Walsall Hand Made Premium Padded Bridle Leather Guitar Strap: Claret Red

The ultimate hand made leather strap that will not only last a lifetime, but you will never want to take it off.

A strap like no other, lovingly hand made here in Walsall, England.

Maximum Length from hole to hole - 138cm
Width at widest point - 6.5cm

Using only traditional hand tools (and a sewing machine!) Walsall premium & bespoke guitar straps truly are the best of the best.

I recently visited their wonderful workshop and took many photos and videod the "birth" of this exact model of strap from the very beginning to the end.

The brand name pays homage to the town where they are based - Walsall - which has been home to the UK leather industry since the 1800s and indeed the man who makes these straps has had the skills passed from grandfather - to father - to son.

Whilst I was spell bound by the processes involved in the production of this strap I was simply awe struck by his other work including bespoke leather saddles for 3.5k (and I am not talking about guitars - horses!!) as he produces leather goods from Horse tack through to designer straps, wallets and handbags. A true craftsman and perfectionist.

The strap is 2.5 inches wide made of the highest grade bridle leather renowned for its quality strength and style.

For added comfort the inner lining is made from Italian calf which is much softer to touch and oozes quality in its finish.

Sandwiched between these is a hand sculpted memory foam inner ensuring the most comfortable of gigs however long you are playing for!

The edges of the strap are beautifully beveled by hand producing the most wonderful rounded edges to ensure your strap never digs in and again - oozes quality and style.

Once the strap has been glued and stitched and the adjustment holes stamped out using traditional tooling methods, the edges of the strap are stained to ensure continuity of color throughout and then "fused" to give an all in one look between top bridle leather and calf backing using bees wax - an incredible and beautiful process to witness.

A quick flick of a lighter and an open flame is used to melt away stitch ends to complete the straps incredible high quality finish.

A quick polish and rub down - and your strap is ready!