OP
TVvoodoo
Ambassador of The Comfortably Slung
Sometime tonight I'll be getting the Reverb listing up for "Excess of X's" a Well-Hung loose "straplica" I've been making/adapting for a number of years now.
By my records way back in 2014 I made my first one, a more direct "clone" by custom order request. I recall poring over lots of photos of it being worn by the two guitar gods famous for owning this strap, both Jimi and David. I tried to reason with the fella who ordered it that parts of the original build/design seemed a bit "janky" to me. There was plenty room for improvement.
The original tail end adjustment was just a clunky semi-circular chonk of heavy leather with a big loop cut out of it. Through that flowed the strap body, which then folded over, adjusting to a maximum of three length positions, via a series of snaps. This left quite a bump inside against the body. I actually did make a few exactly like that (but with padding built in) ... eventually giving up on it. Seemed crude, and not real trusty to me, and kind of a pain to build. I'll go the extra mile if it's something that's gonna end up better, but I tend to stop myself short when I know it's going end up being less practical, if there's a better way to do it.
Like the myriad of others who offer a rough "look-alike" of this strap, I eventually opted for a different adjustment method on the back end... I went with the typical tried and true ladder system. Others use buckles, I've seen a version that uses the X stitching so you can take it apart then re-weave it how you want it, an old Bobby Lee method, and I think there's even a sliding buckle version or two out there.
One thing I have NOT seen is a padded build like mine, which is why the W-H version can be twice the price of others. I won't be found using a single layer of leather, no rolled edges, and weaving the lace through, still open on the underside grinding right into a guys shoulder, all lumpety-bumpety. Probably does defeat the neck dive though! I could never send out something like that, even if I know it's 100% true to the original. The Well-Hung Excess of X's is padded luxuriously, lined with non-slip upholstery fabric and you will NOT feel the rather thick cowhide leather lacing - it won't break off easily and be irrepairable. The X's also make a pretty decent pick holder too.
By my records way back in 2014 I made my first one, a more direct "clone" by custom order request. I recall poring over lots of photos of it being worn by the two guitar gods famous for owning this strap, both Jimi and David. I tried to reason with the fella who ordered it that parts of the original build/design seemed a bit "janky" to me. There was plenty room for improvement.
The original tail end adjustment was just a clunky semi-circular chonk of heavy leather with a big loop cut out of it. Through that flowed the strap body, which then folded over, adjusting to a maximum of three length positions, via a series of snaps. This left quite a bump inside against the body. I actually did make a few exactly like that (but with padding built in) ... eventually giving up on it. Seemed crude, and not real trusty to me, and kind of a pain to build. I'll go the extra mile if it's something that's gonna end up better, but I tend to stop myself short when I know it's going end up being less practical, if there's a better way to do it.
Like the myriad of others who offer a rough "look-alike" of this strap, I eventually opted for a different adjustment method on the back end... I went with the typical tried and true ladder system. Others use buckles, I've seen a version that uses the X stitching so you can take it apart then re-weave it how you want it, an old Bobby Lee method, and I think there's even a sliding buckle version or two out there.
One thing I have NOT seen is a padded build like mine, which is why the W-H version can be twice the price of others. I won't be found using a single layer of leather, no rolled edges, and weaving the lace through, still open on the underside grinding right into a guys shoulder, all lumpety-bumpety. Probably does defeat the neck dive though! I could never send out something like that, even if I know it's 100% true to the original. The Well-Hung Excess of X's is padded luxuriously, lined with non-slip upholstery fabric and you will NOT feel the rather thick cowhide leather lacing - it won't break off easily and be irrepairable. The X's also make a pretty decent pick holder too.
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