[CatDuet]

Neck strap that adjusts short without strangling me

I play alto, and find that by the time I get the strap adjusted to bring the sax high enough to go into my mouth at the proper embouchure angle, it puts an unpleasant pressure around my neck, because it's so tight. It doesn't really quite strangle me, but i feel a considerable amount of squeezing in at the sides of my neck, and it looks dorky. I've put up with it for years, but I'm tired of being annoyed with it. I'd like to upgrade my strap to some kind of cord strap. Any ideas on one that will adjust for someone who seems to need it shorter than usual?

Thanks!

 

[dlrsax]

Re: Neck strap that adjusts short without strangling me

I'm not very tall, so I have to cinch an alto strap up pretty high as well. I usually use a Brancher Crescent or an Ombaige cord strap.

 

[LostConn]

Re: Neck strap that adjusts short without strangling me

I play alto, and find that by the time I get the strap adjusted to bring the sax high enough to go into my mouth at the proper embouchure angle, it puts an unpleasant pressure around my neck, because it's so tight. It doesn't really quite strangle me, but i feel a considerable amount of squeezing in at the sides of my neck, and it looks dorky. I've put up with it for years, but I'm tired of being annoyed with it. I'd like to upgrade my strap to some kind of cord strap. Any ideas on one that will adjust for someone who seems to need it shorter than usual?

1. The Cebulla neck straps comes in an extra-short "curved soprano" model. I believe it is designed to support a high hook point without pinching the player's neck. http://musicmedic.com/cebulla-saxophone-neck-strap.html

2. You also could try any strap that includes a horizontal space bar by the hook, to prevent pressuring the neck. E.g., the Bird strap. https://www.amazon.com/B-Air-Saxophone-Bird-Strap/dp/B0072DSUZ0/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

 

[CluelessEPA]

Just Joe's will make any length strap you like, which will allow keeping the adjuster near the bottom.

 

[1saxman]

Good answers, y'all. I would have said just get a short strap.

 

[turf3]

I use straps that go around and fasten with a buckle, rather than the kind with a slider. (Imagine a belt for your pants, buckled - well, that's how it works.) The strap length is always correct, too.

Years and years ago I found a bass clarinet strap of white leather (sorry, don't remember the brand). It had two hooks so I took one off, punched some additional holes for the length I needed, trimmed off the excess, and I use that strap for alto today. For baritone and tenor I use homemade straps of the same general type.

I really really hate the strangulation type of strap.

 

[bandmommy]

Just Joe's will make any length strap you like, which will allow keeping the adjuster near the bottom.

Just what I was going to recommend!
I absolutely love my Just Joe's strap. Never have I felt 'strangled' after adusting to work with my alto.

 

[saxonabike]

it is quite easy to vary the length of the jazzlab saxholder, and i am very happy with mine.

 

[Zabbo]

Give Joe a call at Just Joe's Music. He'll sort you out.

 

[lesacks]

Just Joe's even have a video on how to specify the length. Comfy too
https://youtu.be/xX4ippFnPD0

 

[Sax Poet]

+1 on the Just Joe's strap. I have one for tenor and one for alto. Best strap I've ever used.

 

[Kenny Garrick]

Another vote on the just Jo's my wife who is just a tad under 5' loves hers and I have to say it is the most comfortable strap I have ever used. Being in the UK and for teh time being at least in the EU we both got ours from https://www.thomann.de/gb/koelbl_just_joes_sax_strap_deluxe.ht, in my humble opinion well worth the money.

Kenny

 

[milandro]

the Just Joe is very good, if you find it too tight around the neck you can add a spacer that you can buy or rather easily make yourself.

For those whom suggest a longer strap. This is not a problem (if you suffer by it) that can be solved by a longer cord you need to space it .


the saxholder has no element around your neck at all so it cannot strangle you, so you don’t need a spacer there


This is what a spacer looks like

this is the saxholder, as you can see there is nothing around your neck

 

[CatDuet]

How much does the sax holder press on the abdomen? I have a sensitive gut. I'm interested in the sax holder, but wasn't sure if it would make me sore.

 

[condealisson]

I'm short, in Alto I use a Rico strap with a metal hook and Tenor one strap Barkley like the Dave Guardala, really comfortable and good size.

 

[saxonabike]

How much does the sax holder press on the abdomen? I have a sensitive gut. I'm interested in the sax holder, but wasn't sure if it would make me sore.

sometimes on bari it digs in for me (although it's easier on my back which is personally worth the tradeoff) but on alto and tenor i barely notice it's there.

 

[milandro]

How much does the sax holder press on the abdomen? I have a sensitive gut. I'm interested in the sax holder, but wasn't sure if it would make me sore.

first of all you can adjust it to press exactly where your muscles should be working to create breath support, in fact you can use it to “ feel” if you are working the muscles as you should. The abdomen support is one of three points where the weight will be distributed and if you are playing alto or tenor you shouldn’t really have more pressure than a belt holding trousers would impose upon it.

 

[Dr G]

Re: Neck strap that adjusts short without strangling me

+3 for Just Joe's. Yes, I have three of them - one for each horn. Although I still have my Hyman neck straps of the last 20+ years in my gig bag, the Just Joe's is the only one I use. Utmost comfort for hours of playing.

I play alto, and find that by the time I get the strap adjusted to bring the sax high enough to go into my mouth at the proper embouchure angle, it puts an unpleasant pressure around my neck, because it's so tight. It doesn't really quite strangle me, but i feel a considerable amount of squeezing in at the sides of my neck, and it looks dorky. I've put up with it for years, but I'm tired of being annoyed with it. I'd like to upgrade my strap to some kind of cord strap. Any ideas on one that will adjust for someone who seems to need it shorter than usual?

Thanks!

 

[ZootTheSim]

Re: Neck strap that adjusts short without strangling me

In case it helps, I wrote Joe recently to ask the minimum length of his smallest strap. He replied that it's 19", measured according to his method, but that he's made 17.5" custom straps for curved soprano players.

By way of comparison, Claudio at Seawind tells me that the hook of the small Cebulla wide strap is about 8.5” from the base of the players neck. To compare with Joe's, just add the diameter of your own neck.

 

[Pete Thomas]

The best crd strap for comfort when very short is the Cebulla. The widener at the adjuster sorts out any neck stringing issues. Of course the Saxholder is also great. I have two, one with extra short cord for my Buescher bass. The Cebulla would also be fine for that but I prefer to play the bass with the saxholder.