Strap (or lack of one) issue

[Tim Gillane]

I was thinking of getting or making a strap for my mandolin. However, there's no knob on the tailpiece to which I can attach a strap (and no opening in the tailpiece for one). Since the instrument is pushing 100 years old (a late 1920s Regal), I'm a bit reluctant to go tacking a knob onto or into it. Does anyone know of an alternative (other than just not using a strap)? The chances of my standing to play are pretty slim. 'Tis a puzzlement.

[pops1]

A picture of the tailpiece would help. If there is a screw at the bottom of the tailpiece it can be removed and a longer one added with a strap button. You can run a strap around the tailpiece in some instances. You also use a classical guitar strap that is a simple hook that you put into the soundhole and then under the instrument and around your neck. This won't be as easy to do on an A style mandolin.

[Astro]

If you bought a tone guard for it you could hitch a strap to that.

[Ryk Loske]

A classical guitar strap may be your answer.

https://www.elderly.com/accessories/...-guitar-straps

Ryk

[MikeEdgerton]

Take a look at this thread. Two options.

[Charlie Bernstein]

I have two mandos, a flattop and an A-style. Each has a strap. Both straps came with strings.

On both mandos, I just put the string through the hole in the strap and tied the string around the base of the neck. In front, they sit under the fretboards overhang, and they both go around the backs of the mandos near where the necks join the bodies.

Works just fine on both.

[bigskygirl]

Do a Google for “ukulele strap no button” and you’ll see a ton of ideas. This link has one called a use leash just scroll to the bottom to see it.

https://ukuguides.com/guides/put-a-s...hout-drilling/

[mandroid]

See of you can find any Homer and Jethro YT videos, Jethro never used a strap, he just tucked it in his right forearm , an went at the playing..


the Mariachi Strap , like Willy Nelson uses will work with thinner tops, I use one on my Hodson Djangolin
that I used on my Touring Ireland by Bicycle carried Pocket Mandolin before..

the thicker top of my Gibson A4 Oval . I have a Tone Gard on it and I use a Chair..


....

[pops1]

The hook could be bent to fit an old Gibson oval.

[DavidKOS]

See of you can find any Homer and Jethro YT videos, Jethro never used a strap, he just tucked it in his right forearm , an went at the playing..


....

And there you have it, no strap needed!

[pops1]

And there you have it, no strap needed!

While I can do that, as someone who is nowhere near the size of Jethro I prefer a strap. Taller/larger people can do things with instruments that us vertically challenged folks simply have a harder time or find impossible.

[DavidKOS]

While I can do that, as someone who is nowhere near the size of Jethro I prefer a strap. Taller/larger people can do things with instruments that us vertically challenged folks simply have a harder time or find impossible.

I'm medium build and have never needed a strap on mandolins, even strolling....with bowlbacks!

[pops1]

As I said I can do it, I just prefer the strap. I think it is more what you are used to than what you can and cannot do. I use a strap when standing or sitting so the instrument is always in the same position.

[mandroid]

The hook could be bent to fit an old Gibson oval.

Metal Sax hooks? Maybe.. Mine is Plastic. so it works with flat tops that use the same spruce thickness as Guitars..