John Lennon's Vox Python guitar strap

A guitar strap that might currently seem to belong to a Heavy Metal or Trash or Hard Rock band, but no, this guitar strap is actually from 1964 and was designed for John Lennon by the folks at VOX who provided the Beatles with amplifiers and other equipment during those years.

Vox Python guitar strap, the origin

According to the book "Beatles Gear: All the Fab Four's Instruments from Stage to Studio," Dick Denney and Tom Jennings, but mainly Denney, designed a guitar strap at Lennon's request that was made like a python snake skin (hence the name) and featured scales. And so began the work that started with a prototype made of brass that apparently fell short. For the second strap, they decided to lengthen it and make it in chrome.

This is the origin of the strap, and knowing how difficult it is to make a strap of this kind, one has to take their hat off to Dick and Tom. As Denney recounts in the book, two straps were made, one in black with chrome metal parts and the other in brown leather with gold scales (Apparently used by John Lee Hooker on some occasion). When they were ready, they took them to the Beatles, and Lennon kept the black and chrome Python strap.

There is generally very little documentation about guitar straps and their origins; they are rarely mentioned. But this strap had a special character because the Beatles were the kings of the music scene in those years, and everything they did, how they dressed, and even how they cut their hair was imitated and generated interest among fans who snapped up anything related to the Beatles.

It was on Dutch TV in June 1964 (Beathles Dutch TV performance 1964) and the first time John used his new 12-string Rickenbacker 325 with the Vox Python strap. This strap was not associated with any other guitar of John's, as Denney said, "John used the Python strap, but I think they were a bit heavy," and he used the Python guitar strap for almost a year, but with its weight, he stopped using it.

 RightOn! Legend JL Python Strap

Like anything that the Beatles wore or used, the merchandising of the time moved the strap to introduce it to the market and commercialize it, and so it was put up for sale in stores for around $110 in today's money, presented in a circular plastic packaging, as can be seen in the photos. The text referring to the strap was curious "Armored Python Shoulder Strap", very specific, as today we would summarize it as "Python Strap". The strap has continued to be sold with the metal parts and is still sold today, and many of these straps are straps made by RightOn! for Vox.

Evolution

From here the idea arises, and as a few years ago at RightOn! We have been manufacturing the Vox Python strap for the US market, we thought it would be a good idea to try to make a strap that was much lighter but looked just as cool. The weight difference is considerable, especially if you have to be on stage for a while. The weight of the Vox Python strap is 590g and the RightOn! Python strap is 242g.

What we have done is replace the metal plates that simulate the snake scales with the same parts made of synthetic material, of course the lower weight is considerable, and we are almost sure that John Lennon would not have stopped using this strap because of how heavy it was, he probably destroyed his shoulder during the year he used it.

We asked for permission to use the design of the strap and our strap is licensed by Vox, and here we bring the strap for everyone's enjoyment and "health". It is clear that if you are a fan of John McEnroe, you could use the original wooden racket with which the famous tennis player played, but today with that racket your backhand would fall short. This strap retains the look and appearance of John Lennon's guitar strap, but is a positive evolution of the original Vox Python guitar strap and remains a symbol of innovation, and a perfect example of how an accessory can become an iconic piece of music history.

Overall, the Vox Python guitar strap is a classic accessory that has become a symbol of the golden age of rock and roll and remains a popular choice among guitarists of all levels and genres. Now you can enjoy this piece of history with our LEGEND JL PYTHON guitar strap.