A-style with strap button question

[spenser]

OK-first time playing an A-style mando. Took everyones advice and bought the Collings MT. Had to wait 24 hours to let it acclimatize and IT HAS BEEN KILLING ME! Finally, got to take it out and try it. Sounds great sitting on my lap but here is the dumb question-the strap that came with it is for an F-style, but has a shoe lace on it. The mando does have a front strap button but there is no way that my pea brain can figure out how to attache the string safely to that front button, so I drop back and figure I would fish the shoelace under the strings, above the nut, well, no go there either, strings are too close to the headstock.....THIS IS KILLING Me to be this stupid, and I am dying to really try playing this but not comfortable just resting on my thigh.

Signed, hopeless in the adirondacks

[recklessmando]

Many straps are made for A style, with slits in both ends of the strap to go around two strap buttons. The shoelace is secured to the slit on one end to go around a scroll. Remove the lace and it's an A. If you are lucky that's all you have to do.

[AW Meyer]

You can attach the lace at the peghead between the first two tuners, a little higher up the peghead than at the nut.
You can attach the lace around the top of the body (where the neck meets the body) and under the fretboard extension.

[Baron Collins-Hill]

ive got my strap aound thepeghead between the nut and the first set of tuners

[Dave Hanson]

Get a new strap

[mandroid]

buttons on each end ? a world of guitar strap options are open to you, billions to choose from.

[John Flynn]

What kind of strap is it? If it is the standard Collings strap, I would just put a hole where you want it for the forward strap button and then cut off any excess on the strap.

The hole should be the diameter of the waist, or small part, of the strap button. Then you put a slit in the strap coming from the edge of the hole away from the end of the end of the strap, the opposite side of where the weight will bear. That slit will allow the hole to open up just enough to get over the wider end of the button. You can drill the hole with an electric drill, by first marking the spot carefully and then laying the strap on a scrap piece of wood. The slit can be cut with any sharp knife. Cut the slit carefully, a little at a time, testing it on the button until it just works. The tendency is to accidently cut the slit too long.

[red7flag]

Personally I have a strap button on the outside of the heal at the base of the neck. I prefer the way it sits that way.
Tony

[shadco]

Just do this.

No Muss no fuss no holes

[Markelberry]

Just do this.

No Muss no fuss no holes

great idea I think,this is the method Ive always used!

[scgc.om]

Blond MT custom - oooo - nice! [gas]

Last summer I bought a BlackFace MT - I really like that look, too.

Back to topic - I also attach strap under fingerbpard extension. I had to remove strings (one at a time- to avoid bridge movement) because of fixed loop (Kangaroo!) but I feel this is best place to attach a strap to an A model.

IMO - A strap button in neck heel is THE worst idea - button really gets in the way when playing up the neck.

[spenser]

Gentlemen-thank you all for your replies, suggestions and kind suggestions. Since I am larger than most, and like the mando to ride a little lower I have elected to go with the Bailey Strap. I am going to make due with an older F-style with string and a guitar strap to try it out using the headstock and strap button options. Shadco-I must say that your natural is one of the reasons that I went with Collings, even though they dont make the natural anymore. One very impressive mandolin. Will get some pictures of the Collings and Breedlove Quartz up on here.

PS-Got a couple of Larrivee guitars for sale to pay for the Collings so let me know if anyone has interest in a Classical and SD-50 Thanks again for making me welcome over here.