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NeoSling for bari?

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#41 ·
saxgal6-

Thanks for the brutally honest critique. Can you elaborate? I can understand if you didn't feel it was the right strap for you, but to out-and-out condemn it as c**p seems a bit harsh...
 
#42 ·
I'm surprised no one here seems to have mentioned the GEMINI harness! I've tried them all and this one is the best for me. Made by some sax guys in Canada.
Any baritone player MUST check this out. Even if they are a little more expensive...
 
#44 ·
Hi, Neotech people!

I've had a Neotech harness that I've used on my Yami 62 bari for years with no problems at all. Yeah, it's dorky-looking, but that's life.

Got a new Super Harness to try at your NAMM booth, and for some reason it's not as comfortable... it feels as though the binding puts more pressure on the middle of my chest (the part I can touch with my chin, if that helps). I'm still tweaking, though, so I'll post back when I've had more time with it.

Meanwhile, I've acquired a low-Bb horn, and it's light enough to be played with a strap (for a while, anyway), but heavy enough that none of the straps I own are all that comfortable on a big horn. I'm not a huge fan of the stretchy padded neckstraps... would a Neosling be the next logical choice? I did notice today that my back/neck muscles were getting a bit tired after an hour or so of practicing on the strap.
 
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#45 ·
Hi Bari Sax Diva!

You could be experiencing a couple of things with the Super Harness. It could be as simple as the material is still new enough that is has not yet "broken-in". It might be an issue with where the harness is beng worn on the body, in conjunction with the various adjustments on the harness.

My boss suggested that if you could get some pictures of the harness in use, he might be able to make some specific recommendations for you.

I think that if you are not a fan of elasticized straps you may not like the NeoSling. It does have the neoprene pad with elastic support. If your horn is not too heavy to use on a regular strap, you may prefer the Wick-It Strap. This one is made with a pad of the high-tech "memory foam" which conforms to the neck and allows moisture to "wick away" from the skin. It does not have any stretch at all.

If you don't mind just a bit of stretch, the Classic Strap still has the neoprene pad, but with a laminated elastic "control stretch" feature that allows a more regulated stretch.

Of course, you may find that with a shoulder sling such as the NeoSling that you don't mind the stretch. Of course it's so much a matter of personal preference.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask, either here in the forum or by direct email at marketing (at) optechusa (dot) com.
 
#46 ·
until i joined this forum, i had never seen or heard of anyone else wearing a sling. :shock:

i made mine right after i started on bari in the late 80's. it is similar to the neosling but i slip my LEFT arm thru the sling so the sax sits on my RIGHT shoulder and back. i can play for hours sitting or standing - i never have had any discomfort, even tho i have suffered from lower back, middle back and neck pain over the years.

it uses a large brass hook so that the metal in the hook doesnt eat into the brass ring of the saxophone. what happens when your plastic coated metal hook begins to wear thru? get another sling? damage your horn? :? altho i can see that a commercially available sling needs to be for many individuals, by being adjustable, but my sling is only made for me and is not adjustable - it fits me perfectly and i can use it on either my selmer lowA bari or my yani tenor - altho it is too long for an alto. and then what is the use of padding on the sling? the foam will compress until the pressure is evenly distributed anyway, so why not just use a wide piece of nylon? mine is made from 2" black nylon strap.

its really simple to make - 2" nylon strap, brass swivel hook, cut to right length, sew, play sax. cost? under 5$ :)
jon
 
#47 ·
Neotech said:
If your horn is not too heavy to use on a regular strap, you may prefer the Wick-It Strap. This one is made with a pad of the high-tech "memory foam" which conforms to the neck and allows moisture to "wick away" from the skin. It does not have any stretch at all.
Click to expand...
I have used the Wick-it on bari for well over a year. I prefer it to any other bari strap, sling or harness I have tried.
 
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#49 ·
Murgo said:
BARISSIMOSAX said:
what happens when your plastic coated metal hook begins to wear thru? get another sling? damage your horn? :?
Click to expand...
Or place a piece of plastic tubing or heat shrink sleeve (or maybe two layers of heat shrink) over the hook. :)
Click to expand...
Or get a can of Plasti-Dip at the hardware store. Stir, dip the hook, let it dry, dip again, repeat as needed. Works great.
 
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#50 ·
I have been using the harness for the past 7 years. Love it!
Last April getting ready for our 1st set at the ParkWest - I snapped the hook straight off! I put the horn in its stand an kneeled for the whole 1st set.

I got in touch with Terry @ optech . He fully updated my harness explaining the plastic compound was changed, this was older style.

Great follow up, just keep a backup strap in your case... You never know ;)

Yes it looks like a bra - yes you can wear it under your dress shirt.

Alex
 
#51 ·
Try the Gemini strap from Nobcoor. I've been using these strap for 10 years with no problems, You can get one on ebay direct from the manufacturer who happens to be here in Toronto. The best thing about this strap is the front setup. It comes straight over both shoulders and has adjustments on both shoulders to move the strap up and down. It the clip also has room to move back forth along a strap connected to the should straps.
I play R & B standing up all night and switch from bari to tenor in a matter of seconds. I 've never had a clip fail or a strap wear out, cost around $40. U.S.

It can be played with a tux on sitting or stand, with the jacket open or done up.
 
#53 ·
Please excuse me for jumping in late here.

I use a neotech strap for baritone and sometimes bass. I don't know enough to say which model, it's an elastic one. I like the way it stretches, but I can't say this can actually help with distributing the weight.

I'd much rather have this than the other thing I have which is a kind of harness (BG I think?). I wish some company like Neotech, who come up with this great elastic strap, could make a good harness type thing. My problem with the one I have (BG) is doing all the little clips up, you need to be a contortionist.
 
#54 ·
Murgo said:
Ok, I guess I'll get a harness then. As long as I just practice alone,(for at least a couple of years, I guess, if I ever get to the point of playing sax on a gig of any kind), the looks don't matter, and if I ever get to play for others, it will probably be short enough time to survive with a broad neck strap.

Thanks for advise.
Click to expand...
Wear the harness under your jacket
 
#55 ·
Pete- It sounds from your description like you probably have the Soft Harness. The Super Harness does do a much better job of distributing the weight through its neoprene yoke that effectively conforms to the contours of neck, back and shoulders.

There are so many challenges in designing sax harnesses. From the aesthetics to the functionality I don't think that any manufacturer has yet come up with something to please everybody! But that doesn't mean that we stop trying!

We're always looking to improve our straps & harnesses, and sometimes there will be small things that are easy to miss. We recently changed the hardware for the hook on the Super Harness so that as the length is adjusted, the side straps that go around the body conform better. It's a subtle change, but the subtleties are often what it's about. We also modified the slider adjuster in a effort to make them stay put better.

And of course, one of the reasons I'm here is to listen to idea that players may have. Practical suggestions are always welcome, because when all is said and done the only reason we exist is to try to make musicians' lives better!
 
#57 ·
Thanks, vries1. I misunderstood the original post. With baris and basses I tend to assume harness over strap, and I shouldn't. I know that Doc Kupka (Tower of Power) uses our Soft Sax Strap on his baris, and he really seems to love them!
 
#59 ·
Neosling all the way!
I have been a fan of NeoTech products for a long time. I didn't care for their harnesses. As a matter of fact, I have tried virtually every type of bari harness or neck strap out there and none of them satisified me. The Neosling however, fits the bill.

If you are a big guy like me, or ladies, if you don't like having your chest being strapped up like a stringed rump roast, then give the the Neosling a try. It is very comfortable, fits perfectly and makes lugging my bari a breeze. No more neck discomfort either.
 
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