The Dare Guitar Strap Now Available Through Planet Waves
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The Planet Waves Dare Guitar Strap is designed to improve guitar playing ergonomics by distributing the weight of the instrument across both shoulders as seen here:
Available for several years directly from designer Troy Dare, effective this month it is being distributed through major player D’Addario’s accessories arm - Planet Waves.
This is a great triumph for Troy Dare as well as a positive evolutionary step. Although not as radical as a redesign of the instrument, the availability of this ergonomic guitar strap suggests progress toward embracing the need for improving the physical concerns of playing guitar.
An interesting development, but it does appear to move the playing position of the guitar further to the right, as the front strap button becomes the pivot point. It also doesn’t make for easy guitar changes mid-set! I’d sooner plump for a nice, wide cushioned strap - and a light guitar!
Rob Fawcett
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Images of blues guitarist Walter Trout suggest otherwise - http://www.waltertrout.com/photos.htm. The guitar is in a typical position. Keep in mind that the additional shoulder support is a supplement to the normal strap pin positions.
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Not a guitar player (although I do play guitar hero on PS2) but I could definately see how it would help those with already sore shoulders!
awesome.
http://www.bigrockfinish.com
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Hi Robert,
I love this concept, since it is inexpensive and works with any off-the-shelf guitar. But I couldn’t get my strap to sit properly: the right-side strap never held any weight, but just slipped off my shoulder (I am a standard right-handed guitarist). Could this be because I like to play with the neck angled very high (unlike the blues guitarist in the photos you linked to)? I’d love to find a way to make the strap work for me.
In any event, your blog is wonderful and much-needed.
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Robert Irizarry replied on Mar 17th, 2008 at 12:04 am
@James - I’m working on a review of the Dare Strap and will have more to add shortly. Thanks for the compliment and thanks for commenting!
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Jul 23rd, 2007 at 7:18 am
[...] heavy, and place us in awkward non-neutral positions only make things worse. It may be that an ergonomic guitar strap is sufficient. Maybe neck-up devices that help place conventional guitars in more ergonomic [...]