My father-in-law was a musician all his life until he died from colorectal cancer this January. For years, my husband had talked about wanting to learn to play the guitar, and when we first got the diagnosis, he asked his dad to teach him. Unfortunately, they never had the chance as his father died six weeks later.
In his honour, my husband has been learning to play his father’s guitar on his own. It’s a bittersweet task he’s set for himself. He regrets that he didn’t get the chance to spend that time with his dad, but he is bound and determined to follow through.
This is hubs’ first Christmas without his dad so I wanted to do something really special for him. A friend tipped me off to an Oregon-based company, StrapGraphics, that manufactures custom guitar straps. From the moment I laid eyes on the website, I knew I had found the perfect present to help keep his father’s memory alive and close to him.
Personalizing Your StrapGraphics Guitar Strap
StrapGraphics allows you to create a completely customized and personalized guitar strap. Once you choose the material (leather or polyester) and width (2.5″ or 3.5″), you can start customizing your strap with StrapGraphics’ library of images or use your own graphics, text, or photos.
I chose to personalize a 2.5″ leather and suede strap with a collection of photos of Chris’ father. I scanned in and cleaned up some old pictures of him as a child, pictures of him playing his own guitar, and pictures of him with Chris. Because many of them were black and white, I decided to convert all of them into black and white, even the contemporary ones.
Start by picking a solid colour or one of the seven provided prints for your background. You can tweak the colours however you like. StrapGraphics has its own interface for adding images, graphics, and text. I uploaded my edited photos and was able to resize, rotate, adjust the opacity, add a drop shadow, and move the images around on the strap template until I had just the right placement. You can also customize the weave piece of the strap for an additional charge.
Once your masterpiece is done, preview your strap then save it. Each durable strap takes about five business days to create using their full colour printing process. Two weeks later, this stunning strap arrived.
This is an incredible gift for any guitar player on your list. Or splurge a little and get one for yourself if you play. StrapGraphics also sells custom camera straps and non-custom guitar straps, but I don’t think anything can compare to the strap that I created for hubs.
I’m not exaggerating when I tell you that I teared up when I pulled the completed guitar strap out of the box. I can’t wait to see my husband’s face when he sees this for the first time on Christmas morning.
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Gift It
Visit StrapGraphics to create your custom guitar strap. Custom straps start at $49.00. You can also have a leather gift card (printed using the same technology as the leather guitar straps) mailed out to your lucky gift recipient so he or she can design their own ultimate strap.
Win a $50 StrapGraphics Gift Card
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Disclosure: I received a sample item for review. All opinions expressed are completely honest and my own, based on my personal experience. Your experience may differ.
I learned that you can email a gift certificate so someone , and I would give this to my son who loves to play
I learned that they ship their products world wide. The quality of these straps look great. I would love to win a gift card for my son. He would have a lot of fun designing a strap for his guitar.
I learned they are an independant Oregon-based manufacturer
And if I won, it would be for my nephew because he is getting a guitar this year for Christmas
I learned they offer promo pricing for large orders. If I won I would give it to my daughter, both her and her fiance’ play guitar.
I learned that there is still time for Christmas delivery. I like the 3.5″ Leather
– Suede Back Rounded. It would be a gift for my husband.
I learned that they are based in Oregon and the Christmas ship by date is still available
I learned that they offer domestic and international shipping!
I love that they ship worldwide and I love the quality of the straps
Dig the customization options. But this one is for me!
I learned that they are in Oregon.
Like the custom strap ability. Nice 3.5″ Wide one for bass
I learned they are an independant Oregon-based manufacturer !
i’m difficult to shop for straps for, so this is great haha
also, i learned this is done in remembrance of Olivias father in law.
I would love to win a gift card for my brother. He is a great guitarist! I love the Scattered Crosses Guitar Strap
$48.00
I learned that even the polyester straps have leather on them.
i learned that they have worldwide shipping.
i would get this for my dad
I liked the Darkside Skulls Guitar Strap. It would look great on my guitar!
I learnt that StrapGraphics ships worldwide.
If I won, I’d give the prize to my daughter.
I love that they make camera straps too. My family is going to love this site! π
They ship worldwide.
I learned that you can have made custom guitar straps Which is awesome for his birthday or next Christmas! It would be for my hubby
I learned that I love the camera straps, and it would be an awesome way for my sister to remember our dad.
I really liked the Scattered Crosses Guitar Strap.
They ship worldwide and offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee. My nephew majors in music. He even tried out for the Presidential band.
I actually like the Darkside Skulls Guitar Strap, but would probably give this to my guitar instructor as sort of a thank you.
I learned they are in Oregon (my Favorite US city π ) I would give this to my Guitar playing husband!
I like the 3.5″ Leather rounded guitar strap. I would give this to my daughter because she’s the guitar player in the family.
I love that Strap Graphics offers such a wide variety of materials and designs. This would be perfect for my husband who is a weekend musician with a local band.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
I learned that they make camera straps also – in two different widths. What a unique gift idea – though honestly, I would be so tempted to use this for myself.
I would love get one for the hubby. I love the custom ones. I also really liked the Ed Hepp Carcas Leather Guitar Strap.
I really like the Ed Hepp Carcas Polyester Guitar Strap. I would like to give this to a really good friend of ours. He would be so excited to have this.
I learned they are based In Oregon!
I like the yellow buffalo plaid! awesome
I learned that they have polyester straps and leather ones. I like that the patterns can have customized colours and that you can add pictures. I would make one for my husband.
Awesome straps, would look great on my daughters guitar.
I like the Island Vibe Leather strap and would like this for my brother
First of all, so sorry for your loss. What was your husband’s response to the gift guitar strap?
Thank you, Sharon. He was really moved by the gift, and I think it’s the most meaningful present I’ve given him in all the Christmases we’ve been together. I was so happy I could do this for him. π