I talk to so many sax players these days who struggle with neck problems. And if you’re a baritone player, then neck problems are even more common.
The Cebulla saxophone neck strap claims to help, so this week I’ve been testing it out.
Why your neck strap is important
Now firstly I must say that personally I haven’t had any problems with my neck or back. I am however a huge fan of comfortable neck straps because I wear one for hours every day when I’m making lessons for Sax School. And I’ve tried a few different designs of neck straps and sax supports during my playing career.
Your saxophone neck strap is a vital part of your set-up, because it helps your to hold your saxophone correctly. If you’re holding your sax right, your posture will be better, and that help with your playing technique. But if you have bad posture, and your sax is not supported properly, and you can end up with painful back, shoulder or neck problems – which will really screw up your progress.
When you’re comfortable playing your saxophone, you’ll practice for longer, and make faster progress. Makes sense!
The Cebulla saxophone neck strap
Johann Cebulla came up with the design of his neck strap after suffering with neck issues when playing for long periods of time. And it’s a clever design with two separate neck cushions built into the leather strap. It distributes the saxophone’s weight on the sides of the neck rather than the centre.
Also, the strap strap itself is quite wide, and cleverly shaped so it’s very comfortable when curved around your neck. It looks a little unusual but definitely works when you have it on.
Comfort
I found the Cebulla saxophone neck strap very comfortable to use, both with an alto or tenor sax. Even with a heavier baritone sax it felt great. The weight of the sax is still around your neck, but the cushioning design really works. And the curved ‘yolk’-like shape of the strap makes a big difference for me.
I often find with straps that have a neck cushion connected to a string strap, that the ends of the neck cushion dig into my collar bones. Maybe it’s me (big collar bones?) but it can be really annoying.
The Cebulla strap curves out at the point where the string is connected making it loads more comfortable than even my Neotech strap.
The length adjuster is very positive and doesn’t slip. Plus the string design is great on stage because it’s unobtrusive.
The Cebulla strap is available in 22 different combinations of strap length, clasp and leather colour so there is something for everyone. They also have a model with an extra wide adjuster that reduces the pressure on the front of your neck.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I think the Cebulla saxophone neck strap are great quality straps. They are comfortable, well made and look fantastic. It has already made my week of saxophone playing much more comfortable. And if you struggle with neck issues then it could just work for you too.
And don’t forget, if you want to find out more about the lessons, live sessions and masterclasses my team and I are making for Sax School every week, you can get a 14 day free trial here.