Custom leather strap

[surfandstrum]

Hello...

Does anyone have any suggestions on a custom leather strap maker? I've checked out a couple that do great custom work (and supply big Inet co's), but seem to lack on the customer service and time honoring part because one let my order slip through the holiday cracks last year with no remorse...Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated...

[dochardee]

You could contact Bobby Poff. He is renowned for his dobro straps, but will make whatever you want. Best quality leather I've ever seen.

http://www.rpoffmaker.com/

[f5loar]

Try your local Flea Market. There is ususally come leather vendors that do custom work. Just take in the measurements you want and how you want the holes. You can even have them tool your name in it like the Country Stars did. Who can forget the custom leather tooled straps saying "Lester" and "Earl". So personal.

[AlanN]

James Allen Shelton *used to* make custom straps, very nice ones. Not sure he still does, go to the Ralph Stanley website, there may be a way to contact him.

[TigerMal]

Sully's Straps in Wiekert, PA. I've bought four vintage leather straps and they're all perfect. (www.sullysstraps.com).

[surfandstrum]

anyone have the JB or heard reviews on straps? I think I saw one at a gig?

[Mike Bunting]

I'd second the recommendation for Sully's Straps. I have one for my mando and one for my guitar.

[jimbob]

another vote for Sully....very nice straps

[steve in tampa]

John Brown makes some killer straps. I have several. He is also a great musician.


Here are two he made for me:

http://coldharborband.com/straps


http://www.jbguitarstraps.com/

[Frank Russell]

Randy Hogan - good guy, great straps. No cheesy bead adjusters or anything that will scrape your mandolin. Frank

[LaVonne]

I have two of Loren Bailey's straps, one for my Collings A and one for my collings F. I'm very happy with both straps and Loren was very prompt in responding to emails and I had my straps within a few days of payment.

Here's a link.

http://www.thebaileystrap.com/

[Ivan Kelsall]

It was Steve who put me wise to the straps made by John Brown. He's made me 3 & they are excellent in every way,at least check out his site. If a strap like you want is not on there,he'll most likely make it for you,
Saska

[CRowe1118]

Ditto on Sully's straps. They are expensive but really beautiful and Sully is a really good guy. You might want to get your order in as hunting season is on us.

[Roydw3]

I bought mine from Ovation Leather Design out of El Paso, Texas. I went to their website and then talked to them several times. It was not cheap, but it is beautiful and is exactly what I was looking for. I talked to all the leather workers in the area (this is cattle country and there are tons of them) and none wanted to do the work because of picky musicians. Almost to a man they said they would make it according to what the musician said and then they end up canceling, being disappointed with strap, or refuse to pay. It is kind of hard to resale something that has been personalized. Anyway, Marty at Ovation did me a great job and I love it.

[EdH]

C.T. Strickland makes some pretty nice leather straps as well. He did Sonya Isaac and Rhonda Vincent's straps. Check out his work at

http://www.ctmusicstraps.com/

[B. T. Walker]

I second the suggestion of Randy Hogan, who made a great strap for one mando. I tried to e-mail him for another one for a newer mandolin, but I'd lost contact and was unable to reconnect.

So...I contacted Julius Medina at Medina-made Straps (http://www.medinamade.com/), and he made one to my exact specifications. Excellent work and a nice person to deal with.

[surfandstrum]

I just started an order with Marty at Ovation...Like the poster put, he's a great guy to work with...I highly recommend talking to him...

The reason I went with Ovation is because I like the thicker leather design...I had an order with 2 other companies (at different times) with the same style strap...I started with one and had my order in, but was bumped to the back of the line because of a big order (and they didn't tell me until I called to see if it would be done soon because the due date was approaching)...They wouldn't even bump me up to accommodate their mishap...I then tried another company and the EXACT same thing happened, but this was because of a holiday order...Sorry for the long winded post, but I'm very happy with Marty and Ovation...

[Mike Bunting]

No one has mentioned Spurgeon straps, a simple braided strap. The Bailey's and as I mentioned before my favourites, Sully's straps, and the Spurgeons are made without the metal bling that seems to me to be apt to scratch or otherwise damage an instrument. Also, the others mentioned so far are too glitzy for my tastes, most of us aren't playing the Opry.

[mandroid]

Thrift shop belt and a bit of sewing by your local shoe repair shop
would create a custom made unique strap.

Old leather belts have a nice curve set in them Too.

express your inner craftsman.

[littledonnie]

If you have some craft type ability, all the materials can be found at your local leather craft outlet. What are you looking for in a "custom strap"? Here is the last one I made.

[littledonnie]

Here are some more. If I can help you with a custom strap let me know.

[woodwizard]

Greg Boyd's shop has some very fine mando straps. I have the braided kangoroo leather strap. It's the best strap I've ever owned but is a somewhat pricy.

[mandobando]

I ordered one from Barry Kratzer, I believe of Bulldog Mandolins, from the classifieds last week and it is great. It's a leather round braided strap. Definitely gets the job done and is nice looking. He's service is excellent as well.