Pinegrove Leather

Our Summer 2023 Digest

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 17:28:00 +0000

Every 6 months or so we issue a new printed "Digest", a 16-page booklet highlighting a few of our favourite straps and harmonica products.

Click on any image to learn more about the product featured.

Of all the famous names in bass guitar, Peter Hook must be one of the most revered.

Well, Pinegrove Leather was exhibiting at The Guitar Show near Birmingham last March.

Over 40 years after Joy Division's short career and the birth of New Order, Hooky is still a very busy man.

Hooky was interviewed at The Guitar Show 2023 to an audience of visitors and gave us some great stories, as well as interesting insights into the sad demise of Ian Curtis.

Peter has written three books about his experiences with Joy Division, New Order and the ill-fated Hacienda Club in Manchester.

• The Hacienda: How Not to Run a Club. • Unknown Pleasures: Inside Joy Division. • Substance: Inside New Order.

Peter Hook And The Light web site:

A GS55 slimline strap with red stitch.

Don't hold back!

Rod

Bluegrass Guitar with David Grier

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 17:25:00 +0000

Rod writes….

Back in the 1980s I took up bluegrass guitar.

It's a long time since I played in a bluegrass band, but Pinegrove's straps are popular with bluegrass musicians and I still listen.

"In 1988, David began recording a series of critically acclaimed solo albums for the Rounder Records label.

You can read more at

What Strap Locks Should I Use?

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 16:25:00 +0000

We are often asked to customise our straps so that strap locks can be fitted.

Most of our straps are thicker than other brands.

The best solution to this problem is simple: Schaller S-Locks.

These strap locks have belt-and-braces security.

Another big plus for these strap locks is the strap pin itself.

Here's an extra bonus: When fitting the strap pins themselves, you might be lucky enough to find that the existing strap pins on your guitar are already the right size.

Colours available:

Schaller S-Locks are widely available online.

Yours,

Rod

On The Move in February 2022

Mon, 17 Jan 2022 18:36:00 +0000

LATEST UPDATE, FEB 15th: Move complete and we're open again.

Rod writes…

Last April we left Yorkshire for historic Shropshire, birthplace of the Industrial Revolution.

After a long wait we now have a new workshop a stone's throw from home in Church Stretton.

It's a big job!

Here's where we'll be: A friendly little town founded over a thousand years ago near an arrow-straight Roman road running over a volcanic fault between dramatic hills whose rocks gave the world's geologists much of their language today.

Photo credit: Hugo.
Pretty, isn't it?

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Meet David Benedict, mandolin guru

Wed, 10 Nov 2021 17:06:00 +0000

Rod writes…

Early in 2021 we were surprised to see a big increase in sales of mandolin straps.

Wow!

David has over 13000 Youtube subscribers, and it looks like almost as many videos.

See all our mandolin straps at

Cheers for now, Rod

Meet the boys at Music Bros, Shrewsbury

Thu, 23 Sep 2021 21:49:00 +0000

Rod writes.

Since moving to Shropshire in the Spring we have made many new friends as well as cementing some old friendships.

They have a very complete range of electrics and acoustic guitars, basses, amps, effects, even some banjos and mandolins.

Being close by, Music Bros now stock Pinegrove guitar straps.

More details at the Music Bros web site at Rod writes.

Exactly 2 years ago we had a Pinegrove Leather trade pitch at the Crossover Bluegrass Festival in Cheshire.

Some tasty slide licks in there too!

Here's Tony and musical partner Ron Block in Sheffield on the same tour in 2019.

Find out more about the GS41 and our other Solid Leather Straps at

Pinegrove Moves to Shropshire, Easter 2021

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 23:18:00 +0000

Rod writes.

This Easter, Pinegrove Leather is upping sticks and moving 100 miles south to the county of Shropshire.

The new Pinegrove workshop is on a farm in the tiny, ancient village of Aston Munslow.

A typical Aston Munslow house.

The new workshop address is Pinegrove Leather, Lower House Farm, Aston Munslow, Shropshire, SY7 9EP, UK.

The reasons for the move are about being closer to family, although it's a seismic shift.

Photo Stephen McKay

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Rod

New Double-Padded Guitar Straps

Sat, 12 Dec 2020 16:18:00 +0000

Rod writes.

Our GS61 and BS63 double-padded guitar straps have been well-received for about 3 years now.

Smooth Or Suede On The Back?

There's no right answer.

(Nubuck is now also fitted on the Pinegrove BS64 4" wide bass strap)

How Do You Wear Yours?

I've also just been looking at how people attach their strap to their guitar, particularly at how many people like to wear them, to me, the WRONG WAY ROUND.

But hey, is there a right and a wrong way?

Finally.

Joe Supple at Guitar Magazine suggested we added the Pinegrove device to our straps.

Rod writes…

At Pinegrove Leather we like to give our customers extra freebies with their purchases.

You'll also receive a sticker, a guarantee/care card and a printed image-rich booklet showing our main products.

We also like to give away a free gift that pertains to the actual product you have chosen.

It's obvious really.

So at Pinegrove HQ, where we have lots of bits of scrap leather, we've come up with the solution: A little business card wallet.

Simple and small, with Pinegrove modern-yet-traditional styling, it slips in any pocket.

There are lots of other things you can put in this mini storage wonder: bank cards, credit cards, store cards, discount cards, gift cards, phone credit cards, coffee bar loyalty cards, and more.

Bye for now,
Rod

** Sorry Americans, I mean theaters!

Check out the Pinegrove workshop

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Rod writes.
Every Pinegrove product gets sent out with a little photo-rich printed guide of what we do.

GS24 and GS25 Guitar Straps

BS63-O Guitar Strap in ostrich-effect cowhide, hand-dyed in the Pinegrove workshop.

BS53 Guitar Straps, with hand-operated edge-bevelling machine from Ohio.

BS64 & BS66 Bass Straps with our heavy-duty stitching machine.

Tombstone & Skyrocket Guitar Straps, featuring our 12-ton cutting press.

BS79 Big Buckle Guitar Straps

GS78 Guitar Straps, hanging out with some of our custom-made press cutters.

GS56 Guitar Strap (new for 2020) with our foot-operated riveting machine.

MS50 Mandolin Strap, and the tool we use to cut the initial strip of leather off the cowhide.

Harmonica Bandolier

8-Pack Harmonica Cases

Western-style Drumstick Bag, leaning on our heat-embosser.

The heat embosser also makes our product tags.

*It took us till October to run out of "Summer 2020" guides, as we normally give them out at shows and festivals.

Roger Wade reviews the Pinegrove 12-Pack Harp Case

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 17:22:00 +0000

Rod writes,

Out of the blue, Seydel endorser Roger Wade sends us this star-spangled review of the 12-Pack Harmonica Case.

Roger plays in a number of bands and duos in Germany, including rockin' blues outfit Little Roger & The Houserockers.

Roger's latest recording during 2020 has been on the award-winning Lockdown Sessions double CD, featuring 32 blues artists from 8 countries.

Find out more about the 12-Pack Harmonica Case at

How To Build Your Own Guitar (And Beat The Lockdown Blues)

Fri, 12 Jun 2020 16:27:00 +0000

Rod writes.
A long-time friend of mine, Jonny Hick, has kept himself busy during the lockdown by having a go at making a guitar.

Jonny is an Americana, blues and rockabilly fan, who is highly skilled on guitar & stand-up bass, and has a cool clear baritone voice too.

Jonny isn't just buying a kit of parts to build a facsimile Kay.

"I've just used what I had around, apart from the ash veneer for the sides and the kerfing.

"I have a 60s Teisco pickup and a Dynasonic and the bridge and tailpiece from a 60s Japanese guitar.

"I made the jig from a bit of old kitchen worktop, with mdf screwed to the top to get the depth.

I asked Jonny where he got the information from to do all this, and he told me he's picked up a lot just from watching YouTube videos.

I wonder if he'll be making his own strap too…

Rod

New Mandolin Straps for 2020

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Rod writes…

Having launched a number of new guitar strap designs over the last couple of years, I thought the mandolin strap range deserved a review.

Its 30mm width provides all the support you need for these lightweight instruments.

Adding the GS55 led me to wonder if a similar, narrower strap would work well for mandolins and ukulele.

Ian Cleverdon of English folk duo The Huers is an early adopter of this new strap, the MS86.

Ian Cleverdon and Phil Caffrey of the Huers use a wide range of unusual acoustic instruments such as cello-mandolin, tenor guitar and cuatro alongside more conventional ones to shape the arrangements of their own compositions, and the ‘huerification’ of covers.

Ukulele player?

Find out more about the Pinegrove MS86 mandolin strap at:
Brown: Tan:
Finding the perfect guitar strap

Rod writes.
Guitar straps are like guitars.

The most important thing to remember is that ANY STRAP CAN FIT ANY GUITAR.

When first deciding on a serious guitar or bass strap, we need to look at practicalities first…

The weight of the guitar, and your shoulder

Some solid-bodied electric guitars are really heavy.
You may have shoulder or back problems for other reasons of course.

What do you usually wear?
An exception to the above may depend on what clothes you wear when playing guitar for a long time.
Texas bluesman Sam Morrow hangs his Telecasters on a slimline Pinegrove GS55 strap.

Your height, and how low you hang your guitar while playing
This is only a consideration if you are really tall or if you like to wear your guitar very low while standing.
You can check roughly the length you need with a tape measure.
Need something extra extra long or extra extra short?

Protecting your guitar

I've written about keeping your guitar safely attached to its strap in another blog.
It's also worth pointing out that any exposed metalwork on a guitar strap (buckles, studs etc) risks the finish on your guitar.
Our straps are delivered to you in a reusuable cotton drawstring bag.

Now we've sorted the practicalities, let's consider style

What style of music do you play?
Certain types of strap suit certain types of music.

Rock and Blues

Rock and blues players often like something with some metal on it, such as our BS78 and BS79 straps.

If you prefer a strap without any metalwork on it, then our wide padded guitar straps work well.

RnR and Rockabilly

Rock 'n' roll and rockabilly players favour a vintage 1950s style, such as our GS24 and GS25 shoulder-pad straps.

Country

The shoulder-pad style of guitar strap was also usually worn by Country and bluegrass musicians in the 1950s and 1960s.

For country players who want more interest, take at look at the Tombstone and Skyrocket single-color range.

Folk

Folk music players often prefer a more laid-back, refined strap that relies on the quality of its leather to reflect the care and attention to detail put into the music.

For country and folk players who want something wider with more character, take a look at the GS56 and GS78 straps in brown and tan.

Jazz

Jazz guitarists, when they use a strap at all, usually go for something that not too bright, but with a bit of decoration.

Your personal style

Of course, your choice is not limited by the style of music you play.
Some might say that personal style preferences are the most important.
Often, players are looking for a strap to match the colour of the guitar.

Ask our advice
If you still need advice, don't be afraid to ask.

Rod & the team at Pinegrove Leather

Coronavirus: Delivery Update 11th April

Sat, 11 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Rod writes:

The good news: Yes we are still making and sending (shipping) our fine hand-built straps and cases.

International deliveries to the US, Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand are working, but not as fast as normal.

Note that Royal Mail do not deliver to your door, they hand your package to the national postal service in your country.

For more information from us, check out our previous Coronavirus blogs:

17th March: 26th March: Stay safe everyone!
Best Wishes from Rod and the Pinegrove Team

Pinegrove Leather

Our Summer 2023 Digest

Bluegrass Guitar with David Grier

What Strap Locks Should I Use?

On The Move in February 2022

Meet David Benedict, mandolin guru

Meet the boys at Music Bros, Shrewsbury

Pinegrove Moves to Shropshire, Easter 2021

New Double-Padded Guitar Straps

Rod writes.

Smooth Or Suede On The Back? There's no right answer. (Nubuck is now also fitted on the Pinegrove BS64 4" wide bass strap)

How Do You Wear Yours?

Finally.

Check out the Pinegrove workshop

Roger Wade reviews the Pinegrove 12-Pack Harp Case

How To Build Your Own Guitar (And Beat The Lockdown Blues)

New Mandolin Straps for 2020

Finding the perfect guitar strap

The weight of the guitar, and your shoulder

Protecting your guitar

What style of music do you play? Certain types of strap suit certain types of music.

Rock and Blues

RnR and Rockabilly

Country

Folk

Jazz

Your personal style

Coronavirus: Delivery Update 11th April

Smooth Or Suede On The Back?

There's no right answer.

(Nubuck is now also fitted on the Pinegrove BS64 4" wide bass strap)

What style of music do you play?
Certain types of strap suit certain types of music.