnificent to work with, and I picked up all they had. For the past couple years I've been looking to source more of the same, without luck.
Maybe about eight months ago, I did take a chance on this roll of Military surplus webbing from Australia of all places. Shipping to me was rather expensive and it was pretty pricey too, listed at just over 3" wide. When it came in, I had walked to the post office, about four blocks, and carrying this monster roll on my shoulder back home was quite a chore! Must weigh about forty-five pounds!
Unfortunately, or fortunately, (depending on how a fella looks at it), it's both wider, at 3.25" and not near as "thick" or meaty as the original milspec webbing I'm used to. It is cotton, so it's got that going for it, which is world's away nicer to the touch than poly web, but it's not the original dark olive drab. This stuff is more a lighter "deserty olive." Still have maybe 15 yards of the first 3" stuff, but it feels that the original Shock & Awe original individually numbered and patched series will reach it's end, and I'll reserve what's remaining for military career customs. The last one I made was #99 anyway. Seems like a nice place to stop, but I want to replace it with something similar, maybe even better!
I'm now taking a new approach to a military-style guitar strap utilizing this new Aussie webbing, trying some stuff, prototyping. I put myself in the mindset of how the military might actually make a guitar strap... keep it super trusty, light, compact, but simple, stripped down. Maybe not so pretty to look at, but definitely super practical and utilitarian. The military may also not be real famous for making human comfort a top priority, but rest assured there is no damn way I will compromise on that!
Overall, my aim is to make the lightest, strongest, most utilitarian comfort guitar strap available anywhere, and it's going to look like it actually might belong on a .50 M2 "Ma Deuce" machine gun, rocket launcher, whatever. If you of the type that can make your guitar can fire off a devasting spray of up to 550 NPM*, or level an audience with just one face destroying note, this might be the strap for you!
This week, I've started with the first three protos... This new series loosely/tentatively titled "Axe Warrior."
Tried my hand at making some tags for the first run yesterday, these are kind of fun!
I may get pro-badging down the road for these, but for my first run of ten or so, I need to see how they sell first, weigh the initial reviews coming in. This badge just running some cotton denim through my printer LOL! Still trying to decide exactly how this strap will adjust in the end. It must be simple, secure, and fast. For the first one completed today, I've worked in a modified take on the much-loved double D-ring setup from the Shock & Awe series, seems fitting to carry that innovation over.
I had one person of the over 100 original Shock & Awes complain his was slipping down on him. I suspect he removed the tail strap then somehow re-installed it improperly, because when I send them out, the harder you pull down it, the tighter it gets. Because this webbing seems slightly grippier/rougher texture than the other,
These will NOT move, even under what I figure I can muster up, about fifty/sixty pounds of pull. You can adjust your guitar level upwards quick and easy by easing down on the outside end, lowering it takes a bit of doing.
I am doubling over this 3.25" strappage onto itself, and stitching it together to get a 1-5/8-ish" skinny strap that carries the weight. REAL STRONG! That skinny strap goes through a 15" shoulder pad, in the floating pad style, the support strap running through two leather tabs, and a center "epaulet" with my Well-Hung badging on it. In my tests so far, this is NOWHERE near what a traditional floating pad feels like. It's absolutely luxurious! Fully padded with two kinds of padding, both EPDM and memory foam, so it compresses just beautifully. AT 3-1/4 wide, lots of surface are to spread weight outside your pressure points. The two I've sort of have made so far are lined with suede leather against the shoulder. The suede and the padding keeps the pad in place on your shoulder. Yet, if you work it just right, you can still slide the web through the pad to move around. It's frickin' perfect!
In my initial tests with this one shown, I estimate a normal guy could bear a guitar for up to twice as long a period over most regular 2" wide guitar straps,
without suffering the typical discomfort you would expect.
For the ends I am using 9 oz. latigo leather. Thick, trusty black harness leather. Ends are glued, stitched AND riveted, the rivet on the back protected by a layer of leather, flatted-out on the front to protect it from enduring any possible damage from your guitar. I had to take one end apart this morning, and I can tell you it was a G*D* chore! So I have EXTREME confidence in the security of this setup going forward. This one, #1, I will be keeping for myself, and continue test-driving. Adjusts easily between 46-58." I may individually number these also, as the numbers I've used for Shock & Awe fit perfect on the skinny strap. I Just need to figure out the best place for them.
I'll be looking for suggestions on this. In fact, if there's any current or ex-service people reading, like marines or infantrymen, I'd like to recruit two test pilots for prototypes #2 and #3, when I complete them. They won't be free, but vastly reduced price for sure. Looking for legit "military feel + vibe," practicality, comfort, all that. Prefer those folks to be working pro's if possible, so they can really put the straps through the paces, and provide meaningful suggestions.
I like the double D-ring adjustment for pure ease of making & simplicity, but I have other hardwares on the way which I want to test. It won't be this week or next week when the others are complete, because of parts on order, and a fair bit of custom work on the bench I need to address right now.
Price point is something I'll need to figure out. There is a lot of detail in these, and material costs I have yet to calculate. But I'm shooting for approx $145, for what I believe may be the ultimate simple, light, secure and COMFORTABLY best guitar strap ever built. I can tell already they are going to be real special! Looks lean 'n mean, but feels like a doggone Cadillac!
