[metaphorce]

A bit of data pertinent to "Alternatives to the Neck Strap."

I got a Neotech Neo Sling, and it works well on the C-Mel. It's an over-the shoulder strap (one shoulder, not the full baby harness).

Pros:
- I can get the horn to a comfortable height (e.g. where I don't have to support any weight of the horn with my lower lip, something I was unable to achieve fully with a conventional neck strap);
- the weight's off my neck;
- the lowest part of the horn rests gently against my moderately protruding waistline, slightly to the right (your mileage may vary);
- has an easy adjustment for height;

Cons:
- slight pain in my right wrist, but the position seems to be remediable by remembering to keep my thumb joint slightly arched

If you're having trouble getting the C-Mel in a comfortable playing position with a neck strap, I think this is worth a try.

It has a totally standard swivel hook, the type where you slide the button back to retract the little latching bar across the mouth of the hook. They describe it as "...our unique swivel hook." Proof, I say, that whoever wrote the package copy has no idea what the word "unique" means, and just tossed it in as some sort of amplifier.

 

[Captain Beeflat]

I used an "over the shoulder" strap for years...generally very good for the reasons you state
Another con; & for me, the most important, is the fact that it is impossible to get the horn out in front of you; the horn and I were locked together.
Perfect, I think, for the shy sax player who hides behind a PA speaker.
PS.
I cannot remember the manufacturer of my over the shoulder strap but I remember that the advert shewed the player wearing it over his right shoulder....for some reason I found this even more restrictive & chose my left shoulder.

 

[Mal 2]

Cons:
- slight pain in my right wrist, but the position seems to be remediable by remembering to keep my thumb joint slightly arched

This might be solvable by installing a replacement thumb hook, one that swivels and adjusts like they all do now. This will probably necessitate removing the cage from around the alternate F#, but you can figure out how to reinstall it (and it SHOULD reinstall with some hacking) or replace it with the now-more-common punched and curved sheet metal type guard.

 

[metaphorce]

This might be solvable by installing a replacement thumb hook, one that swivels and adjusts like they all do now.

An idea.

My sax teacher strongly advocates keeping the left thumb slightly bent to avoid joint pain in the thumb, and I think the same probably applies for the right thumb, so I'm going to work on that first to see if it solves the problem. I'm currently unlearning a lot of bad habits about playing position, so adding one more isn't a big deal.

 

[FESTER]

A bit of data pertinent to "Alternatives to the Neck Strap."

I got a Neotech Neo Sling, and it works well on the C-Mel. It's an over-the shoulder strap (one shoulder, not the full baby harness).

Pros:
- I can get the horn to a comfortable height (e.g. where I don't have to support any weight of the horn with my lower lip, something I was unable to achieve fully with a conventional neck strap);
- the weight's off my neck;
- the lowest part of the horn rests gently against my moderately protruding waistline, slightly to the right (your mileage may vary);
- has an easy adjustment for height;

Cons:
- slight pain in my right wrist, but the position seems to be remediable by remembering to keep my thumb joint slightly arched

If you're having trouble getting the C-Mel in a comfortable playing position with a neck strap, I think this is worth a try.

It has a totally standard swivel hook, the type where you slide the button back to retract the little latching bar across the mouth of the hook. They describe it as "...our unique swivel hook." Proof, I say, that whoever wrote the package copy has no idea what the word "unique" means, and just tossed it in as some sort of amplifier.

Just wanted to chime in...The "BALANCER" is working great! I have never once looked back....I do use the baby harness (what i do in private practice is my own business!)
FESTER!

 

[metaphorce]

Just wanted to chime in...The "BALANCER" is working great! I have never once looked back....
FESTER!

Ah, glad to hear it. Was it difficult to adjust (as previously reported by somebody else, I think)?

 

[Captain Beeflat]

This might be solvable by installing a replacement thumb hook, one that swivels and adjusts like they all do now. This will probably necessitate removing the cage from around the alternate F#, but you can figure out how to reinstall it (and it SHOULD reinstall with some hacking) or replace it with the now-more-common punched and curved sheet metal type guard.

Quite easy to replace. The kit is available from any sax ancillary supplier, consisting of a "solder on" backplate, the hook, teardrop finial & lock screw.
I recently carried this out (with a few other mods) to my battered old Grassi tenor.

http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?166998-Adjustable-thumb-hook-amp-other-photographs.

 

[bradshawm]

I got a BG shoulder harness after neck surgery a while back to use with my bari. I ended up having to give up playing the bari as my neck never healed completely, but the harness worked so well with my other instruments that I now use it for Alto, Tenor and my Conn C-Mel. I still have neck issues and play the larger instruments less, but what I like is that its adjustments are very flexible. I can adjust for the right length, yet it still allows for a great amount of movement of the sax from side to side and it produces no issues with the thumb.

 

[metaphorce]

Quite easy to replace. The kit is available from any sax ancillary supplier, consisting of a "solder on" backplate, the hook, teardrop finial & lock screw.
I recently carried this out (with a few other mods) to my battered old Grassi tenor.

http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?166998-Adjustable-thumb-hook-amp-other-photographs.

Thanks for posting the photo link. (Hadn't seen the mods on that horn before. You should design jewelry.)

I don't think I need to do it - the hook isn't the problem, as far as I can tell. When I bend my thumb, the wrist is OK, and I'm easier to mod than the horn. (I know how to bend my thumb fairly effectively, which is more than I can say for my soldering technique.) But it's nice to know of the option. As time goes on, it may be just the thing.

 

[FESTER]

Ah, glad to hear it. Was it difficult to adjust (as previously reported by somebody else, I think)?

No...it was very simple!

 

[Neotech]

metaphorce-

Glad that you are enjoying the Neo Sling! I think that this is the first time I've heard from someone using it with a C-Mel.

As to the swivel hook, it is indeed unique. This is not a stock part that can be ordered "off-the-shelf", but is designed and formulated by our engineers specifically for use with woodwind instruments. I will grant you that at a quick glance it may appear like every other swivel hook you've seen. And the way you use it is like any other. But over the years it has been modified to better support a horn. Its formulation has changed over the years to make it stronger, and it is constantly being scrutinized for ways to improve it. The uniqueness may be subtle, but you will not find this swivel hook on any other strap!

Cheers!

Frank

 

[metaphorce]

metaphorce-

Glad that you are enjoying the Neo Sling! I think that this is the first time I've heard from someone using it with a C-Mel.

As to the swivel hook, it is indeed unique. This is not a stock part that can be ordered "off-the-shelf", but is designed and formulated by our engineers specifically for use with woodwind instruments. I will grant you that at a quick glance it may appear like every other swivel hook you've seen. And the way you use it is like any other. But over the years it has been modified to better support a horn. Its formulation has changed over the years to make it stronger, and it is constantly being scrutinized for ways to improve it. The uniqueness may be subtle, but you will not find this swivel hook on any other strap!

Cheers!

Frank

Well, then I certainly stand corrected! And nice to know you're listening.