cmatthes Posted July 15, 2022 Share Posted July 15, 2022 I’ve got a bunch of the old classic Hamer checkerboard straps, most of which I bought back in the early/mid-1980s. After my last order in 1986, Frank U. said they had depleted the stock and couldn’t source any more - keep in mind, they were a whopping $10 at the time, so I stocked up. Fast forward to the 2000s, and I all but retired my classic checkerboards. They were becoming way too valuable and I didn’t want anything to happen to them. In the late ‘90s, there were a couple strap options that were close, but not as nice as the old Hamer straps - right fabric, but they lacked the non-slip backing and/or just weren’t that well made. I had switched to Couch Guitar Straps around that time, because, well, they’re the best out there. They don’t offer a checkerboard option, unfortunately. I’ve picked up a silly amount of those over the last couple of decades and am an avowed fanboi. About 15-16 years ago, I came across some nearly exact checkerboard material from a 70s-era inventory of a closing fabric store very randomly online, and in a bleary-eyed late night stupor, I bought it. It sat, neatly folded in a box for pretty much that entire time, even going missing for a while at one point. A month or so ago while doing some late spring cleaning and looking for some Hamer parts, I found the fabric and reached out to Matt at Couch to see if he could work with it. As always, he got back to me within minutes and asked me to send it out to CA. I did, and a few days ago, he let me know that he had enough to make 3 straps if I wanted ‘em. Fire away! Today, along with the tracking number, I was alerted to this Instagram post from Couch: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CgAJZpoNuJC/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= If you aren’t on IG, here are a few pic grabs: At any rate, it’s geeky and may only be fun and interesting to ME, but I’m pretty psyched. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bennyboy-UK Posted July 15, 2022 Share Posted July 15, 2022 That is incredibly cool. I LOVE Couch straps and also have loads of them Thats the most appropriate tribute strap I could imagine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottcald Posted July 15, 2022 Share Posted July 15, 2022 Very cool! Also love some Couch Straps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disturber Posted July 15, 2022 Share Posted July 15, 2022 Cool as f*ck. I'd love to have an original one. But I make do with my checkerboard Levy straps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beezerboy Posted July 15, 2022 Share Posted July 15, 2022 tell him to make some checkerboard strapons.... those outta go good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travis Posted July 15, 2022 Share Posted July 15, 2022 Very cool indeed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crunchee Posted July 15, 2022 Share Posted July 15, 2022 2 hours ago, beezerboy said: tell him to make some checkerboard strapons.... those outta go good! I can only imagine that Couch is looking forward to that request. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feynman Posted July 15, 2022 Share Posted July 15, 2022 That's awesome, the whole story. I'm jealous. It looks good against that Tele too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Haynie Posted July 15, 2022 Share Posted July 15, 2022 Three straps. You can only use one at a time. So, you wanna let go of the other two? Dibs? What? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff_hartwell Posted July 15, 2022 Share Posted July 15, 2022 That’s really awesome! Great job man! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
django49 Posted July 15, 2022 Share Posted July 15, 2022 I love the look. Unfortunately, my aging shoulders like well padded and wider straps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Scepter Posted July 15, 2022 Share Posted July 15, 2022 2 hours ago, Steve Haynie said: Three straps. You can only use one at a time. So, you wanna let go of the other two? Dibs? What? Yeah maan, don't be bogarting the straps... spread a little checkered love ❤️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweed Posted July 15, 2022 Share Posted July 15, 2022 Wow......was browsing through my recently purchased Ultimate book and saw the Hamer straps in chapter five and thought "Those would look cool on a Checkerboard Special, if I had one. " Nice job Chris ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topekatj Posted July 15, 2022 Share Posted July 15, 2022 @cmatthes: Any chance you’d auction/raffle one (1) strap for charity? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmatthes Posted July 15, 2022 Author Share Posted July 15, 2022 7 minutes ago, topekatj said: @cmatthes: Any chance you’d auction/raffle one (1) strap for charity? Right now, there's one for me and one for each of my sons. I'd consider that if there was enough fabric left over though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topekatj Posted July 15, 2022 Share Posted July 15, 2022 2 hours ago, cmatthes said: Right now, there's one for me and one for each of my sons. I'd consider that if there was enough fabric left over though! Thanks, Fair enough, family 1st! At least ask (beg) your insider at Couch to source something for a LTD HFC only run? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Haynie Posted July 15, 2022 Share Posted July 15, 2022 Someone out there has to have a machine that can weave cloth just like the original straps were made from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack C Posted July 16, 2022 Share Posted July 16, 2022 Love couch straps and love checkerboard! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Scepter Posted July 16, 2022 Share Posted July 16, 2022 5 hours ago, Steve Haynie said: Someone out there has to have a machine that can weave cloth just like the original straps were made from. No, lots of companies have tried but the pattern causes vertigo, increasing workers comp insurance 🤣 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmatthes Posted July 16, 2022 Author Share Posted July 16, 2022 9 hours ago, topekatj said: Thanks, Fair enough, family 1st! At least ask (beg) your insider at Couch to source something for a LTD HFC only run? It took me years to find what little of this fabric that I did actually track down. Ted and I tried to have a run of HFC Checkerboard straps done sometime around ‘99-‘02, and in addition to turning up dead ends on the correct size checkerboarded fabric, nobody was willing to do a strap for us (we wanted to have the logo embossed in silver on the tab end). I’ve got one of the Souldier Bobby Lee straps, and although they got the checkerboard fabric right, they’re honestly very cheaply made/flimsy, slippery, and way too short for anybody over 6’ tall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakeboy Posted July 16, 2022 Share Posted July 16, 2022 Chris, that story is amazing and the straps tuned out great. I am rocking a couple Couch straps now along with my Jeri Harts. I visited their little shop about 5 years ago when on biz travel to LA. It was cool. I picked up a strap and there were guitars and amps strewn about the area. Good peeps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alantig Posted July 16, 2022 Share Posted July 16, 2022 13 hours ago, Jack C said: Love couch straps and love checkerboard! Peter Dinklage and Sam Elliott have a band? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack C Posted July 17, 2022 Share Posted July 17, 2022 I am not a dwarf! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Haynie Posted July 17, 2022 Share Posted July 17, 2022 1 hour ago, Jack C said: I am not a dwarf! Hey, it is the 2020's! If you want to identify as something other than a dwarf, you go for it. 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alantig Posted July 17, 2022 Share Posted July 17, 2022 2 hours ago, Jack C said: I am not a dwarf! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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