BEST shoulder harness to help neck problems

[danodownunder]

as a pro of thirty years i am now having some neck probs like a pinched nerve which is tres painfull. What is the best shoulder harness to purchase and where ????

[gary]

This is just info, because I have not worn it, but I was the Jazz Times I got yesterday has, in its new products section, a notice that Neotech has a "Neo Sling" out. The website given is "optechusa.com"

[Bill Mecca]

I've used Ken Wittman's spinstrap for a number of years, flirted with a Newotech, but after a car accident and neck injury the spinstap is the one.

Only one place to get it, from Ken himself

www.wittman-spins.com/spins.html

[Frank D]

I've also used the spinstrap and reccomend it. I did see the add for the NeoSling, not to be confused with the regular Neotech strap, and it looks like a variation on the SpinStrap, probably worth looking into and more readily available.

[danodownunder]

Billmecca what was it about the spinstrap that was superior ? can you get the horn away from your body and will they handle a baritone ? any info is greatly appreciated. Dan.

[Bill Mecca]

slight confusion, the Neotech was a regular neck strap, the Spin strap is over the shoulder. I was watching Emeril the other night and Chubby checker was on, his sax man had a shoulder strap that I haven't seen before.

I occasionaly hear some squeaks from my strap and think its the plastic.
As for handling a Bari? I don't play one, but I think it would.

[max]

I use my Spin Strap with a bari - works great (no squeaks, either, but mine is still kinda new, at least compared to Bill's...).

[Bill Mecca]

the squeaks, yeah, it's funny, sometimes they are there and sometimes not. Must be an atmospheric thing ;-)

[Frank D]

All, Neotech has introduced another strap which is patterened on the SpinStrap - the Neo Strap. So now there are two similar sling like devices, the Spin Strap AND the Neo Strap. Hope this clears up the confusion.

http://www.optechusa.com/nwind.htm

[Big Nick]

BG also do an over-the-shoulder one.
It's pretty comfortable but you can't get the sax away from your body and it forces you to hold it to your side. I occasionally use it on bari if I'm sitting down. Otherwise I use the BG yoke type sling which sits lower on your neck than a normal sling.

[Bill Mecca]

I know my buddy Andrew Clark was/is using a BG bassoon strap which allows him to get his horn away from his body.

The Spin strap works well with my SDA which likes to be held a bit more to the side, but I still have enough freedom of movement, and given a choice between the movement and the pain in the neck, I know what I choose ;-D

I also have a nice rainbow colored luggage strap that I slid a caribiner ($1.99 at Home depot) over and have used that as well. relatively cheap if you want to test out a shoulder strap system.

[Gandalfe]

I was suffering from neck pain and it made practicing the bari a chore. I picked up a neoTech harness and have never looked back. My 23-year old son gives me grief about being a sissy, but at least I'm a sissy with no neck pain. :D

[danodownunder]

Has anyone tried the new Neo sling, same almost as the spin strap but uses the left shoulder and the spin uses the right.??

[max]

You can use the spin strap on either shoulder.

[timobrien]

I've got arthritis in the neck and spine (I'm not that old, either) and it was a miracle when I tried out the Neotech harness.

I won't be going back to a regular neckstrap ever.

[Bill Mecca]

You can use the spin strap on either shoulder.

I've never had the occasion to switch shoulders, but it is nice to know it's there if I need it. That was one thing I noticed about the Neosling.

has anyone seen shoulder straps in leather? I saw a guy on TV the other night, I don't know if it was custom made, mass produced or a modified letter carrier strap.

[tenorman canada]

I had the same problem. Did a real job on the nerves in my neck and it was costing me gigs. I got a strap called gemini. I put it on like I would a jacket and it clips together in the front. No pressure on the back neck at all.

My guitarist has the same problem and also wears a strap which he puts on like a jacket.

This strap has allowed me to play painfree for the last ten years.

[danodownunder]

Man that nerve pain is persistant and the strange thing for me is when i hang a tenor round the neck it goes but only to come back with a vengance when i remove it. I have been using a crappy shoulder thingame that you put on like a jacket as tenorman from Canada put it, so tenorman have you tried the one shoulder thing like a spinstrap or the new neotech called the neo sling ? and what is this bassoon strap that billmecca says that andrew clark wears and is that the andrew who writes for sax journel, I would love somthing that goes over the shoulder [s] but allows forward movement of the horn. Thanks people. Dan.

[Bill Mecca]

Dan,

yes that is the Andrew Clark that writes for SJ. He was using a BG bassoon strap. I haven't talked to him about it lately, but doubt it's changed.

[danodownunder]

Spin strap arrived on the door step and after trial I love it feels better over the left shoulder to me but works fine both ways, don't like the hook too much bit tough and slow to pop on and off but hey I'll man up, thanks to all for the heads up on these. I am amazed how differant it was doing gigs this week without the neck being pulled forward, and the numbness wasn't missed first time in 30 years my neck has had a rest YES. Dan.

[Bill Mecca]

congrats dan. I prefer it over the right shoulder, and as far as the hook, you mean the hook for the horn, or the strap itself. I just keep that one latched and put it over my shoulder in place.

[Tom Goodrick]

I had a neck injury many years ago so I was concerned that the normal neck strap - even the NeoTech neck starp - would bother my neck. I bought a NeoTech harness a year ago and used it for several months. Then I found a sore spot developing under my left armpit where the harness rubs a little. My doctor thought it was a cist and operated on it. He found no cist, just a deep abcess. Of course, I had to return to the neck strap. Now, after a couple months, I guess I'll stay with the neck strap. I am used to it and have no neck pain.

The sling sounds good, especially if you can switch shoulders.

I use a carabiner hook to hold the horn. It works okay for doublers after you get used to it. It won't drop the horn. It could substitute for any type of hook.

[rcsq]

Sorry, I've been rather busy at my day job, but I now have fresh stock of the Gemini Bari / Bass Sax Harness. They're $49.95 including shipping in USA and Canada for those on SOTW who were interested. I have one posted eBay now, and you can buy them through a link on our website at: http://www.studiospace.com/rcsq/harness.htm

I've sold out twice in the past two months, but I've ordered more for the new year. Please email or phone with questions.