Currently I use the common or garden kind of strap with a button on the heel of the neck. What I think I want to use, for acoustics, is the old-fashioned kind of strap that you used to see a lot of, where the strap attaches at the head stock.
Like this
Some things to notice here
1) The upper bout is in a different position than you'd have with the common or garden strap (hereafter abbreviated as COGS). For a right handed player the COGS moves the whole guitar leftwards, so your right hand is closer to the bridge (amongst other things). I think the COGS does not allow the guitar to hang in the same position that it would be when you're sitting down.
2) Following on from (1) (and helped by the low slung position in this case) the right elbow doesn't have to bend as much to get the hand into and "over the hole" position.
3) Which I think is peculiar to this brand of strap (I'm told Elixir, but there's no mention of it on their web site), a nifty quick release mechanism so you don't have to fumble with knots, or hope that old boot lace you're using is up to the job (my Larrivee is pretty light, but my Morgan is a bit heftier).
A lot of players use the COGS these days, but I'm starting to think that the guys who stick to the old-fashioned type of strap are onto something.
So... anybody seen these in the shops?
But... why do we have the COGS these days? Easier for the manufacturers who don't have to make different straps for electrics and acoustics? Or is there an advantage to anchoring the strap at the heel?
Like this
Some things to notice here
1) The upper bout is in a different position than you'd have with the common or garden strap (hereafter abbreviated as COGS). For a right handed player the COGS moves the whole guitar leftwards, so your right hand is closer to the bridge (amongst other things). I think the COGS does not allow the guitar to hang in the same position that it would be when you're sitting down.
2) Following on from (1) (and helped by the low slung position in this case) the right elbow doesn't have to bend as much to get the hand into and "over the hole" position.
3) Which I think is peculiar to this brand of strap (I'm told Elixir, but there's no mention of it on their web site), a nifty quick release mechanism so you don't have to fumble with knots, or hope that old boot lace you're using is up to the job (my Larrivee is pretty light, but my Morgan is a bit heftier).
A lot of players use the COGS these days, but I'm starting to think that the guys who stick to the old-fashioned type of strap are onto something.
So... anybody seen these in the shops?
But... why do we have the COGS these days? Easier for the manufacturers who don't have to make different straps for electrics and acoustics? Or is there an advantage to anchoring the strap at the heel?
