How to Make the Guitar Bar by TIAT ( Video Instructions)

[JD~TIAT]

The Guitar Bar is so named because of its visual similarity
to the neck and frets of a guitar.



Sturdy and attractive, the bar has a less than obvious start;
still the attached video should help you along to understanding
its construction.

Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPNk8R1JP-E

Hope you enjoy,

JD ~ TIAT
 
p.s. Featured at the end of the video is sneak peak at the
instructional video on deck (coming next).  



Called the Emperor's Hat, the knot is the fusion of the (historical)
Diamond Knot and a circling technique. As the video shows, the
results are unique and stunning.

[Rrok007]

JD,

Just curious, the Emperor's Hat knot, could that be easily modified to have a smaller loop on each side of the bigger loop?

[JD~TIAT]

Hey Rrok,

Effectively the knot starts off as a Diamond Knot (created via a Carrick Bend with running ends in the trans-formation). To create the "hat ends" strategically placed double circles are made before curving the running ends around, and tucking them through the center of the knot (to create the look of the hat).

That said... The short answer to your question is yes. You can have smaller loops (single circles) on each side of the bigger loop. But the knot will then appear more bulbous and will no longer take on the appearance of an ancient Chinese emperor's hat. Still, the knot created (with single circles) has merit and is attractive.

Hope that helps,

JD ~ TIAT

p.s. A friend of mine calls this knot the "Captain Crunch Hat Knot". The cereal captain wasn't my inspiration for creating the piece, but he does have a point. (smile)

[Rrok007]

*nods*

Ah, gotcha. Yeah, you're right about not looking like a Chinese Emperor's hat (or the Capt Crunch), however, it would look a bit more like a European crown, like a British crown.

I've knoticed that we both have a liking for celtic knotwork, and my thinking was, if you modified the Emperor's knot by adding the two loops, it'd look more like a European crown, then take the two ends from beneath the knot, and use them to make your celtic heart knot. That's give you two-thirds of a knot version of the claddagh symbol. All that would be left is to form the hands/arms part of the knot.

[JD~TIAT]

That's an interesting thought... I'll play with that and see what comes up.

JD ~ (smile)

[terrybaldridge]

Hey JD, you got a minute?

I used your guitar bar video and made a strap this weekend.  Yeah it was a banjo strap not a guitar strap but that is a different story all together.

Since this was my first but not likely to be my last I have a couple of questions if you are handy.  The strap wants to twist clockwise along it length.  Is there something I could do as I braided it to keep that out?  I kept twisting it back and I think it will come out pretty straight after it has been used a while.

I didn't really measure the length of it.  I had my wife hold the banjo where she wanted to play it and pulled about three lengths of it off the spool plus a little extra and went to work.  I just left the cord on the spool and worked off of it until I got down pretty far.  Then when I had a bout 12 inches left I pulled maybe 16 feet off, tied a tamale, and finished it up.  It ended up a wee tad short.  Looks like it shrank by maybe a quarter or so.  I finished it by crowning the three strands around the runner (if there better terminology feel free to enlighten) for six inches or so then then cut that piece to the proper length and tied it off to one of the hooks on the banjo.  I was just wondering if there is a formula for figuring how much the length is going to shrink.  I can figure it out making a bracelet or something if there is not.  And since you can cut those off to the length you need, I might just add some extra and cut to fit.  That will work also.

I have made a couple of instrument straps using Solomon bar, one using monkey chain, I spool knitted a couple, and used warp seizing but I think I like this style the best.

Thanks for the ideas.  You and Stormdrane have come up the ideas for a lot of projects for me.

terry

The Guitar Bar is so named because of its visual similarity
to the neck and frets of a guitar.



Sturdy and attractive, the bar has a less than obvious start;
still the attached video should help you along to understanding
its construction.



Hope you enjoy,

JD ~ TIAT
 

[freakmonkey]

I had a bit of a question involving this bar. I want to tie both ends onto something. I know that I should put a cow hitches to tie onto one end, but what should I do with the other end?
Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks.