Strap that Grisman uses?

[caya3251]

Well, this is my first post to the board and I'm psyched to finally have found a forum like this.

Does anyone out there happen to know the brand of mando strap that Grisman uses? I don't really need it to be the same brand but I'm looking for the same style and have had a hard time locating one. ANy help is much appreciated.

Cheers,
Stoney

[phynie]

If you are talking about the one that hangs on his neck like a sax strap I heard him say it was a custom job by a buddy of his. No clue who though. Sorry!

[davestem]

check out the Co-mando Guest of the Week appearance at http://www.mandozine.com by Grisman, someone asks him about it there.

[John Flynn]

The basic idea is similar to a classical guitar strap. The strap goes around your neck and then down the back and under the lower side of the instrument. Then there is a little hook that hangs on the the edge of the sound hole. Below is a link to an example. I can't guarantee it will work like Grisman's rig. He may have had to do something special to make it work for a mando.
http://www.folkofthewood.com/page2039.htm

[duuuude]

Doesn't he just loop it over the scroll? Shouldn't be too hard to whip one up outa some nice leather.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[phynie]

I thought it wrapped around the scroll too.

[onlyagibsonisgoodenuff]

It does wrap around the scroll. It's called a "Dawg Leash". I had one once, and it made my neck hurt after a couple hours of jamming.

[caya3251]

Thanks for all the great advice.

Any idea where to acquire a "Dawg Leash"?

-Stoney

[Potosimando]

I made one once out of a 1/4" strap, and eventually it hurt my neck, too--too much weight on a specific vertibrae, I think. #Other than that, the strap was great--best I ever had. #

If I were to go about it again, then I would begin by buying a saxaphone strap (very comfortable) that you can purchase in any music store--then I'd set about doing the customizing bit for the scroll attachment, and so on.

Good luck. #If I went back to playing an F (I play only A's these days), then I surely would try the saxaphone thing right away.

[Trip]

Im a one shoulder guy.....that around the neck thing just feels weird.....but obviously doesnt affect Daves style

[Gail Hester]

A couple years ago at Wintergrass I was wandering around the vendor booths checking everything out when I went into a small room filled with mandolins and guitars on display and noticed David Grisman and Doyle Lawson looking at some mandolins by a private builder. #They each picked up a mandolin and tore into an awesome duet at break-neck speed. #Neither of them were wearing straps and David Grisman never once looked down at the mandolin he was playing or seemed uncomfortable without a strap. #He just smiled around at everyone as he played and the room quickly packed out. #It was a thrill to be there and I wish I had a recording of that spontaneous performance. #I’m not sure what strap he prefers but I know that the “Dawg” doesn’t even need a one to play brilliantly.

-Chuck

[Steve Williams]

There is old time mandolin picker in our area that has played the same A-40 since it was new (1950's maybe?)without a strap. He holds it up high "shotgun style" when playing rhythm and rests it against his hip when he takes an especially fast break. Reminds me of pictures I've seen of Buzz Busby...seems like I've heard that he didn't use a strap either.