Results 1 to 20 of 20

Thread: Leather straps: flat or braided?

  1. #1
    Registered User Gunnar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2019
    Location
    Balama, Mozambique, Africa, Earth
    Posts
    704

    Default Leather straps: flat or braided?

    So for those of you who have used both, which is more comfortable? And convenient? Any other considerations? Pros and cons?
    Thanks
    Mandolin: Kentucky KM150
    Other instruments: way too many, and yet, not nearly enough.

    My blog: https://theoffgridmusician.music.blog/
    My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChF...yWuaTrtB4YORAg
    My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/africanbanjogunnar/
    Free backing tracks:
    https://backingtrackers.wordpress.com/

  2. #2
    harvester of clams Bill McCall's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Location
    Forest Grove, Oregon
    Posts
    2,775

    Default Re: Leather straps: flat or braided?

    I have both. Softness of the leather is more important to me, that said, I use both regularly without issue.
    Not all the clams are at the beach

    Arrow Manouche
    Arrow Jazzbo
    Arrow G
    Clark 2 point
    Gibson F5L
    Gibson A-4
    Ratliff CountryBoy A

  3. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Bill McCall For This Useful Post:


  4. #3
    not a donut Kevin Winn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Location
    Portland, OR
    Posts
    735

    Default Re: Leather straps: flat or braided?

    Quote Originally Posted by Bill McCall View Post
    I have both. Softness of the leather is more important to me, that said, I use both regularly without issue.
    Same here. Have both, like 'em both.

  5. The following members say thank you to Kevin Winn for this post:

    Gunnar 

  6. #4
    Registered User Doug Brock's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    KC MO
    Posts
    625

    Default Re: Leather straps: flat or braided?

    The mandolin is light enough that most any strap that I've tried has been comfortable for me (even a leather boot lace). After buying and using about 20 mandolin straps over the years, my current favorites are braided Lakota straps. I prefer the look of the round-braided Lakota, but the flat-braided Lakota is fine, too.

    Have you considered braiding your own with paracord? If I were in need of a strap, I would at least try that. You can pick colors you like and can modify length and attachment details to your preferences. Lots of good instructions on the Internet.
    Doug Brock
    2018 Kimble 2 point (#259), Eastman MD315, Eastman MDA315, some guitars, banjos, and fiddles

  7. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Doug Brock For This Useful Post:


  8. #5
    Registered User sblock's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Redwood City, CA
    Posts
    2,335

    Default Re: Leather straps: flat or braided?

    Yes, the round braided Lakota straps (or any others made of very soft leather) work great! A mandolin is so light that rounded straps don't dig in, so getting a flat strap is unnecessary. One real advantage of round straps is that they pack more quickly and easily into the case when you're putting the mandolin away, because you don't have to worry about arranging a flat strap in any particular orientation to get the top to close.

  9. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to sblock For This Useful Post:


  10. #6
    Registered User Gunnar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2019
    Location
    Balama, Mozambique, Africa, Earth
    Posts
    704

    Default Re: Leather straps: flat or braided?

    Thanks for the responses. I've got a big piece of amazing soft leather, (actually it's my mom's) and I want to try making a strap cuz I like making things. I was wondering which I should make, guess I'll make one of each!
    Doug, thanks for the tip. I'm not currently in need of a strap, but mine isn't great it's quite thin so I want a better one and making stuff is awesome plus I like leather. I asked some other questions in this thread
    https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...aking-question
    Mandolin: Kentucky KM150
    Other instruments: way too many, and yet, not nearly enough.

    My blog: https://theoffgridmusician.music.blog/
    My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChF...yWuaTrtB4YORAg
    My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/africanbanjogunnar/
    Free backing tracks:
    https://backingtrackers.wordpress.com/

  11. The following members say thank you to Gunnar for this post:


  12. #7
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Sep 2015
    Location
    Ohio
    Posts
    1,322

    Default Re: Leather straps: flat or braided?

    Good idea to make both! I have both, I like the appearance of braided better, but like many have said, comfort is the same.

  13. The following members say thank you to LadysSolo for this post:

    Gunnar 

  14. #8
    Registered User Mandobart's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Washington State
    Posts
    3,652

    Default Re: Leather straps: flat or braided?

    I've used and still have both. I prefer my flat straps made of thick leather. The braided Levy and Lakota Leathers straps I have are too soft, especially the end that attaches to the end pin or strap button. The holes that hook over the pin/button get stretched out and then slip off too easily. I like it to be a little difficult to get the strap on (and especially back off) the button. That way it stays put. I can never trust my soft suede braided straps completely.

  15. The following members say thank you to Mandobart for this post:

    Gunnar 

  16. #9
    Confused... or?
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Over the Hudson & thru the woods from NYC
    Posts
    2,927

    Default Re: Leather straps: flat or braided?

    Quote Originally Posted by Gunnar View Post
    ... I've got a big piece of amazing soft leather ...
    I'm no leather expert, except to note that some super-soft leather can also be super-stretchy. It'd be a shame to do lots of braiding just to end up with a 6-foot long shoelace.

    BTW, I use both flat marginally-stiff leather and soft round-braided Lakota bison (I think); both types work well and feel good.
    - Ed

    "Then one day we weren't as young as before
    Our mistakes weren't quite so easy to undo
    But by all those roads, my friend, we've travelled down
    I'm a better man for just the knowin' of you."
    - Ian Tyson

  17. The following members say thank you to EdHanrahan for this post:

    Gunnar 

  18. #10
    Registered User Simon DS's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Peace and Love
    Posts
    2,416

    Default Re: Leather straps: flat or braided?

    I’d probably save the leather that you have, use it for something else.
    In Europe you can pick up really nice, sometimes strangely fancy 1970s and 1980s leather belts at second hand shops. Often they’re too short for a lot of people to use as belts, that’s why they’re only a couple of euros/US dollars.
    You can use these with braided paracord, or even one single strand at each end -the breaking strain is in the hundreds of pounds.

    If you cant get access to these then I’d say go braided, especially in a hot climate, but less than two and a half feet long, the rest again being paracord, or strong leather cord with fishermen’s knots at the end.

    There is a lot of other more interesting material than leather though, old jeans, clothes etc. I saw some great guitar straps in Brazil using materials that people wouldn’t imagine...

  19. The following members say thank you to Simon DS for this post:

    Gunnar 

  20. #11
    Registered User Gunnar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2019
    Location
    Balama, Mozambique, Africa, Earth
    Posts
    704

    Default Re: Leather straps: flat or braided?

    Thanks y'all, I'll make sure to test the stretch before starting.
    Again, the purpose of this is not cuz I desperately need a strap, I just want to make one (or two... or seven...) because I like making things, I like leather, and I like the idea of using a strap I made
    Mandolin: Kentucky KM150
    Other instruments: way too many, and yet, not nearly enough.

    My blog: https://theoffgridmusician.music.blog/
    My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChF...yWuaTrtB4YORAg
    My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/africanbanjogunnar/
    Free backing tracks:
    https://backingtrackers.wordpress.com/

  21. #12
    Registered User John Soper's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Durham, NC
    Posts
    1,356

    Default Re: Leather straps: flat or braided?

    Get a 2 pack of 48"leather shoelaces - can use a single cord as is, or can easily do a flat braid (or go online & learn a round braid). That's what I've used on most of my mandolins & works fine. As a bonus, leave a bit at the tail; tie it around the peg and then around the base of the tailpiece for extra security.

  22. The following members say thank you to John Soper for this post:

    Gunnar 

  23. #13
    Registered User Gunnar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2019
    Location
    Balama, Mozambique, Africa, Earth
    Posts
    704

    Default Re: Leather straps: flat or braided?

    John, I could do that, but I'm just trying to make something with what I already have, and I don't think you can just buy leather shoelaces here
    Mandolin: Kentucky KM150
    Other instruments: way too many, and yet, not nearly enough.

    My blog: https://theoffgridmusician.music.blog/
    My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChF...yWuaTrtB4YORAg
    My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/africanbanjogunnar/
    Free backing tracks:
    https://backingtrackers.wordpress.com/

  24. #14
    Registered User Simon DS's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Peace and Love
    Posts
    2,416

    Default Re: Leather straps: flat or braided?


    not just plastic bottles...
    Have fun!

  25. The following members say thank you to Simon DS for this post:

    Gunnar 

  26. #15

    Default Re: Leather straps: flat or braided?

    We take for granted what you can just go out and buy here. I use a bootlace on my A1, a Bailey on my Silverangel, and an unknown but very nice round braid on my Arches. The Bailey is the most aesthetically pleasing, but also the bulkiest, but I still get it in the case fine without taking it off the mandolin.
    Silverangel A
    Arches F style kit
    1913 Gibson A-1

  27. The following members say thank you to Br1ck for this post:

    Gunnar 

  28. #16
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    Outer Spiral Arm, of Galaxy, NW Oregon.
    Posts
    17,103

    Default Re: Leather straps: flat or braided?

    I have a couple non leather straps .. with my D'jangolin I use a Uke Strap looped over my head , With a sound hole hook

    Why not buy both, for 1st hand experience?
    writing about music
    is like dancing,
    about architecture

  29. #17
    Registered User Gunnar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2019
    Location
    Balama, Mozambique, Africa, Earth
    Posts
    704

    Default Re: Leather straps: flat or braided?

    Quote Originally Posted by mandroid View Post
    I have a couple non leather straps .. with my D'jangolin I use a Uke Strap looped over my head , With a sound hole hook

    Why not buy both, for 1st hand experience?
    I'm not buying either, it is my intention to make one of each, and see which I like better, also, I think a nice leather strap makes a good present for any musician, so I might make more and sell/give a few to people
    Mandolin: Kentucky KM150
    Other instruments: way too many, and yet, not nearly enough.

    My blog: https://theoffgridmusician.music.blog/
    My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChF...yWuaTrtB4YORAg
    My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/africanbanjogunnar/
    Free backing tracks:
    https://backingtrackers.wordpress.com/

  30. #18
    Registered User panhead's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    St. Paul, Va.
    Posts
    9

    Default Re: Leather straps: flat or braided?

    Looks..braided....Comfort..flat.

  31. The following members say thank you to panhead for this post:

    Gunnar 

  32. #19
    Registered User John Bertotti's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    SD
    Posts
    3,658

    Default Re: Leather straps: flat or braided?

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_0581.jpg 
Views:	132 
Size:	1.39 MB 
ID:	182012I used a very soft leather and round braided my own, most comfortable strap I have ever had.
    My avatar is of my OldWave Oval A

    Creativity is just doing something wierd and finding out others like it.

  33. The following members say thank you to John Bertotti for this post:

    Gunnar 

  34. #20
    Registered User Bill Baldridge's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Liberty, MO
    Posts
    593
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default Re: Leather straps: flat or braided?

    Quote Originally Posted by Mandobart View Post
    I've used and still have both. I prefer my flat straps made of thick leather. The braided Levy and Lakota Leathers straps I have are too soft, especially the end that attaches to the end pin or strap button. The holes that hook over the pin/button get stretched out and then slip off too easily. I like it to be a little difficult to get the strap on (and especially back off) the button. That way it stays put. I can never trust my soft suede braided straps completely.
    I learned this trick here on the Cafe years ago. I have never had a strap come loose or even feel like it had a chance to come off. The beer was good too.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

Name:	82513775_465211187479291_5080028369282662400_n.jpg 
Views:	123 
Size:	16.6 KB 
ID:	183094   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	83643768_810121452801802_8463733643796283392_n.jpg 
Views:	97 
Size:	4.0 KB 
ID:	183095  

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •