Mandolin strap

[tin ben dur]

A friend of mine is at home raising a baby boy and she needs some money. I am trying to find her something to do to make money. She braids or ties these awesome hemp straps. They are flat and they can be made to fit A or F styles. She is trying to improve her designs and they look very cool. What do all you cafe gals and guys think? If I can get her some good feed back she can wipe a batch together. I am trying to help her do a round braid in different colors. Thanks to all yall!

[tin ben dur]

I hope you like.

[Lee Callicutt]

Looks nice. How does it tie to the end pin? Estimated price?

[tin ben dur]

Thanks for looking Lee. This strap I tied a tight loop and put two beads on it and then some glue. This was one of the first straps. We are working up something more secure. I like a very secure strap. I have been talking with her about a solid loop for the scroll and a long strap for the end pin end. We are trying to find some colored hemp and incorporate leather of the same color for the end pin strap. These would probally be custom order for custom lengths. I have used this strap on an A model and it worked great. I tied the loose ends between the nut and the tuner shafts. Thanks all for looking.

[mandroid]

I have a nice Cotton Belt that was woven for me as a strap .
It's 1.5" wide. at one end it reduces to 1/2" and is sewn into a loop, the other end a holiday [ a hole] was woven for the end button.

a belt loom is pretty darn simple to make from 2 spools and a couple combs and a tongue depressor and a rudimentary shuttle .

I find the wider strap is favored over a narrow one ...
thats me.

[Soupy1957]

I like the "white" color. Price? Loop issue resolved for the butt end?
-Soupy1957

[tin ben dur]

We are going to work on them Saturday. We are going to try and find colors like brownish colors. It works great the way it is but I want variety. I think the price might be about $15. We want to do more with more variety and elaborate. The price might go up if we put beads or do a real elaborate one. I think $15 will cover shipping too. These are nice straps and I want to help my friend make some money. She has a big boy that eats alot. Ha HA.:laugh:

[garyblanchard]

I have an A style mandolin and would be very interested in getting one of these. The white would suit me fine. I am always willing to help out someone who is trying to help themselves. Especially when I get something nice like that in the process. Just let me know how to order/pay.

[tin ben dur]

Gary, thank you very much for your interest. I will work you one up this week end. I will get it done and send you a email for your approval before is send it. I will also post some pics with the strap on the A style this weekend. I used on of these straps for along time with my Fender A and it went into the case easy because it is a soft and flexible strap. Thanks to all for any interest and opinions. Lots more to come.

[garyblanchard]

Thanks, Fendoman. I'll be on the lookout.

[tin ben dur]

Its going to take a little time to work up some nice straps. I just ordered some nice colors. Hemp is supposed to be a good resource for material. It will last along time. We will use all natural hemp with all natural dyes for coloring. We may eventually end up using leather on end pin and scroll loop. We will try it different ways. She is very excited to get this going. Thanks to all.

[Blueglass]

real cool
I'm thinking, give me a moment

[fishdawg40]

Yeah, I like the hemp. Once you get some different colors, if you would, please post them. I have the directions to make a nice strap but I'm just a little to lazy right now to do it. I'm appreciative of all things hemp...no not that stuff

[Tom C]

On the end pin, I would like to be able to slip the pin through any part of the braid. -which is what it looks like it currently would do.

[moku9]

Get a book on braiding. I saw one that stated a braided "knot" can be made and then installed on a loop. Push the knot down the loop to close it tight. Some braiders use a bead for this purpose in bags, purses etc. but of course no one wants a hard bead rubbing the finish off their instrument.

[tin ben dur]

Thanks you for all opinions and replies. Got some real nice colors coming next week. I think she said she found 3 books this morning. If this takes off we should able to offer some really nice flexible straps for around 15 to 20 dollars. This money will go to buying more materials and for my friends son. This is unofficially dubbed the "Oak" Straps. OA, will be a Oak A style strap and OF, will be the Oak F style. Models will help tell what kind of strap it is when someone orders. All willing to help us get this thing going will probally end up with their name put in the pot for a strap of their choice. Maybe like ever 50th strap sold. More pictures coming soon. Thanks to all.:D

[tin ben dur]

Tom, it goes through the bottom braid right now. With this one I tightened it as tight as I could get it and took my endpin off, slipped the strap on and put the endpin back on. It was safe and secure. Will post pictures this weekend.

[violmando]

Think she might be willing to make a longer one for more $$?--I need something (don't laugh) for a guitarron and hemp would do the trick. Probably something brightly colored, let me know. Anyone with other suggestions or size lengths let me know--I just got the beast last week! Yvonne

[tin ben dur]

Thanks Violmando, She will probally be able to do something nice for you. She most likely knows what that is because she been into instruments for along time. I will ask her. We got nice colors coming in soon. We are going to test some fabric from one company that offers 19 colors as of right now. All are naturally dyed. Thank you.

[tin ben dur]

Guitarron the mariachi guitar with bowl back. I looked it up very cool. I think she could make you a very nice strap for you in some nice colors. I called her and she said she picked up some more material today and got some colors. She is coming over tommorrow and I will see what colors she got. This is awesome. Thanks Yvonne.:D

[tin ben dur]

Thie is a new strap made up today. It will work on either an A or F mandolin. It gives you two options for end pin. Tell me what yall think.

[tin ben dur]

This strap is most likely a over one shoulder strap. I used it both ways but I hold my mandolin real high. Not enough colors to do a hole strap but more colored material coming next week. I will work on some tomorrow. We got a cool spiral strap started. This one is ready to ship if anyone is almoest ready to ship if anyone is interested.

[tin ben dur]

Here is the strap from right above on my Weber. Using the nuice. I would use one or the attachment and then wrap the other cord around the other for added strength and durability.

[tin ben dur]

Here is the other spiral one coming along. Very cool but kinda big. See for your self. Thanks all.

[tin ben dur]

This one is a over one shoulder strap kind of a shorty. I tried it on mine and I love it. It looks like a flat leather strap. It is approx. 32" with a little more adjustment and two different ways to attach to the end pin. I can make the longer. I can make these in brown, forest green, orangish red, and a yellowish orange. One brown ready to ship. Hope you like. Nice little flat strap.