Project description
I am a working musician and I want to replace the mass-produced strap I have been using for the last few years with something that actually feels like mine. I am looking for a leatherworker who can hand-tool a full-length guitar strap from quality vegetable-tanned leather, roughly 2 to 2.5 inches wide, with enough padding or thickness to stay comfortable through a three-hour set.
The design I have in mind combines a floral or vine tooling pattern along the edges with a central panel left plain for engraving. I would like my stage name burned or stamped into that panel, along with a small motif tied to the music I play — think something along the lines of a mountain range or a set of sound waves, nothing overly complex, just distinctive enough that people notice it from the audience. I am open to suggestions on how to balance the tooled border with the engraved section so it does not look cluttered.
Hardware matters to me as much as the leather. I need solid, adjustable strap ends that will not slip during a performance, ideally antique brass or nickel fittings that match a vintage aesthetic. If you also work with instrument cases or straps for other instruments (mandolin, bass, banjo), I would love to hear about a matching accessory as a possible add-on, though the strap itself is the priority for now.
My budget sits in the 150 to 600 dollar range depending on the leather grade, hardware quality, and how intricate the tooling ends up being, and I am ready to discuss options once I see samples of your prior work. Turnaround of one to three weeks works for me since I am not on tour right now. I care a lot about durability, so please tell me about your finishing process, how you treat the edges, and whether you offer any kind of repair or re-conditioning down the line. Photos of similar past commissions, especially anything with lettering or engraving, would help me decide quickly. I want a piece that ages well and still looks sharp after hundreds of shows.
The design I have in mind combines a floral or vine tooling pattern along the edges with a central panel left plain for engraving. I would like my stage name burned or stamped into that panel, along with a small motif tied to the music I play — think something along the lines of a mountain range or a set of sound waves, nothing overly complex, just distinctive enough that people notice it from the audience. I am open to suggestions on how to balance the tooled border with the engraved section so it does not look cluttered.
Hardware matters to me as much as the leather. I need solid, adjustable strap ends that will not slip during a performance, ideally antique brass or nickel fittings that match a vintage aesthetic. If you also work with instrument cases or straps for other instruments (mandolin, bass, banjo), I would love to hear about a matching accessory as a possible add-on, though the strap itself is the priority for now.
My budget sits in the 150 to 600 dollar range depending on the leather grade, hardware quality, and how intricate the tooling ends up being, and I am ready to discuss options once I see samples of your prior work. Turnaround of one to three weeks works for me since I am not on tour right now. I care a lot about durability, so please tell me about your finishing process, how you treat the edges, and whether you offer any kind of repair or re-conditioning down the line. Photos of similar past commissions, especially anything with lettering or engraving, would help me decide quickly. I want a piece that ages well and still looks sharp after hundreds of shows.
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