Now, like most instrument accessories, the neckstrap you choose is a very personal decision. It must work for you; that’s all that is important. Let me, however, go over a few designs [attempting not to mention any brand names] and my thoughts on them.
The first neckstrap for many is the one that comes with their saxophone. It is a very basic neckstrap, usually a piece of nylon about three-quarters of an inch thick with a molded plastic hook. This neckstrap can end up being the perfect one for you. Some things I have noted about them: The hook is sometimes unreliable. That is, the saxophone can slip off if you move it around too much. This has happened to me before, and only a speedy catch prevented serious denting. The other problem with the type of neckstrap is it tends to cut into your neck (pain adjusted proportionately to the weight of your sax). This can, however, be a good performance neckstrap, as it will sit flat over your dress clothes. And it is certainly a perfect backup to keep in your case. Just in case.
Another type I’ve seen is a neckstrap with a thin leather pad in back, and just cord going to a hook. This has the same advantages and disadvantages as the one mentioned in the previous paragraph. I used this type for a while, with only slight discomfort.
Then you get into those neckstraps with built up padding in the back. I used one that had a lot of padding around the neck and a spring loaded clip. The padding was comfortable on anything but dress clothes (got a little bulky back there!). And the clip seemed safe (the locking mechanism added a little piece of mind), until it snapped clean off.
This brought me to the music store looking for a new neckstrap. I ended up getting a Neotech [the only brand name I’ll mention, because I think the material itself is trademarked!] neckstrap. This has a very rigid clip, with a slight locking bump to make it more secure. And the padding in the back is specifically designed to disperse the weight of the instrument [think NASA here!]. It isn’t that bulky, so it works well for concert situations. I have, though, heard from some friends that the padding picks up odors easy. So the smoky night club might follow you around for a few days. It is also a little hot, when you get worked up.
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