Guitar straps
Production: MÆNUS
Materials: Vegetable tanned leather
Techniques: Leather carving, tooling, staining and stitching
Finished: 2021
I got commissioned to make two leather guitar straps, each with a custom design tooled into the shoulder part of the guitar strap. Together with the client we decided roughly what the guitar straps should look like and from which parts it would consist. The client also delivered several options for the designs to be tooled into the leather. After these basic decisions were taken I received creative freedom to produce the guitar straps as I saw fit and would periodically align with the client to give an update on the progress.
Steps taken
The first step was to research the parts necessary to make the guitar straps according to the design chosen and ordering them. I selected the type and thickness of leather suited for this purpose and ordered different options for the buckle used to change the length of the straps and different options for the rings to connect the different parts of the guitar straps together as part of the chosen design.
When I had all the necessary parts I made a cardboard prototype of the guitar strap. This way I got a feeling for the size of the various pieces, to determine the placement of the buckle, the rows with holes for the prongs, the position of the belt loops and the metal ring.
When I was satisfied with the prototype and its dimensions I aligned the design with the client. Then I started cutting out the leather pieces for both the guitar straps. In order to make sure all the holes for the buckle were properly aligned I made a wooden mold with a double row of holes drilled through it. This allowed me to easily and accurately punch the holes into the leather for the buckle prongs.
After this I simplified the first design and transferred it onto transfer paper. From this I transferred the design onto the leather. Next I cut the outlines with a swivel knife and tooled the design into the leather using various types of leather stamping tools like bevelers, seeders, edgers and shaders.
Next I took the same steps for the other design for the second guitar strap.
The next step was to finish and sand all the edges of the leather, staining all the leather pieces for both guitar straps and applying resolene in order to lock in the color and avoid bleeding.
Once this was done I assembled the straps starting with installing the buckle and metal ring with rivets and stitching on the belt loops.
Here are some more detailed shots of the guitar straps.
The final step was to stitch a soft leather shoulder piece on the inside of the guitar strap for comfort.
End result
Here is the end result!
As I find unwrapping or unboxing a product is an essential part of the experience of buying something new, I decided to make a custom wooden box for each guitar strap. To me it’s not just the product itself which deserves attention but also the way you present it to the client. This adds an extra element of surprise and wonder to the experience of purchasing and receiving one of my products.
