Sweaty back of hand/forearm catching on bass-strap?

[Dingo40]

A while ago, someone asked what could be done regarding sweaty forearm or back of hand catching on the leather bass strap, interfering with smooth function of the left hand during play.
Not being registered, I was unable to make a suggestion, but I would like to make a suggestion now<EMOJI seq="1f642">?</EMOJI>
First: it is possible to buy bass straps made of material other than leather, eg velour. One of my instruments came with a velour strap, another with a rayon type woven material. Neither of these are affected with the problem in question.
Second: enlisting the help of a partner skilled with a sewing machine, or going to a saddler, it is a relatively easy matter to construct a sleeve of suitable cloth to slide over the offending leather strap, thus eliminating direct contact with one’s arm or hand. This is very effective!
What has worked well for me, is a sleeve 15 inches overall length by 2 inches inside width made of garbadine or velvet attached to a felt backing.
The technique is to cut a 16 by 5.5 inch piece of the outer material (garbadine or velvet, or velour) and sew it round and round to a 15 by 5 inch piece of felt (1/8th or 3/16ths inch thick) for stiffening and absorption, folding over the overlaps for a good clean edge all round. Then fold over along the long axis and sew together along the long edge. A good seams-person can finish off the outside edge by hand ( in the case of velvet, making it virtually invisible).<EMOJI seq="1f642">?</EMOJI>
The bass strap is then loosened, the sleeve slipped over the projecting end, and bass strap replaced.
Result: heaven!
I gave several instruments with this arrangement: they are heavenly to use!

 

[JerryPH]

Velour is a bad choice simply because it has a direction that the hairs or nap lay. Going any other direction other than the one they are laying causes friction. At the very least it is very annoying and over time wears out leaving you with a poor solution.

If you want something that will soak up sweat and wick it away from the skin, give you a very slippery surface and last decades... use either a spandex wrist strap or use the spandex-like material from a martial arts rash guard. They are more stylish, last decades because it never wears out and you dont have to wrap anything around your bass strap, you wear it like a wrist strap or if you play a Free Bass in the same style as mine, it grows to become a glove to cover the area from the forearm to the knuckles because that is the area that is used.

An added plus, it gives you a slippery surface not just on the strap side, but on the accordion side as well, so you have the same good points on both sides of the hand!

http://www.accordionmemories.com/glove/

 

[Dingo40]

Thanks<EMOJI seq="1f642">?</EMOJI>

 

[debra]

The back of my hand "sticking" to the bass strap has rarely been a problem. What is more of an issue is the palm of my hand or the wrist sticking to the bottom cover. A finger-less glove is the standard solution for all these problems.

 

[Alan Sharkis]

The back of my hand sticking to the bass strap has rarely been a problem. What is more of an issue is the palm of my hand or the wrist sticking to the bottom cover. A finger-less glove is the standard solution for all these problems.

You could also use a mixture of 1/3 isopropyl alcohol and 2/3 water. Put the mixture in a spray bottle, mist a rag (preferably flannel) with it, and wipe the bottom cover with the misted rag. This treatment also removes fingerprints, etc., from the rest of the accordions shell, but be careful to always mist the rag, not the shell.

 

[JerryPH]

Yeah, anything that even has the potential of harming my accordion doesn't even sit in the same room, much less get applied to my instrument. :shock: :lol:

A little hand washing before handles all the loose skin, a minimal amount of mild furniture cleaner takes care of the fingerprints and the rashguard glove (or whatever else is your preference), keeps things cleaner longer and slides like crazy.