View Full Version : Storage Question
ricklmf
May-10-2018, 9:36pm
I have a new Collings MF. I was told I shouldn't store it with the leather strap on it. Kind of a hassel taking it off each time. I don't see where it would hurt. High quality leather stripa and the non-gloss finish of the MF. What are your opinions?
pops1
May-10-2018, 11:00pm
I store my mandolins with a leather strap, and have for decades. After saying that I have heard some leather is tanned with salt as an ingredient, and will damage your instrument, so you need to know whether the strap will cause any problems.
allenhopkins
May-10-2018, 11:12pm
Vinyl-backed straps have reacted with instrument finishes. Never heard of a leather strap doing so, though it's possible some leather dyes might have that property.
Ivan Kelsall
May-11-2018, 3:43am
Traditionally tanned leather won't harm your mandolin, & any decent strap maker wouldn't use a type of leather that would harm an instrument. All my 3 are kept in their cases with the straps attached & always have been. Use straps made by good makers,they know exactly the leathers to use,
Ivan;)
MikeEdgerton
May-11-2018, 7:00am
I've haven't removed my leather strap from my F5G in the 13 years i've had it and it lives in the case when it isn't being played. With that said, a HUGE leather strap that is forced onto the finish when the case is closed might damage it. Mine gets layed along the side when it's closed.
As Allen mentioned, vinyl will destroy a lacquer finish. See this (http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/Musician/GenMaint/Vinyl/vinyl.html) article from Frank Ford's www.frets.com.
UsuallyPickin
May-11-2018, 7:04am
I have not had a leather strap damage an instruments finish to date. Plastic / vinyl are indeed a no no as they will. Play on! R/
Steve Ostrander
May-11-2018, 7:36am
I've left leather straps on instruments for probably 50 years, never had an issue.
Ray(T)
May-11-2018, 8:08am
Same here, in the last 40+ years, I've never had any kind of strap damage an instrument apart from the odd bit of wear at the attachment points. I have, however steered well clear of vinyl. I lay my straps, flat in the case, beneath my mandolins/guitars with the end emerging somewhere near the nut with the opposite end still attached to the end-pin.
Jeff Mando
May-11-2018, 9:54am
How about placing a polishing cloth between the strap and the mandolin as a precaution? Couldn't hurt.
Willie Poole
May-11-2018, 10:38am
I have never had a leather strap do any damage to the an instrument BUT if the strap is laid across the strings the oil in the leather will cause the strings to go dead, or so I have heard, I do like Mike said, lay the strap along side of the mandolin and not on top where it could rest on the strings...OR you could play like Buzz Busby used to, no strap at all, just tuck it under your chin...
Willie
Ivan Kelsall
May-12-2018, 1:52am
The leather strap that i use on my Ellis "A" style is 1" wide (a leather lace goes under the f/board extension). It lies on the mandolin top in it's case, & in 18 months,there's been no sign of any damage,
Ivan;)
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