Strap insights

[godot]

After paying nearly $5000 for my first mandolin I don't want to take a chance on getting it dinged with the wrong kind of strap. Mine is an "F" configuration so the strap fits over the scroll. I'd be very grateful for any ideas/suggestions

[dusty miller]

I have a strap from Lakota Leathers and I really like it. Very soft and they have a bunch to choose from.

[George R. Lane]

I use a Levy's mandolin strap. Works great and is only $20.00.

[Ken Waltham]

10 or more years ago, Brian Aldridge turned me on the the kangaroo straps. Those braided ones with the loop end...
I have never used another since.

[spufman]

The Long Hollow Softy is very nice, with super-soft all leather construction.

[mandroid]

Rather than the I got an [X] brand these things always turn into ..

If the strap has no Metal in it the dinging your mandolin from interaction with the strap wont be an Issue .

Cotton Webbing is Good too * though you see a lot of braided/rope straps , since Bill Had one.
shoelaces braid nicely if you are willing to put in the effort ..

*I had a crafts person weave a cotton strap on a simple Belt loom , she left a hole in one end ,
and made a loop in the other , I told her how long i needed it .. it is very Nice.

[George R. Lane]

10 or more years ago, Brian Aldridge turned me on the the kangaroo straps. Those braided ones with the loop end...
I have never used another since.

Ken,
Where can one get a kangaroo strap? I had a pair of kangaroo football cleats when I was in High School and those were the best pair I ever had.

[Ken Waltham]

Ken,
Where can one get a kangaroo strap? I had a pair of kangaroo football cleats when I was in High School and those were the best pair I ever had.

Perhaps our member AlanN.. he used to have them. Carmel Music is another place that has them.
I have used these on all manner of Loars and Ferns, and they are safe, efficient and comfortable.

[Dave Greenspoon]

+1 on the Long Hollow softy. Great strap!

[dorenac]

+1 for the Kangaroo braided. More expensive than the others, but it is made in Australia. I've tried couple of the above mentioned ones plus others not mentioned and Ken is spot on. The Roos rule!!!

[Billgrass]

Lynn Dudenbostel's wife makes wonderful straps when she has the time. Worth the wait for her next batch.

[Mike Bunting]

The ones at Carmel look like the one I got from a friend
when he brought a few back from down under a few years ago.

[LongBlackVeil]

Look no further than Alan Gelman. Strap works of montana! Seriously, these are the finest straps by far. Nfi but I think they look way better than any other option. The loop design and the quality of the strap itself sets them apart

They also have more adjustability than the braided style straps. Cost about 50 bucks but very worth it.

[Timbofood]

Hartz Mountain dog leash, cut the snap off cut a slit in that end, there you go! Or go get a pair of reins at a tack shop sew a loop in one end., slit the other there you have it. It's not so hard.

[Phil-D]

I made a strap from an old dog leash. Every time I'd pick up my mandolin "Buster" would get real excited. I thought he liked my playing until one day I realized that he thought he was going for a walk.

[Billbass1]

Neotech mandolin strap for my Eastman 315 . Lightweight and versatile .
Guitar straps on my other mandolins cause they all have two strap posts .

[DHopkins]

You can't go wrong with a Long Hollow Softy or a Lakota.

[mtucker]

roos straps .. made by a sheep farmer in australia and sold at carmelmusic.com

[Denman John]

I've had a Long Hollow Softy on my mandolin for a while now and recently ordered a handmade Bailey strap for my OM. I'll be ordering a Bailey strap for my mandolin as the are wonderful. http://www.thebaileystrap.com

Enjoy the journey!

[Frank Russell]

I've been making my own straps for many years now. I prefer a flat, braided leather strap with the rough-out side down, so it's not too slippery. The hardest part is finding good thin, strong leather nowadays. I like bison, but cowhide is fine. Once you have the leather, Google "mystery braid." Easy to learn, and you'll end up with a strap that's braided in the middle, but with several inches of flat strap on either end. You can punch the exact size hole you need for your endpin, and use a simple "slit braid" on one end for making a scroll loop. Much easier than it sounds, cheap, free labor, and it'll last just as long as any $50 strap. Nice looking too. As Mike E. often posts on strap threads, an extra tether from the strap around the underside of your tailpiece adds a large amount of security. Frank

[djeffcoat]

Lynn Dudenbostel's wife makes wonderful straps when she has the time. Worth the wait for her next batch.

Lauren Dudenbostel is Lynn's daughter.

[Northwest Steve]

I have tried a few.
- The Long Hollow Softy feels great and is really nice. I tried it for a short time and sold it because I did not trust it. I had the front come undone and I looked at the video and did it exactly as shown. I think you could remedy that easily. But where they punch the holes for the button they make long slits on the bottom side of the hold. It just did not seem secure to me and did pop off more than once.

- I also had a Lakota leathers braided round strap from elk. I really like the round strap as you never had to mess with it to get it to lay right. Felt secure and just had a hole punched for the button. I did have the strap pop off but was better than the softie. The only thing I would be concerned about was the ends of the strap seemed soft and stretched easily. On a heavier F style mandolin I would wonder about the durability?
- I purchased a mandolin and it came with a strap, I believe it is a Bailey as the link above will direct you. It is a flat braided and is very nice. The front is looped one piece leather it feels secure but would have liked two. What I really like is the single loop for the button end. It loop it over the button and slide the know until tight. By far the most secure fit/feel of the three I tried.

[Frank Russell]

A too-large opening with the slit/hole combo can be remedied. Punch a few small holes on either side of the slit, stitch it, but don't pull it tight until you put it back on the endpin. Pull the stitches tight, tie a knot that is secure, and you've got a strap that fits tightly, but will still swivel. I still recommend a backup tether tied to the tailpiece for backup. Frank.

[Ivan Kelsall]

You can make your own 'more than adequate' strap if you can buy a strip of leather about 60" long. Here's the one i made for my "A" style mandolin. I simply made the loop that goes under the fingerboard extension (your 'scroll' loop),punched 2 holes through both sides of the strap & fastened them togather with some round leather cord.I cut the strap to lenght & punched the hole for the strap pin (end pin) though the other end. It cost in US terms around $8.00 & took all of 20 minutes to make,
Ivan

[Sven the Impaler]

I use Lakotas on both a mando and a 1/4 ton Gibson banjo. Feels good, looks good, smells good, and made by Native Americans (of the Lakota tribe in South Dakota).