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Re: Looking for a good seat strap

Author: Terry Stibal
Date: 2007-02-15 14:17

The main problem with making one has always been the fact that sewing on leather is a daunting proposition for anyone not gifted with a leather sewing machine.

Layout of the strap is simple: a three foot or so length of leather, cut with rounded corners, with one small hole located some two to three inches from the end. Stuff the hook (which in my case has a 3/8" loop formed in one end for the neck strap chain) through the hole, hook the horn to the portion of the hook protruding from the strap, sit on the strap and go to town.

This simplicity is why (for many years) I got by with the belt from the disco era with the buckle end cut off. Smooth on the outside (and with a white finish, no less), natural leather on the inside (sort of rough but smooth, if you will), and with a series of holes pre-punched, it was a minimal cost conversion that worked pretty well.

However, it did have its disadvantages. One was that the outer surface of the belt had leather work (a lace detail) that made it a bit less than comfortable to sit on for long periods of time. Another was that the hook was not retained into the belt in any way, and I had to be alert to it dropping out whenever I handled it. The third was that the thing was so God-awful ugly, screaming "old man in white shoes and matching belt!" every time that I used it.

As I've not been an intensive bassoon users over the last twenty years or so, I lived with the problems until my lovely wife Joyce Ann snuck the old belt cum seat strap into the Goodwill Industries donation box. As I always type up the list when we itemize the stuff before hauling down to their facility, I was not looking when "1 each, belt, men's, leather, poor condition" was placed on the pile. Bingo, no more seat strap.

I thought at once of the old belt trick when I needed to get the horn out this spring. However, we have recently developed a relationship (if that is the word) with a local leather sewing place for other purposes (carrying handle repairs on band equipment, hemming of leather pants for my wife), so I thought, "Why not take the time to do it right?"

The guys at the leather shop (which caters primarily to alternative lifestyle folks, if you get my drift) were more than eager to help. However, our earlier stuff was pretty straightforward, either with a broken item to rebuilt to use as a model, or typical leather sewing stuff (for pants and skirts and so forth). Not so for this project; indeed, the shop owner did not even know what a bassoon was when I started describing what I wanted.

With the seat strap, I drew out a three view "blueprint", and carefully explained what I was looking for to the shop owner. Since they normally use a smooth faced on two sides leather stock for the harnesses and suchlike that they make, I specified a thin layer of sueded leather for the "down" side of the strap. I gave them the hook (which I had to bend around a bit to make it suitable), and pointed out that it had to be pointed so that the open bowl of the hook was pointing towards the long end of the strap. I specified that the thin leather had to be both stitched in place and glued to keep it from shifting.

Then I left it in their hands. One small problem was that I could not get to the shop when the leather tailor was there, and that he was Hispanic, which meant that there were some translation issues. However, after going over it all several times, I thought that they had the information that they needed.

As it turned out, the only fly in the ointment was that the hook had been installed backwards (so that the bowl of it was facing the short end of the strap). This was due to a combination of a translation error and a misguided effort by the shop owner to interpret what was being sought. No problem, however; a couple more day's wait and it was done.

Aside from the simple work of cutting and holing the strap, the shop owner came up with the idea of riveting the hook through both layers of leather with a "flush rivet". It lies flush with the surface of the leather on both sides, and is a far more positive solution to securing the hook from shifting than was my "run three or four stitched through the belt and the hook ring" idea.

Per strap, the work came to $30.00 all told. After using it on Tuesday night, I can categorically say that it is a "perfect" solution, with every detail the way that I wanted it. (Other, commercially produced straps that I"ve seen or purchased over the years don't make the grade, pure and simple. There might be one out there somewhere, but here in musical supplies poor Houston, they aren't readily available.)

Most towns have a leather sewing shop that can do this kind of work. Look for motorcycle leather craftsmen or other "specialty" shops that do leather work, as we did. (My daughter in law used to do this sort of stuff when she was married to a motorcycle nut - she had the right machine and everything. Missed that boat, though.)

One other benefit of all of this trouble. When I haul out the bassoon these days, no one takes a look at my seat strap and asks where my bell-bottomed pants are...

leader of Houston's Sounds Of The South Dance Orchestra
info@sotsdo.com

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