Metal hooks are attacking saxophones….

Everyday.

A small groove starts to get ground into the metal ring on your saxophone. Not much today or tomorrow. But the groove grows in size and eventually can compromise the strength of the hook, even to the point of breaking. Saxophones have fallen off of hooks in this way, hasn’t happened to me personally, but I know it has happened before.

Sometimes a neckstrap or harness comes with a metal hook, other times it started off being coated with rubber and the rubber eventually wears away. That was the case for me, the rubber wore away after a number of years.

Continue reading below the video if you would like.

 

Backup!
You do want good hand position and contact with the keys not only to play better but to protect your horn in case there is an issue with the neckstrap/ring. Gravity can inflict some serious damage on a saxophone!

Is a snap better?
Some would say a snap attachment on the neckstrap or harness is more secure. There is no space for the saxophone to come off of the snap. However, the snap can come undone. You undo the snap to take the saxophone off and sometimes you can inadvertently open the snap if the mechanism presses against something. And once the snap is undone, it becomes much less secure.

Therefore, the snap attachment feels more secure, but it can be less secure since you’re less aware of the possibility that the snap can come undone.

With a hook, you know there is an opening.

Metal vs plastic
Metal is going to be stronger than plastic. Although plastics are definitely getting stronger. Plastic tends to be used with closing mechanisms or snaps. The plastic will be easier on the metal ring, less grinding and wearing away of the metal if any.

Rubber coating?
The rubber coating will make a metal hook stick better to the ring and also protect from the wearing away due to friction. The rubber itself can wear away though.

At that point?
I recommend putting rubber tubing around a metal hook. Quarter inch, can be bought at a hardware store. I have done this on a harness and a neckstrap. Be aware that the rubber may eventually break down, but you can easily put on a new piece. Length of the piece should be about three inches.

Check out the video to see what the potential problem can be and how to put on the rubber tubing.

Let me know if you have questions.