[minstein]

Which of course you can’t find anymore.

Comfortable, easy to switch horns, easy to adjust and don’t lose their tension.

I still have two: somehow lost my old metal one...both are plastic and work great...let me know via pm if you want to get rid of yours.

 

[dzve]

I might have one somewhere....

 

[1saxman]

Loved them myself even though I dropped a MK VI one night in '67 - thought it was hooked up and let go. Ever since then I won't use anything that doesn't have a positive safety. I also require a 'soft' hook, either the glass-filled polymer or a really durable coating or sheath on a metal hook. The old plain Hyman hooks would eat right through a Selmer hook ring in a couple of years of playing a lot.

 

[Grumps]

I like 'em too. Alto, tenor, bari and even curved soprano. Some folks judge players by their technique, pedigree, melodics… you name it. Not me though. I judge 'em by their neck strap. The simpler the better.


Oh... and I'm keeping mine. All of them.

 

[minstein]

Loved them myself even though I dropped a MK VI one night in '67 - thought it was hooked up and let go. Ever since then I won't use anything that doesn't have a positive safety. I also require a 'soft' hook, either the glass-filled polymer or a really durable coating or sheath on a metal hook. The old plain Hyman hooks would eat right through a Selmer hook ring in a couple of years of playing a lot.

Never had that problem on my old Mark VI bari...and I think it had the rubber coating.

Since I almost never just play sax, the positive safety doesn't work for me.

 

[Saxhound]

I started using Plasti Dip on my metal hooks years ago. Need to refresh it every couple years.

 

[turf3]

Too narrow. Cut into your neck. Not for me.

As to hooks, in all my doubling I've never had a delay from reaching over and depressing the tongue on a spring clip. You've got to put your hand on the hook anyway to get it out of the ring, whether it's the spring clip type or a plain open hook. Trouble in making instrument changes in time always comes, in my experience, from other things. I've never fully dropped a horn on the open hook but I came close more than once - that was all it took.

 

[minstein]

Not been my experience, either when making fast doubles or in dropping horns (including 10 years playing bari books full time).

I find the extra manipulation of the spring clip to be problematic for me YMMV....and regardless of the clip method, I never trust the strap alone, always keeping one hand on the horn "just in case".

 

[1saxman]

Nothing faster than an open hook, but I'm changing horns all the time with the locking hooks and I manage to get it done. My one drop all those years ago was a freak accident - never did really figure out how I did it.

 

[minstein]

3rd set of a bar gig; free drinks for the band and the trumpet player had some really good coke? (can I even say that on a family web site?)

 

[1saxman]

You could but I'm not sure I appreciate the inference if you're suggesting something like that happened with me - it didn't. You would be well-advised to just not go there on this site.

 

[minstein]

Sorry man, I was kidding...no offense meant to you or anyone else

 

[turf3]

Not been my experience, either when making fast doubles or in dropping horns (including 10 years playing bari books full time).

I find the extra manipulation of the spring clip to be problematic for me YMMV....and regardless of the clip method, I never trust the strap alone, always keeping one hand on the horn "just in case".

Well, your experience is your experience and my experience is my experience. Can't argue with that.

Unfortunately there are times when you can't just keep one hand on the horn for safety. Like if you are playing sax and need to pick up a flute fast for 16 bars. No time to set the sax down. Pick the flute up, play, back to sax.

I'll knock on wood here, but I haven't had one get dropped due to strap, hook, ring breakage yet (40+ years and a lot of bandstands).

 

[HeavyWeather77]

I've been using the free Rico straps that I got for filling out a survey ten years ago. Still act like they're brand new. Plenty comfy for me!

 

[Saxophone Strange]

I actually use on of these. I took an old sweater in college that had holes in it and cut it up and sewed it to the back neck part to create a cushion. It’s served me quite well for 20 years.

 

[Grumps]

I've been using the free Rico straps that I got for filling out a survey ten years ago. Still act like they're brand new. Plenty comfy for me!

Hey, I got one of those too! It's still in its original packaging, never used. Was holding onto it for trade bait as I just don't trust string neck straps.

 

[JimD]

They seem to be available all over the place, plastic clips though.

 

[Graysax]

I love them as well. As a pit doubler I haven't been able to find a strap I can safely and quickly put down a horn and pick up another other than those.

The only thing I've found is that you have to get an older ones, as the newer ones have a different courser type of nylon strapping that cause them not to adjust as easily. 2nd favorite are the Rico ones. Have one with my bass case right now (I trust that more with metal parts than the Hyman with plastic parts and the Bass' weight).

 

[lydian]

@Graysax, You must have an incredibly strong neck. If I used a Ray Hyman on my bass sax, it would slice my head clean off.

 

[Graysax]

I'm a big guy - even after the stroke I had a few years back I can deal. To me (and this is personal) the clasp is more important than what hits my neck. The fact that the Hyman's are easily adjustable is a win/win. Again, I use the Rico on the bass just because it has metal parts instead of plastic ones. If I trusted the Hyman's under that weight more, i'd probably use them on bass.