The Rock Star Look: Embellished Guitar Straps

The Customized Look

That sweet sound of the first riffs of a guitar before the rest of the band joins in. The melody that it puts out, setting the pace and tone for the rest of the night as it tells you a story. Music is one of the oldest forms of human celebration and storytelling and has been vital to the arts for as long as humankind has been able to carve bones to make flutes starting some 40,000 years ago. Every era in music sees an instrument that revolutionizes the sound. In the last two centuries, no instrument has had such a major impact as the guitar. Entire music genres have sprung up from the sound of a guitar jazz, rock, rhythm and blues, heavy metal, grunge and more . . . all these spawned from the twangy harmonies of the guitar.

While you can argue all day about which company produces the best electric guitar or how much bass is too much bass in a song, there is one overlooked aspect of the instrument—the strap. A good guitar strap can make all the difference, turning hours of pain and blisters into a thing of the past, and making it impossible to put the instrument down. But just because a guitar strap is comfortable doesn't mean it can't also be stylish. Artists like Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen, Eric Clapton and more all rocked vibrant, stylish guitar straps to add to their classic rock style. Combine comfort with customization for a look that’s yours alone.

Custom Guitar Straps

Whether you're adding a simple monogram to a guitar strap or trying for a full design, the best way to do that is by embellishing. Using Delica® seed beads, you can create some truly expressive designs. The stitching necessary to sew on the tiny seed beads is small and non-intrusive. No level of design, from basic to intricate, will put unnecessary discomfort onto the inward facing side. You can monogram, add details significant to the player, or create delicate patterns such as those seen in designs A8DT, A464, and 985E.

With the versatile nature of these beads, you can create as many custom straps as you can imagine. But what if your bass player wants a little hardcore metal energy, and having colorful seed beads isn't their style? You can always take edgy Crystal Passions® rhinestone skull flatbacks, available in a multitude of colors, and give their strap a makeover that will steal the show in terms of style. While it might be a bracelet, the design below is a good example of the kind of  bold rockstar vibe that you can give a strap. After all, accessories make the outfit.

Loomed Straps

To make a truly original strap, use loomwork with seed beads. Select a loom, a pattern and some beads. size 6, 8 or 11 seed beads by one of the many renowned brands of seed beads. Delica® seed beads create a very smooth and uniform look. Czech Preciosa is known for its beautiful colors. TOHO BEADS® have larger holes have larger holes. You could also use Dyna-Mites™ or Ming Tree™ for a more economical choice. The larger #6 and #8 seed beads are an ideal choice, as they make the loomwork go quickly. Another way to create artistic custom designs is to embroider a design on leather or felt, using seed beads, and sew that to one side of the guitar strap. This minimizes the need for extensive stitching directly onto the strap, reducing the likelihood of bothersome threads on the back. If this still isn’t enough—you know how rock stars can be— then pull out all the stops. Take the complex style of braid-making from Japan called kumihimo (gathered threads) and give it a rock and roll feel. Interlace strands of thread and beads, and then affix them to the surface of your guitar strap alongside gemstones for some gritty glitz. To make it even more daring, you can include chainmaille links in the weave for a weightier feel. Some examples of kumihimo patterns are shown below.