Good inexpensive strap?

[jaycat]

Hey troops, any recommendations for a good, inexpensive strap . . . maybe under $20?

Remember, the mando itself only set me back $150!

Thx all, jc.

[Brent Hutto]

Anything without a buckle on it.

[smokyt81]

can't go wrong with a good bootlace

[JEStanek]

Get a long boot lace and tie some knots. You could use a lenght of static line from the camping store and tie a line of slip knots in it to make it thicker then add tome nooses or hitches on the ends for the button or headstock.

Jamie

[jaycat]

I like that idea. I'm off to the Army-Navy store at lunchtime!

[Spencer]

Elderly has a bunch of straps by the company Levy. I have a couple and they work just fine, all under 20 dollars. Here is an example, there are many.

Levy strap from Elderly

Spencer

[300win]

Yard sale flat braided leather belts, two for a $1.

[RobAlan]

Skip the boot lace, I'm with Spencer, buy a Levy leather mando strap (around $10.00) sold through Elderly Instrumants. Great strap, good buy, and IMO much more comfortable than a boot lace!
Good Luck.

Rob

[Mark Hudson]

I got three leather bootlaces (If you want to be fancy get different colors) and braided them. :-)

[jaycat]

Well, I am just back from the Army-Navy, now in possession of 50 feet of nylon paracord ($4.95). It looks more comfortable than a bootstrap, if perhaps less elegant than a leather strap. I'll let you know how it works out. If it does the trick, there'll be 48 feet extra up for grabs, or maybe I'll put it on EBay.

[Brent Hutto]

Just keep an eye on it for colorfastness where it is in contact with the instrument. Should be a Poly finish of some kind on your mandolin in which case it'll be fine. Lacquer can be more sensitive.

[jaycat]

Good thought, Brent, thanks. Can I assume a $150 Rover has a poly finish, do you think?

[Brent Hutto]

Yep, that's what I was thinking. In my experience with the Poly stuff, even if some foreign color gets on there you can clean it back off with a bit of naptha (lighter fluid). Unlike lacquer or varnish where anything that removes the color removes the finish.

[jaycat]

Thanks again. And I can always do a Hendrix if too much lighter fluid gets on there.

[Willie]

One time a few years ago I made a real nice mandolin strap out of all things a dog leash from WalMart....They already have a looped end to to fit around the scroll all one has to do is make some holes to fit the end pin and you have a nice strap for about 5 bucks....The one I made was red....Since then I have had a great strap given to me by one of our posters right here on the Cafe and it is made from kangaroo skin, braided and nice and soft...Maybe he will post if he still makes them.....Willie

[Jesse Harmon]

Ditto on being careful what you leave against the finish in the case. I had a reaction with a fancy strap with my Gibson 330. Luckily it wasn't terribly disfiguring on the back but it is noticeable.

[blueron]

At the risk of boring regular forum participants with yet another mention of how I pass some of my spare time, I make my own straps using leather bought in tanned hide form, as well as from unravelled braided trouser belts that I pick up cheap at markets. I don't do it to save money, but instead as a form of recreation. The simple braiding techniques are all available in youtube clips online.

[JEStanek]

Those look good, Blueron. I like to braid the shoelaces/parachutecord/static line to make a homemade strap but, in full disclosure, I almost never use one and play seated most of the time.

Jamie

[Willie]

Bluron...Is there some kind of formula that a person needs to know to have the correct length when he gts done braiding? In other words ifI wanted to end up with a strap, say 30 ins., how much material would I need to start with?

[blueron]

From memory Willie, the four-part round braid uses a little over 5 inches of leather for every four inches of braid, but even that will vary according to how tightly you make the braid. The best way is to experiment by doing the braid over and over, unpicking it between experiments, until you're happy with the results and you have the length of 'rope' that you need. If you attach a piece of plain leather with three or four endpin holes at the tail end of the braid, then the length of the braided section itself isn't that long.

The braided section of the black strap is about 70cm long (about 27.5 inches). If you put a 15cm/6 inches plain strap at the endpin end of the braid (with maybe three holes for the endpin to give you adjustability), and then have a strap loop (about 28cm/11 inches) attached at the other end to go over the f-scroll, you will have a strap that is suited to different uses. I use that strap only over one shoulder, so if you want to wear it around your back, it will have to be longer, unless you are very slim.

ron

[Ivan Kelsall]

Very nice work indeed Ron. That Blue, round braided strap is as good as i've seen on pro.maker's sites. It certainly puts the Blue into Bluegrass in a different way & what a great colour - well done,
Ivan

[Bob Bronow]

I've got a Neotech on my Kentucky-A and I'm very happy with it.
http://accessories.musiciansfriend.c...WBING&ZYXSEM=0

[blueron]

Very nice work indeed Ron. That Blue, round braided strap is as good as i've seen on pro.maker's sites. It certainly puts the Blue into Bluegrass in a different way & what a great colour - well done,
Ivan

thanks Ivan. That's my favourite strap - but the blue is a trick of the photograph light, I'm afraid. It's actually a matte black!

But now you've given me an idea. Have to get out there looking for blue materials.....


rm

[Ivan Kelsall]

Oooops !. Never mind Ron. If you do find some blue material,you can always buy one of these sublime creations,a 'Blueburst' from Dale Ludewig to keep it company (pic.courtesy of DL)
Ivan