Accessories Neck strap or harness?

martinlcb · Nov 16, 2018

Hi all!
Until now I have always used a neck strap with my tenor sax. However, my neck is beginning to complain so thought about changing it for a harness. Logic says that the harness removed the weight from the neck to the shoulders - good idea - but does a harness restrict/prevent movement of the instrument whilst playing?
Any thoughts gratefully accepted.

Cheers,
Martin B

Keep Blowing · Nov 16, 2018

martinlcb said:
Hi all!
Until now I have always used a neck strap with my tenor sax. However, my neck is beginning to complain so thought about changing it for a harness. Logic says that the harness removed the weight from the neck to the shoulders - good idea - but does a harness restrict/prevent movement of the instrument whilst playing?
Any thoughts gratefully accepted.

Cheers,
Martin B

I bought a harness a few months ago,. I find it comfortable and after a while you forget it's there,. But I still mainly use the neck strap which is just down to convenience as it's quicker to put on. If you are having neck problems I would highly recommend one.

jazzdoh · Nov 16, 2018

martinlcb said:
Hi all!
Until now I have always used a neck strap with my tenor sax. However, my neck is beginning to complain so thought about changing it for a harness. Logic says that the harness removed the weight from the neck to the shoulders - good idea - but does a harness restrict/prevent movement of the instrument whilst playing?
Any thoughts gratefully accepted.

Cheers,
Martin B

Have you tried the Jazzlab Saxholder its by far the best i have tried and owed.

Pete Thomas · Nov 16, 2018

jazzdoh said:
Have you tried the Jazzlab Saxholder its by far the best i have tried and owed.

I agree, Wouldn't bother with either a strap or a harness. Saxholder is the best, although there could be issues when sitting down for some people.

nigeld · Nov 16, 2018

I use a harness for my bari sax, but for tenor I think it holds the instrument rather too close to my body.
The most comfortable strap I know for tenor is the Balam strap - no pressure on the neck at all.
Second most comfortable (and the most versatile) is the Jazzlab Saxstrap.

jazzdoh · Nov 16, 2018

Pete Thomas said:
I agree, Wouldn't bother with either a strap or a harness. Saxholder is the best, although there could be issues when sitting down for some people.

Yes Pete sitting down for some might be a problem with the saxholder, its not been a problem for me and i stand for most of the time.

jazzdoh · Nov 16, 2018

nigeld said:
I use a harness for my bari sax, but for tenor I think it holds the instrument rather too close to my body.
The most comfortable strap I know for tenor is the Balam strap - no pressure on the neck at all.
Second most comfortable (and the most versatile) is the Jazzlab Saxstrap.

Just had a look at the Balam,it looks good doesn't seem to be any shops in the UK stocking it yet, but worth a look.

Colin the Bear · Nov 17, 2018

Get to the Gym. Neck, arm shoulder exercises. I saw Harry Gold at 80 playing a Bb bass on a sling. Inspiration. 😉

Pete Thomas · Nov 17, 2018

Colin the Bear said:
Get to the Gym. Neck, arm shoulder exercises. I saw Harry Gold at 80 playing a Bb bass on a sling. Inspiration. 😉

It can work in many cases, but sadly if you already have degenarated discs in your spine, then going to the gym won't help. Only putting the strain somewhere else can benefit.

Jazzaferri · Nov 17, 2018

I second the Jazzlab Saxholder.

MandyH · Nov 17, 2018

I have a FreeNeck 4.0 harness.
I play my Bari and my Tenor off it.
Standard Harnesses dig into the fleshy part of my shoulders. And they are not very female-friendly!

I bought my FreeNeck in 2012 and it’s still going strong.
It was expensive, but worth every penny.

Once fitted, it is adjustable just the same as a neck strap, but none of the weight of the instrument rests on your neck. It’s fine for playing standing or sitting.

jazzdoh · Nov 18, 2018

MandyH said:
I have a FreeNeck 4.0 harness.
I play my Bari and my Tenor off it.
Standard Harnesses dig into the fleshy part of my shoulders. And they are not very female-friendly!

I bought my FreeNeck in 2012 and it’s still going strong.
It was expensive, but worth every penny.

Once fitted, it is adjustable just the same as a neck strap, but none of the weight of the instrument rests on your neck. It’s fine for playing standing or sitting.

I owned one of these a number of years ago but sold it, it was too fiddly to use and adjust and way too expensive compared to the saxholder which does the same job.

Mike James · Nov 18, 2018

Hi Martin,

Check out this Donna Schwartz video on neckstrap options...

Regards, Mike.

MandyH · Nov 18, 2018

jazzdoh said:
I owned one of these a number of years ago but sold it, it was too fiddly to use and adjust and way too expensive compared to the saxholder which does the same job.

Once adjusted it requires no further “fitting” Just clip the waist belt, and slide the length adjuster up & down according to the instrument.

Zugzwang · Nov 18, 2018

Pete Thomas said:
I agree, Wouldn't bother with either a strap or a harness. Saxholder is the best, although there could be issues when sitting down for some people.

....... but @Targa knows how to solve that problem......

Alice · Nov 18, 2018

Zugzwang said:
....... but @Targa knows how to solve that problem......

.. because he runs around like Korky the Cat from the Dandy, putting drawing pins onto everyone’s chairs?

thomsax · Nov 18, 2018

martinlcb said:
but does a harness restrict/prevent movement of the instrument whilst playing?

For me it's a harness is more physical mobility. I use the same harness from alto to baritone. And then I have an extension strap hanging on my saxes so it's easy to change sax. So I don't adjust the harness.

Mike James · Nov 18, 2018

martinlcb said:
Hi all!
Until now I have always used a neck strap with my tenor sax. However, my neck is beginning to complain so thought about changing it for a harness. Logic says that the harness removed the weight from the neck to the shoulders - good idea - but does a harness restrict/prevent movement of the instrument whilst playing?
Any thoughts gratefully accepted.

Cheers,
Martin B

Hi Martin,

Check out this Donna Schwartz video on neckstrap options...

Regards, Mike.

jazzdoh · Nov 18, 2018

MandyH said:
Once adjusted it requires no further “fitting” Just clip the waist belt, and slide the length adjuster up & down according to the instrument.

That wasn't what i remember, you had more than one adjustment to get it comfortable, it just never felt right on me, they had used to do two different versions the FreeAction and the FreeNeck not sure which i had but the Saxplayer is by far the easier to use.