Location of mandolin strap

[firstchair]

I have seen lots of people wear the mandolin strap normally: putting it over your head. But I have also seen lots of people wear it like a purse. Which is your way of wearing it?

I wear it like the first.

[Dave Hanson]

What does ' wear it like a purse ' mean ? over one shoulder only ?

Dave H

[Joel Spaulding]

Wearing the strap over only one shoulder seems to be the "cool" way to go. This seems to be the way with those b*nj#s also. I have tried both over the head and one shoulder methods. In his book (it mayhave been elswhere), Roland White discusses how for years he used the one shoulder method. He notes that he now only uses the "over-the-head"(OTH) method as it provides greater stability for the instrument and some degree of security with regards to strap slippage and subsequent effects of gravity on the mandolin. Ok- Roland didn't phrase his preference exactly as such - but that is what I garnered from the discussion.

Since changing to the OTH method of strap utilization, I have noticed I have a LOT more control over the mandolin, especially when vigourously "whippin them wires".
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

I may not look cool - but I doubt how I wear my mando will ever change that!

[JeffD]

Over the head like a guitar. The other way is not comfortable for me. I like that if I let go of the mandolin, it stays in the same place, i.e. neither hand is supporting any of the weight.

[Gerard Dick]

Over the head is much more stable and comfortable but over the shoulder might be easier if you're wearing a big cowboy hat that you don't want to lose every time you pick up your mando.

[Paul Hostetter]

Cowboy hat explains everything:

http://www.spbgma.com/images/billmonroe1.jpg

And as the Contours say "First I look at the purse."

http://pages.prodigy.net/classicproductions/_uimages/TheContours.jpg

[fatt-dad]

Over the head for me. Strap on the peghead.

f-d

[Greg H.]

Over one shoulder for me, but that started out because I've got a really nice hand tooled leather mandolin strap that just isn't quite long enough for over the head (unless I want to use my mandolin as a chin rest). At this point though I don't think it would matter what kind of strap I had, I've just gotten used to it this way.