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Okay, so I am a tinkerer , I admit it, and a cheap one ! I admit that too. So , I need a carry strap for a tuba I plan on jobbing with and to stand and play at an upcoming tuba xmas, appalled by the prices and how crappy these things look, I decide to make myself a manly tuba strap . Simple enough , leather, thick, wide leather , so I buy a policemans belt at the Army Navy( $24 ), cut it in half , add swiveled snap hooks to the ends ( local harware store $8 ), then had my local shoe maker sew them in ( $12) . The belt buckle is mid back and adjustable so it actually works great and I am all done for $44 , not bad right ? Ebay has a professionally manufactured , nicer looking tuba carry strap for $38 with free shipping !!! I'm feeling pretty stupid right about now...

Are you kidding me?! You made yourself a one-of-a-kind strap that meets your expectations! You can't go wrong with that.

Plus, yours was made in the US, not China.

I like the Jon Sass belt concept, but when I priced it, it would have cost a few hundred dollars. I thought about trying to make something like it. For those of you who are not familiar with Jon's belt, it is a thick leather belt that goes around the waist or hips. Then, there are various (adjustable) cup-type cradle contraptions that the tuba would sit in. So, the weight is not on the shoulders, but rather on the hips. Of course you have to hold it, but it seems it would be easier to put down - no hooking and clasps. Has anybody experimented with making something like it?

I have spent thousands of dollars over the years on customized equipment. Every penny was absolutely worth it to get something that fit properly, sounded properly, relieved ergonomic stress of one point or another, and facilitated earning even more thousands of dollars in the long run.

Let's see: $44 minus $38 = only $6 difference to get exactly what you needed for your application? I've spent more than that on a single different gauge bass string to make the set feel and sound better to me on my custom fanned fret bass.

Hell, I spent $50 on my 186 just to get the ergonomics set of the receiver height and angle for my torso and overbite, and the paddles re-oriented in length, spread, height and angle -- all different so each matches its respective finger, so I don't have to keep fidgeting with it in my seat, and to avoid undue strain and fatigue and can focus on just playing.

I'm surprised you didn't have to spend more than you did.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Well, thanks guys, you 've made me feel much better . Carry straps are now available at $95 a piece...Please specify brown or black , I'm taking orders !!!! ( Only kidding Sean - this is not advertising without sponsorship )
Jim ( who never could figure out the Eb fingerings, put the music in my pocket and played whatever I wanted to )Savage
p.s.- I love these qualifying signature lines ! Denney really is a genius

The lesson is that you took your own skill and ability and used it to make something useful for yourself.