Misc Reviews Thomann Saxophone Harness

[nigeld]

I use a harness when I am playing my baritone sax, and for the last month I have been using a Thomann harness:

Thomann S 20HS Saxophone Harness – Thomann Mobile

This is the most comfortable and useful harness I have found so far, and also the cheapest. It has wide pads on the shoulders and there is no pressure on the back of the neck. It works fine for standing and sitting and It is easy to adjust. The Thomann web site says it is OK for women as well as men, but I can't comment.

Others harnesses I have tried are BG, Kölbl, Neotech, and (very briefly) the very expensive Vandoren one. The Kölbl harness is as comfortable, or perhaps slightly more comfortable when I am standing, but less comfortable when sitting.

The only downside so far is the same as with other harnesses - Every time I put it on, I have to spend a couple of minutes working out how to get into it.

 

[thomsax]

The hook is metal. Make sure so the hook doesn't "eat up" the ring on the sax. I use a aluminium hook that is softer than the ring on the sax.

 

[thomsax]

I use a harness when I am playing my baritone sax, and for the last month I have been using a Thomann harness:

Thomann S 20HS Saxophone Harness – Thomann Mobile

This is the most comfortable and useful harness I have found so far, and also the cheapest. It has wide pads on the shoulders and there is no pressure on the back of the neck. It works fine for standing and sitting and It is easy to adjust. The Thomann web site says it is OK for women as well as men, but I can't comment.

Others harnesses I have tried are BG, Kölbl, Neotech, and (very briefly) the very expensive Vandoren one. The Kölbl harness is as comfortable, or perhaps slightly more comfortable when I am standing, but less comfortable when sitting.

The only downside so far is the same as with other harnesses - Every time I put it on, I have to spend a couple of minutes working out how to get into it.

Looks great. I've been using harness for both tenor and baritone. I bought my first one in the mid 90's after having som neck and back problems. I like the feeling of freedom. Nothing hanging around you neck. I use a BG for tenor and a HD (can't remeber the name, bought it at sax.uk). The plastic hook and the other plastic detals on my bari harness are replaces with metal details. My bari is heavy. Just one problem. When you are playing tenor and baritone at the same gig. Tricky to change. Is the Thomann bari harness working for tenor as well?

 

[Ivan]

he only downside ... Ihave to spend a couple of minutes working out how to get into it

Why take it off?

It could be a useful hoist fitment if you get stuck in the bath

 

[nigeld]

Is the Thomann bari harness working for tenor as well?

I don't usually use a harness for tenor, but I just tried it. The Thomann harness seems fine, and there is no pressure on the back of the neck. The instrument is held closer to my body than with a neck strap, but not problematically so, in fact it feels more stable. I also tried my Kölbl harness, and it feels slightly nicer than the Thomann for tenor. But it's not quite as comfortable for bari, especially when sitting down. I also very quickly tried attaching an alto sax, and I found that I prefer a neck strap - I like to hold the instrument in front of me and a bit further away than the harness allows.

I can't wear the Thomann harness together with my wide tenor neck strap at the same time - the harness shoulder pads get in the way of the neck strap. But it is possible to combine the Kölbl harness with a neck strap because the harness shoulder straps are not padded.

 

[nigeld]

The hook is metal. Make sure so the hook doesn't "eat up" the ring on the sax. I use a aluminium hook that is softer than the ring on the sax. I use somthing like this instead of plastic.

The harness I was sent has a different sort of metal hook from the one in the picture - it has a plastic layer to protect the ring on the sax.

 

[nigeld]

Update:

Halfway through a gig last weekend, I discovered that the stitching on one of the harness straps was coming loose. I spent the second half of the gig checking the strap between numbers and hoping that my bari wouldn't end up on the floor. So a definite minus for that.

I have repaired it and checked the rest of the stitching and it seems fine, but I've only had the harness for about a month, so it does not auger well. I shall carry a backup in future.

 

[kevgermany]

Thomann are pretty good about sorting things like this out. Give them a call.

 

[nigeld]

Thomann are pretty good about sorting things like this out. Give them a call.

I did think about it, but it would be too much hassle sending it back to Germany, so I just repaired it myself.

 

[thomsax]

Is Thomann harness for tenor and baritone? Or is it just a bari harness? We are going to do a heavy duty tenor and bari harness. The basic design is to be for tenor. And when you change to bari you use the same harness. Just hook on the extension (should be on your bari) to the harness. No need for adjustments. No plastic hooks .... , metal instead. I think the hooks and straps should be able to carry at least 20 kg. Both white and black straps. The blue hook above is 50 mm and hold 20 kg and "broke" at 40 kg. I think that is enough? I'm always looking for ultimate harness.

 

[nigeld]

Is Thomann harness for tenor and baritone? Or is it just a bari harness?

It is fine for both bari and tenor. It holds the tenor closer to my body than a neck strap would, but that is not a problem for me.

 

[thomsax]

It is fine for both bari and tenor. It holds the tenor closer to my body than a neck strap would, but that is not a problem for me.

That's good. I play a The Martin baritone so I must have an extension strap. But that's case for my tenors as well. When I only play tenor I use a black BG harness. It's ok. But to just have one harness would be good for me.

 

[Ves]

After trying a few harnesses for my tenor, I purchased one of these. Actually I purchased a no name brand off Ebay. Works great. I did modify it because this strap configuration doesn't have enough side to side adjustment (I don't want it centered on my body, I like it far right).

Mine does have a larger hook, which has plastic tubing over the metal hook, so no issues with abrasion.

 

[rhysonsax]

I'm interested in the plastic covering on the metal hook on these harnesses.

I've got a BG harness with the recommended metal hook for baritone. The harness is comfortable and I can find a good position for playing when seated or standing. But I have recently noticed that the metal hook is wearing away, which I suppose is better than wearing through the ring on the instrument itself.

Does the plastic covering on your hooks wear through over time ? And do you know what plastic is used (a picture would be good) ?

Rhys

PS My old BG harness has a robust plastic hook that never let me down so I might go back to that.

PPS My bandmate who sometimes uses a harness was always putting it on wrong with straps tangled up. I just put the thing in front of me, make sure the "BG" connector on the back of the straps is the right way up and put my arms through the relevant holes one at a time. I am available to give training sessions.

 

[Colin the Bear]

I noticed that the soft metal hook on my alto sling was wearing.
I slipped some aquarium airline over it.
I liked the sling and ordered another for tenor and baritone.
They arrived with the tubing fitted to the hook.
This was several years ago. The tubing does wear eventually, but is easily replaced.

 

[MMM]

I'm interested in the plastic covering on the metal hook on these harnesses.

I've got a BG harness with the recommended metal hook for baritone. The harness is comfortable and I can find a good position for playing when seated or standing. But I have recently noticed that the metal hook is wearing away, which I suppose is better than wearing through the ring on the instrument itself.

Does the plastic covering on your hooks wear through over time ? And do you know what plastic is used (a picture would be good) ?

Rhys

PS My old BG harness has a robust plastic hook that never let me down so I might go back to that.

PPS My bandmate who sometimes uses a harness was always putting it on wrong with straps tangled up. I just put the thing in front of me, make sure the "BG" connector on the back of the straps is the right way up and put my arms through the relevant holes one at a time. I am available to give training session.

I have used heat sharing tubing in the past, you can make as thin or as thick as you like using more layers.

 

[rhysonsax]

I have used heat sharing tubing in the past, you can make as thin or as thick as you like using more layers.

Sounds interesting - any product names or links ?

Rhys

 

[MMM]

Just any heat shrink will do, they come in different widths , so chose one a little wider than what you are covering so it will be easy to slip on.
Here is a clear example (see what I did there?):

CLEAR / TRANSPARENT HEAT SHRINK TUBING SLEEVE 2:1 RATIO HEATSHRINK TUBING CAR | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for CLEAR / TRANSPARENT HEAT SHRINK TUBING SLEEVE 2:1 RATIO HEATSHRINK TUBING CAR at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[lydian]

Hmm, in my experience heat shrink is no match for the strap ring. Wears through in a few weeks.

 

[Nick Wyver]

Why not use plastic hooks? The only hook I've ever had break on me was a metal one.