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Thread: Strap Question

  1. #1

    Default Strap Question

    I have a Kentucky KM 171 oval hole and am about to order a KM 272 oval hole. I think I remember reading that customarily you don't put straps on A oval holes. The reason being that a large part of the time players are playing classical, jazz, and blues and were sitting down and therefore didn't need a strap. I think that most ovals I've seen being played were being played sitting down. Comments.

  2. #2
    Mangler of Tunes OneChordTrick's Avatar
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    Default Re: Strap Question

    I have a strap on my A hole oval! It even came with buttons attached. I also like to use a strap when I play sitting down to support the instrument.

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    Default Re: Strap Question

    You buy the mandolin you put a strap, pick guard, arm rest, tone guard, or whatever you want on it. IMHO

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    Default Re: Strap Question

    I use a strap on my KM 171. Sitting or standing the strap offers some support. On all my instruments (guitars, banjos, mandos) I try to adjust the strap so the instrument is in the same position on me sitting or standing. It's got the same feel sitting or standing so I don't have to learn sitting or standing playing differences, which I'd have to. But yes, put what you want on it. Just make sure you play it...

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    Default Re: Strap Question

    I have straps on all my A-style mandolins except my bowlbacks (which aren't really A-style.) I don't want them inadvertently falling, and I think the strap helps prevent that.

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    Default Re: Strap Question

    Quote Originally Posted by Torpedotom View Post
    I think I remember reading that customarily you don't put straps on A oval holes. The reason being that a large part of the time players are playing classical, jazz, and blues and were sitting down and therefore didn't need a strap. I think that most ovals I've seen being played were being played sitting down. Comments.
    Could you be thinking of bowlbacks instead of A-styles? Lots of people use straps on the latter, although there is some disagreement about whether it's better to attach them above the nut (as on my Gibson) or with a pin at the heel (like on my Black).
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    Default Re: Strap Question

    My usual answer to this sort of question is to ask - if everybody else in the world stuck their heads into a bucket of luke warm camel urine would you?

    Care not what people customarily do and do whatever suits you.

  8. #8
    Registered User Jill McAuley's Avatar
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    Default Re: Strap Question

    I only play oval A's and have always used a strap. I also primarily played while seated unless I'm out busking. When seated the strap helps to take the weight of the mandolin so that I'm not trying to support the neck and play, something that for me would restrict the mobility of my right hand. Can I play without a strap? Sure. But my preference is always to use one. I do the same with my tenor banjo, which I also play seated.
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    Default Re: Strap Question

    Quote Originally Posted by longneck View Post
    I use a strap on my KM 171. Sitting or standing the strap offers some support. On all my instruments (guitars, banjos, mandos) I try to adjust the strap so the instrument is in the same position on me sitting or standing. It's got the same feel sitting or standing so I don't have to learn sitting or standing playing differences, which I'd have to. But yes, put what you want on it. Just make sure you play it...

    Regards, Zig
    Same for me, I think it's important to always have the mandolin in the same position for familiarity so playing sitting or standing there is no difference. I also agree with Jill, I usually sit, but when I do stand the mandolin is in the same position.
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    Default Re: Strap Question

    If you absolutely know you'll never need the strap, don't worry about. Somehow, I don't think that's gonna be the case. Get a strap and if you don't need it, leave it off. I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
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    Default Re: Strap Question

    Just talking about playing while sitting: If anything, an A-style is more slippery, and needs a strap even more, than an equivalent F-style, ya know, the kind that comes with leg-grabbing points as well as the built-in strap-hanger.

    For me, virtually all mandolins benefit from a strap.
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    Default Re: Strap Question

    Strap it

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    Registered User Ivan Kelsall's Avatar
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    Default Re: Strap Question

    Buy a strap which will allow you to use the ''strap under'' method of attaching it - see pics. I uses a strap on all my mandolins to allow me to ''keep it where i want it''. I practice a lot sitting down,but without a strap,the darned critters still try to slide off !,
    Ivan
    Click image for larger version. 

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    The first pic. is of a strap made in the UK by Pinegrove Leather,but you can make a strap similar to the one that i made (pic.2) from a strip of flat leather.
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    Mandolin Botherer Shelagh Moore's Avatar
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    Default Re: Strap Question

    My oval holes have all either come with strap buttons or I have fitted them. I just prefer the security a strap affords, even when sitting.

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    Default Re: Strap Question

    The only reason not to add a strap button to an instrument, if desired, is if that instrument is valued as collectible in it's original condition. R/
    I love hanging out with mandolin nerds . . . . . Thanks peeps ...

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    en kunnskapssøker James Miller's Avatar
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    Default Re: Strap Question

    A style wiggles and slips around too much not to use a strap. F style with points sticking out are made to rest on your legs - but folks use straps with those too.

    Before donating the Rogue to a couple from Madagascar I tried tuning the bugger and it kept slipping and sliding everywhere, it would not set still. So told the people I gave it to they would have to fabricate a strap for it as I did not have a spare.
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    Default Re: Strap Question

    Quote Originally Posted by Torpedotom View Post
    I have a Kentucky KM 171 oval hole and am about to order a KM 272 oval hole. I think I remember reading that customarily you don't put straps on A oval holes. The reason being that a large part of the time players are playing classical, jazz, and blues and were sitting down and therefore didn't need a strap.
    I haven't heard that.

    I think that most ovals I've seen being played were being played sitting down.
    I prefer to play sitting own, and only stand to play under protest. That said it rarely correlates one way or the other with which mandolin I am playing.

    And I go through phases of several years playing without a strap, to phases where I exclusively play with a strap. Again, having no correlation to the type of mandolin, except, of course, I have no straps for the bowlback.


    Oval hole mandolins are often seen in old time jam sessions, or traditional Irish, or any of a number of traditional settings other than bluegrass. At least the jams I have seen.

    F hole mandolins, because of a variety of discernible differences in sound, are prized in bluegrass, and very typical of that genre.
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  20. #18
    Oval holes are cool David Lewis's Avatar
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    Default Re: Strap Question

    Both my oval holes have a strap button, and both have straps. I am of hte school of preferring a strap - I know there are those who refuse - that's fine by me. But the more time I'm focusing on my fingers and less on my upper arm and elbow, the better I play...
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    Default Re: Strap Question

    Quote Originally Posted by pheffernan View Post
    Could you be thinking of bowlbacks instead of A-styles? Lots of people use straps on the latter, although there is some disagreement about whether it's better to attach them above the nut (as on my Gibson) or with a pin at the heel (like on my Black).
    As a player that mostly uses bowlbacks or other non-archtop mandolins, I have never used a strap sitting, standing or strolling.

    With one exception, at a Renn fair I will put on a thin old-style silk guitar "strap" - more like a little rope - to carry the mandolin on my back when not playing.

    It seems everyone with archtop mandolins uses straps.

  22. #20
    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
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    Default Re: Strap Question

    Quote Originally Posted by James Miller View Post
    A style wiggles and slips around too much not to use a strap. .
    When I first started playing bowls I used that shelf matting material to keep things from moving around. It really works.

    Now I use it all the time for mandolin, bowlback or no, when I play without a strap. Comes in all colors.
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  24. #21
    Registered User Bigfoot Fingers's Avatar
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    Default Re: Strap Question

    Just wanted to say thanks to Ivan for the information he provides. I had a hard time finding a store bought strap that was long enough for my long torso so I looked up information on this site a couple of months ago and found a previous post of his that showed picture # 2 from above. This encouraged me to make my own strap and I copied the method he used to fashion the loop that goes around the neck. I probably would have just used a granny knot (no disrespect to grannys) to secure the loop as I was skeptical the knot pictured would hold but I tried it Ivan's way as it looked better. I was pleasantly surprised. The knot is simple, elegant, and secure and I have a nice looking, perfectly fitting strap that was cheap to make.
    Last edited by Bigfoot Fingers; Jan-30-2018 at 2:41pm. Reason: thought it would go under Ivan's reply

  25. #22

    Default Re: Strap Question

    Quote Originally Posted by Ivan Kelsall View Post
    Buy a strap which will allow you to use the ''strap under'' method of attaching it - see pics. I uses a strap on all my mandolins to allow me to ''keep it where i want it''. I practice a lot sitting down,but without a strap,the darned critters still try to slide off !,
    Ivan
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    The first pic. is of a strap made in the UK by Pinegrove Leather,but you can make a strap similar to the one that i made (pic.2) from a strip of flat leather.
    A bit of shameless promotion (delete this if it violates MC law). Check out El Dorado’s mandolin straps. The front loop works with F-style scrolls, A-style pegheads, and A-style raised fingerboards. I have them on my Collings MT and MTO.

  26. #23
    en kunnskapssøker James Miller's Avatar
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    Default Re: Strap Question

    Some of the older fellers that play have these handsome leather straps on their guitars, base, and mandolins and I have a cheap $12 strap on mine. Was looking around to find a decent strap, and found that Bailey makes some straps were far more attractive, at the $65+ range. They even made paracord straps. However you need to know your strap size and how you will attach to the mandolin.

    Whilst browsing straps another idea came to me last night, seems like no one makes them. The idea is a Musician's Survivalist Strap, one that has (replaceable) extra strings slid up inside.
    Ya never know when you'll break a string, and you better pray you have an extra set in your case, or your buddy does. But what happens if you left your case in another room & you are about to go on, or maybe you just grabbed your case for a quick evening jam and *plink* goes a string. If ya don't have spares what are ya gonna do?
    Well, if someone could devise a strap that can carry extra strings inside of it, and looked good, you could probably sell it for more than $65 and have an extra advantage of Musician's Survivability added too. With strings in the strap you'd always have a spare set when you needed it ... where-ever your life's adventure would be at the moment.

    That would be a good strap to have!
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  27. #24
    Registered User MissingString's Avatar
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    Default Re: Strap Question

    +1 for El Dorado straps (NFI). I have them on 2 mandolins and one on a guitar. Pricey but not outrageous. The ones I have have a tooled design and look awesome.
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  28. #25
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    Default Re: Strap Question

    I make all my own straps, each instrument has one and there are strings and tuner in each case.
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