At Robert Kline Art, we believe your guitar strap should be as unique as the music you create. That’s why we pour our hearts into crafting custom leather guitar straps that are as much works of art as they are functional accessories.
This guide takes you behind the scenes, offering a glimpse into the meticulous process and passionate artistry that goes into each one of our handcrafted straps. Whether you’re a seasoned musician or just starting your musical journey, we’re here to help you find the perfect strap that resonates with your individual style.
From Hide to Handmade: The Making of a Leather Guitar Strap
Every Robert Kline Art guitar strap begins its life as a carefully selected piece of high-quality, 5-6 oz vegetable tanned leather. This full-grain leather, approximately 3/32 inches thick, boasts a rich, natural beauty and incredible durability. The vegetable tanning process, using tree bark, results in leather that can be molded and stamped when wet, allowing for intricate designs and personalized touches.
We also incorporate other leathers to achieve different textures and looks. For instance, we often use soft, supple chrome tanned garment leather as a lining or inlay, adding another layer of comfort and visual appeal.
Our standard size guitar strap pieces are precisely cut using specialized cutters on a hydraulic press, ensuring consistency and accuracy. For those seeking something truly unique, we hand-cut extra-long straps and wide bass straps, meticulously shaping each piece using traditional strap cutter hand tools and a keen eye for detail.
Hand Tooled with Passion: Design Elements of Our Leather Guitar Straps
Once our leather pieces are cut, the real magic begins – the hand tooling process. This is where our artisans bring your vision to life, using a variety of techniques to personalize and embellish each strap.
Classic Stamped Straps: Timeless Elegance
Our embossed classic series, adorned with intricate border designs and custom lettering, are a testament to timeless craftsmanship. To achieve this classic look, we dampen the leather, allowing our stamping tools to leave lasting impressions.
Precision is paramount in this process. Each strike of the hammer is deliberate, ensuring a clean, even impression. It’s a labor of love, requiring hundreds of precise hammer strikes to create the intricate border designs that define this style.
For the lettering, we primarily use a classic, western-inspired font that exudes a sense of vintage charm. An old English font is also available for those seeking a more unique, albeit less conventional look.
Etched Leather Guitar Straps: Artistic Flair
For a more hand-drawn, artistic feel, our etched guitar straps are an excellent choice. We begin by carefully tracing the desired design onto the leather in pencil. After dampening the leather, we use a specialized etching hand tool to meticulously press down the lines of the design. A steady hand and consistent pressure are key to achieving those clean, flowing lines that characterize this style.
Once the etching is complete, we hand paint the lettering or design with durable acrylic leather paint, offering a wide array of font options to match your individual style.
“Script” Straps: Textured Elegance
Our “script” straps offer a unique twist on the traditional stamped design. As with etched straps, we trace the design onto the leather. Then, using small, textured stamping tools, we meticulously tamp down the area surrounding the design, creating a stunning embossed effect. This time-consuming process involves hundreds of individual impressions, resulting in a raised lettering or image that pops with dimension.
For a subtle look, we often dye the entire design a single color. However, for a bolder statement, we can leave the lettering undyed, carefully applying the dye around the raised image using a fine artist brush. The result is a striking contrast that highlights the intricate details of the design.
Inlay and Overlay Straps: A Symphony of Textures and Dimensions
Inlay and overlay techniques add another layer of complexity and visual interest to our custom guitar straps.
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Inlay Straps: These intricate designs feature sections of the main leather carefully cut out, revealing a contrasting leather underneath. We often use textured leathers like ostrich imprint or stingray for a touch of exotic flair. Soft garment leather or metallic finishes can also create a stunning visual impact.
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Overlay Straps: For a 3D effect, our overlay straps incorporate extra pieces of leather sewn on top of the main strap. This technique allows for intricate designs and adds a sense of depth and dimension.
Both inlay and overlay styles require meticulous craftsmanship. The process begins with tracing the pattern onto the leather before carefully cutting out the necessary pieces using a sharp utility knife. The cut edges are then meticulously sanded and adjusted to ensure a smooth, seamless finish.
Adding Color and Character: Dyeing, Oiling, and Polishing
With the tooling complete, it’s time to infuse the leather with rich, vibrant color. We employ different dyeing techniques depending on the desired aesthetic.
For straps with a uniform color, we use wooden blocks lined with soft sheepskin to evenly apply the dye, ensuring it penetrates stamped or etched impressions. If we want the stamped impressions to remain their natural color for a contrasting effect, we meticulously apply the dye with a cotton cloth, using q-tips for precise application around the edges.
Once the leather strap is dyed, we nourish and protect it with a coat of high-quality leather conditioner, typically neatsfoot oil. This step not only enhances the color but also softens the leather, ensuring lasting comfort and flexibility. After drying overnight, we may apply additional dye or conditioner to achieve a perfectly uniform color. Finally, we polish the guitar strap with acrylic resolene, adding a layer of protection and enhancing its natural beauty.
To complete the process, we carefully round the edges of the strap using a beveler leathercraft tool and dye them with edge-kote for a polished, professional finish.
The Finishing Touches: From Hand-Painted Details to Decorative Conchos
For an extra touch of personalization, many of our stamped and etched designs can be adorned with hand-painted lettering. We use a ballpoint stylus tool to apply several coats of durable acrylic leather paint, ensuring a smooth, even finish. The first coat establishes the line width, while subsequent coats build up the color until it’s completely opaque.
Decorative conchos, fitted with leather washers for a secure hold, can be added to further enhance the design. These metal accents, available in a variety of styles and finishes, add a touch of rustic charm and personalize the strap even further.
Inlay pieces are carefully prepared before being permanently affixed to the strap. We thin the edges to eliminate any bumps or unevenness beneath the lining, ensuring a comfortable feel against the player’s shoulder. Then, using strong adhesive and precise stitching, we securely attach the inlay pieces, creating a seamless and visually stunning design.
Comfort and Support: Padding and Lining Options
The final step in crafting our custom leather guitar straps is selecting the right padding and lining to provide the perfect balance of comfort and support. We offer several options, each with its own unique feel and aesthetic.
Foam Padding and Garment Leather: Ideal for Heavy Guitars and Long Gigs
For musicians who play standing up for long periods, especially with heavier electric guitars, our foam-padded straps are the ultimate solution. The foam padding we use is specially chosen for its ability to withstand compression, ensuring lasting comfort and support. Despite its durability, this high-quality foam is surprisingly lightweight, adding minimal bulk to the strap.
To enclose the foam padding and provide a smooth, comfortable feel against the skin, we line these straps with soft, supple garment leather. This combination results in a strap that is both comfortable and built to last.
Garment Leather Lining: A Sleek and Polished Look
If you prefer a more streamlined look without the added bulk of foam padding, our garment leather lining option is an excellent choice. This soft, pliable leather adds a touch of luxury and provides a smooth, comfortable feel against the skin. While not as robust as our foam-padded options, garment leather lining still adds some thickness to the strap, creating a slightly firmer feel while maintaining flexibility.
Sheepskin Lining: Unparalleled Softness and Comfort
For ultimate comfort, nothing beats our sheepskin lining option. This natural material provides a luxuriously soft cushion for your shoulder, making even the heaviest guitars feel light as a feather. Beyond its comfort factor, sheepskin adds a distinctive visual element to the strap, instantly elevating its style and creating a unique, eye-catching accessory.
Unlined Natural Leather: Embracing Rustic Simplicity
For those who appreciate a more minimalist aesthetic, leaving your guitar strap unlined is a great option. Our vegetable-tanned leather features a smooth, treated underside, ensuring comfort against the skin. Opting for an unlined strap showcases the natural beauty of the leather, allowing its unique character and color variations to shine through.
Robert Kline Art Guitar Straps: Your Musical Journey, Our Artistic Passion
At Robert Kline Art, we don’t just make guitar straps; we create wearable works of art that reflect your individual style and musical journey. From the initial selection of premium leather to the meticulous hand tooling and finishing touches, we pour our hearts into every step of the process.
Whether you’re drawn to the timeless elegance of our classic stamped designs, the artistic flair of our etched straps, or the intricate details of our inlay and overlay styles, we have a custom leather guitar strap that’s perfect for you.
We encourage you to explore our website and discover the full range of our handmade guitar straps. We’re confident you’ll find the perfect strap to complement your instrument and elevate your musical style. And remember, at Robert Kline Art, your perfect strap is just a click away.