instrument straps

Evelyn Conrad is the president of Tone King, a company her parents started in the early 1950s. Her father was innovative in manufacturing guitar bags and a line of accessories. By the 1970s he had branched into distribution for eight major music companies and by 1976 he took on the Ernie Ball line of products. Within a few years her father passed away suddenly, leaving it up to Evelyn and her mother to run the company. Evelyn has successfully headed the company for over 30 years and clearly enjoys her role in the music products industry.

Harvey Levy is the bow-tie wearing spokesman and brother of the founder of Levy – the world’s leading maker of guitar straps. Harvey has become synonymous with creating and designing products, and he has also been a long time supporter of music and music advocacy. Mr. Levy noted, “Making music should be a part of everyone’s lives” during his 2005 interview and has worked hard to support music programs for decades. 

Phil Thompson enjoyed working in the leather company his grandfather formed in Nashville. As a teenager Phil made himself a leather guitar strap in the shop, although the business at the time was devoted to horse accessories. When Martin Guitars asked if the company could make a series of straps, the Thompson family had a discussion on the future of the company and decided to become part of the music industry. Over the years, the Long Hollow Leather Company has grown and now provides a large line of styles to retail customers around the world. 

Lyndell Thompson was delighted when her two sons, Phil and James, came to her and her husband with a new idea for their Nashville-based leather company. The year was 1978. Until that point the company had made horse accessories, a market that was slowly decreasing. The boys suggested making leather guitar straps based on the strength of a request from the Martin Guitar Company. Lyndell enjoys working in the shop and handles most of the phone calls and orders.