[Walker & Williams Leather Straps]

Yes. Just got one a few weeks ago: the C-34 strap https://walkerandwilliams.com/product/walker-williams-c-34-black-and-red-double-padded-premium-leather-strap/.

It is a very well made strap that is so comfortable on my shoulder, especially with a heavy Les Paul guitar hanging from it. It is a thick strap & I was concerned about the strap slipping off the guitar so I am now using the  Dunlop 7000 strap locks so I can take the strap off the front of the guitar when put in the case (so case will close). I simply lay the strap down the fretboard & over the headstock to close the case.

It was a GREAT decision to switch over to this strap - I can now play for hours if needed in comfort, plus it looks great with my wine red Les Paul!

So far, no issues.

[Let's hear about your first guitar story]

My very first guitar was a cheapo K-Mart guitar my parents got for me at about 9 years of age. My fingertips hurt so much from learning to play that I switched the strings to classical nylon to ease the pain. It made the bad sounding acoustic sound even worse! I kept on playing & learning as some callouses began to form on my fingertips.

 

At the same time, my parents had me taking accordion lessons.....I know... But it was a foundation for music & theory that they hoped would propel me quickly to piano.

 

As I was going to accordion lessons every week, the guy who taught me had an office in a fairly nice music store & I would always veer into the showroom looking at the guitars. I kept telling my parents I wanted to play guitar, but they kept sending me to the guy in the store to learn accordion.

 

One Saturday, we were supposed to take a day trip to the mountains (Blue Ridge as I lived in North Carolina - still do!) but it was a rainy day. My parents said, "Let's just get in the car & go ride". So, we all got in the car & took off to I had no clue where. Come to have it, we arrived at the same music store where I took accordion lessons at. We walked in & as usual, I veered over to the guitars. My dad stopped & talked to the owner, a good friend of his (He was big into the big band era - actually playing trombone & arranging for the whole band. He really knew music! A big influence on me.) Anyway, I found an amazing acoustic dreadnought guitar that sounded amazing!! Especially compared to my K-Mart special. It was an "El-Degas" - a Martin copy of the early '70's. It was the best sounding guitar they had in the store! My parents were eyeing me the whole time as I was engrossed with that guitar.

 

What happened next shocked me! They had brought along the ol' bulky case that held my accordion & ended up working out a deal to trade the accordion for that guitar! We walked out of the store without the accordion - thank God! - and brought home that guitar.

 

I still own that guitar. It still sounds amazing. It has been re-fretted 3 times + had the bridge flattened down due to a slight bow forming from the string tension but it is still my go-to for acoustic. I have never seen another El-Degas but did a search some time ago & it gave more info on the guitar & company.

 

As a parent myself & only recently, now a grandpa, I really appreciate my parents "going on a ride" that day. They had it planned all along but saved the surprise for their son to pursue his true passion (Which did not include the contents of that ol' bulky case they traded in.)