Strap around headstock?

[John Bertotti]

I do not have a strap for my A. I am thinking about one but do not want to add a button on the neck heel or anywhere for that matter. I can play standing up with out a strap but I am always concerned a bump might knock it loose and I don’t want to drop. Which leaves me with putting it around the headstock. Is this a problem? I have seen others do this but just want to check to be sure. Thanks!

[pops1]

I have been doing that on all my mandolins for 30 years, no problems yet. I like to not go right behind the nut to keep it out of the way of my hands.

[multidon]

If you have a modern elevated fretboard, you can pull a leather bootlace through your upper strap buttonhole, then tie it under the fretboard extension. Works well, hurts nothing. Of course if you play an instrument with the board glued to the top, that won’t work.

[John Bertotti]

Thanks I will go around the headstock. My Mandolin is an Oldwave oval A. Very much like and old Gibson A so the board is glued to the board.

[Eric Platt]

My Collings has it that way. Best if you can keep it away from the nut, otherwise it might (or might not) interfere with your hand).

[Doug Brock]

I currently have the strap on my MD505 around the headstock, but it is up over the tuners and away from the nut. The strap doesn’t get in my way while playing but it does get in the way while tuning. I’m not happy with this solution and may eventually go back to tying under the fingerboard OR install a strap button.

[Bill Clements]

Check out the mandolin straps made by Bill Bailey.
Bill makes terrific straps and is a heck of a nice guy to do business with.

[Andrew Faltesek]

Check out the mandolin straps made by Bill Bailey.
Bill makes terrific straps and is a heck of a nice guy to do business with.

Yup! Measure and get a strap from Bill Bailey! Love mine which was a top grain sunburst...excellent! And as said: a super nice guy to do business with!

[AlanN]

If you have a modern elevated fretboard, you can pull a leather bootlace through your upper strap buttonhole, then tie it under the fretboard extension. Works well, hurts nothing.

Recently got a KM 900 (good tone!) and do it this way. I may consider adding a heel button, but this way works fine.

[John Bertotti]

I have some nice supple leather I was going to use on a different project. I think I will try to make my own strap. Not sure how to measure maybe just try some string and see where I like it to hang then cut to suit.

[dhergert]

Hmmm, maybe it's just my OCD, but I'd worry that a strap connected to the peghead would weaken the neck joint, especially since the neck joint can be a weak point with some mandolins (and guitars and ...) anyway -- there can be a lot of leverage applied with a strap on the peghead.

Also, I really don't like a strap in the way of my left hand, I find it distracting.

So, if it were me, I'd have a strap pin installed, and I'd seriously consider having it installed on the down-side of the neck block instead of anywhere on the heel.

YMMV...

[AlanN]

I'd have a strap pin installed on the down-side of the neck block instead of anywhere on the heel.

+1

[Ray(T)]

It’s entirely down to you but I find straps hanging amongst the tuners a pain. I don’t have a button at the heel on my ‘24 Snakehead but more or less everything else has.

[lflngpicker]

I have seen and heard from others that the headstock method works great. I prefer the strap right behind the nut on my two Gibson A's, which also have no fingerboard extension. I use a leather shoelace to keep the thicker part of the strap away to free up my fretting hand and extend that to tie on the strap. Works great and doesn't stress the tuning machines that way.

[John Bertotti]

I have no intentions of adding a hole for a strap button. For my use the strap won’t be holding the instrument just in place I case if a slip and tumble so it doesn’t bee line it to the ground.

[Nick Royal]

I have a 1923 Gibson A mandolin with the strap around the headstock. The main problem is getting one of the G strings out of tune
w. that arrangement.

[pops1]

I have mine on the headstock and have no problems with tuning on any strings. It's a matter of placement. Don't like it against the nut, don't like it in the way.

[mbruno]

I have an F9 and another F5 style. I used to wrap the strap around the scroll but recently started putting it around the head stock between the tuning pegs (specifically between the pegs for the G and E courses). I found this provided much better stability while playing which allowed my left hand to not be supporting the mandolin like it was when the strap was around the scroll. I make sure the strap is out of the way of the pegs themselves so I can tune (and so it doesn't go out of tune due to the strap)

I haven't seen any issues with the head stock or tuning etc in the ~6 months I've been doing this. Scott Gates is the dude that turned me on to this and I believe he's been doing it that way for many many years.

I think you are safe to go around the head stock. I would avoid going near the nut though as you'll end up cutting off some ability to play on the first fret due to the angle of the strap.

[Charlie Bernstein]

Mine go around the neck heels and under the ends of the fretboards. I like it better there because it's balanced and my left hand doesn't go near the strap.

This picture shows what it looks like (click to enlarge):

.

[John Bertotti]

I like the idea of going around the heel and fretboard but it isn't a choice I have on my mandolin the board is flat to the top like an old Gibson. So where would you place your loop? I'm tempted for dead center but I can see how this might interfere with tuning.

[lflngpicker]

I like the idea of going around the heel and fretboard but it isn't a choice I have on my mandolin the board is flat to the top like an old Gibson. So where would you place your loop? I'm tempted for dead center but I can see how this might interfere with tuning.

Great flame and color on that A4!

[dan in va]

The strap button doesn't suit me at all and it's not good for resale. Wrapping one end behind the nut is in the way and the further toward the tip of the peghead the less stable the mandolin hangs. So wrapping around the peghead between the G and E tuners is both out of the way and stable. It doesn't intefere with tuning if tied right.

JB - really nice looking fancy tuning buttons!

[John Bertotti]

The strap button doesn't suit me at all and it's not good for resale. Wrapping one end behind the nut is in the way and the further toward the tip of the peghead the less stable the mandolin hangs. So wrapping around the peghead between the G and E tuners is both out of the way and stable. It doesn't intefere with tuning if tied right.

JB - really nice looking fancy tuning buttons!

Thanks. I saw someone here with them years ago when I order this model from Old Wave and he got them done for me by Blohm? I think that is the correct spelling but won't swear to it. I was all hot on Waverly tuners but i couldn't afford both those and the buttons, the buttons won. I honestly don't rememebr if these are Schallers or Gotoh.

[John Bertotti]

Sorry double post and I do not know why!

[dan in va]

It's all good, JB. Those Blohm's are the real deal and worth a double tap any day.