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Thread: Strap Recommendation

  1. #1

    Default Strap Recommendation

    I'm new to the mandolin and recently purchased an Eastman A-style mandolin. I'd like to purchase a strap instead of juggling it on my lap. I would appreciate recommendations for the purchase of a strap for this style mandolin.

    Thank you in advance.
    Frank

  2. #2
    Registered User J Mangio's Avatar
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    Default Re: Strap Recommendation

    I use a rawhide boot lace with a hangman noose on each end.
    Works for A or F style.
    2021 The Loar LM700 VS

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  4. #3
    Play on FredK's Avatar
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    Default Re: Strap Recommendation

    Lakota leathers puts out some really nice straps. Used a flat strap all my life for guitar but, then found braided straps when I took up mandolin and haven't looked back. There's plenty of YouTube videos, including Lakota, that will show you different ways to use the strap on an A style, too. Pick what suits your taste. Like other mandolin goodies, you'll probably wind up with a drawer full until you find the one that speaks to you.
    "If your memories exceed your dreams, you have begun to die." - Anonymous

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  6. #4
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    Default Re: Strap Recommendation

    Lakota
    David Hopkins

    2001 Gibson F-5L mandolin
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  7. #5
    not a donut Kevin Winn's Avatar
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    Default Re: Strap Recommendation

    I have one each:

    Lakota (braided elk)
    Sully's (flat saddle leather)
    Little Satchel (braided kangaroo)

    All three are great. None are cheap. Current fave is the Little Satchel.
    "Keep your hat on, we may end up miles from here..." - Kurt Vonnegut

  8. #6
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    Default Re: Strap Recommendation

    I just ordered a Lakota non-braided strap, hopefully it works for me. I love the looks of the braided ones, I just didn’t feel like spending that much just yet

  9. #7
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    Default Re: Strap Recommendation

    Bill Bailey straps ! All my four mandolins have a Bailey strap !

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  11. #8
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    Default Re: Strap Recommendation

    Do you plan on tying it at the headstock/underneath the fretboard extension or do you have two strap buttons installed? I have mine looped under the fretboard extension and I ordered mine from Souldier and I'm happy with it.

    I just ordered a new mandolin yesterday and I asked the builder to install a strap button on the treble side of the heel and for that one I ordered it from a supplier on Etsy.

    Rob

  12. #9
    Quietly Making Noise Dave Greenspoon's Avatar
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    Default Re: Strap Recommendation

    Softy Longhollow. They work on A's and F's. Excellent strap.
    Axes: Eastman MD-515 & El Rey; Eastwood S Mandola
    Amps: Fishman Loudbox 100; Rivera Clubster Royale Recording Head & R212 cab; Laney Cub 10

  13. #10
    Timothy Tim Logan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Strap Recommendation

    You cannot beat this gentleman’s work and customer service:
    http://www.mandolinstrapsofmontana.com/

    “There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats.” ― Albert Schweitzer

    1925 Lyon & Healy Model A, #1674
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  15. #11

    Default Re: Strap Recommendation

    Sully’s makes some gorgeous stuff, both new and reclaimed. I have a vintage sully on my “A”, and also have Sully’s straps on my guitars and banjos. I also have a “little satchel” on my “F” and it’s a great lightweight strap.

  16. #12

    Default Re: Strap Recommendation

    Quote Originally Posted by hbeernink View Post
    Sully’s makes some gorgeous stuff, both new and reclaimed. I have a vintage sully on my “A”, and also have Sully’s straps on my guitars and banjos. I also have a “little satchel” on my “F” and it’s a great lightweight strap.
    here are some pics of the sully (Ellis A) (https://sullysstraps.com/) and the "little satchel" (kentucky KM1000) (found it at carter's - https://cartervintage.com/)

    Click image for larger version. 

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  18. #13
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    Default Re: Strap Recommendation

    Agree with all of the above recs. I have a Lakota Leathers round braid and a Long Softy 1/4 flat strap, and both are high quality. If you’re on a tight budget, a bootlace will work. When I was a very poor grad student I picked up smaller diameter paracord (from outdoor/sporting/climbing goods stores) or from Lowe’s (if the small, stronger stuff was too expensive) and braided my own. 3, 5, and 6 strand braids are easy and pretty quick to knock out. Theres a plain white one I made with a 5 strand braid probably 16 years ago that’s still being used on a starter mando I gave to a friend’s kid last Christmas. Honestly, it’s not even dingy...

    If you have a strap button at the heel, a regular Nylon guitar strap is another cheap alternative, just look for one with a tapered end so it doesn’t get in the way when you play this Chris Thile riffs high up on the fretboard
    Chuck

  19. #14

    Default Re: Strap Recommendation

    May I humbly suggest looking at El Dorado mandolin straps. We don't promote them as strongly as our guitar straps, but many mandolin stores, such as TME and Gryphon find their customers like them a lot. I use them on my Collings mandolins. They fit nicely through the scroll of F-style mandolins and under the raised fingerboards or the headstocks of A-models

    Click image for larger version. 

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    https://www.eldoradostraps.com/produ...andolin-strap/

  20. #15
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    Default Re: Strap Recommendation

    If you have two strap buttons, you may want to check out this one from Levy's Leathers:

    https://www.levysleathers.com/produc...rap-m19pr-blk/

  21. #16
    Fatally Flawed Bill Kammerzell's Avatar
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    Default Re: Strap Recommendation

    I don't know if they still sell mandolin straps at the Collings Store, but those ar nice and reasonable as well.
    Ray Dearstone #009 D1A (1999)
    Skip Kelley #063 Offset Two Point (2017)
    Arches #9 A Style (2005)
    Bourgeois M5A (2022)
    Hohner and Seydel Harmonicas (various keys)

    "Heck, Jimmy Martin don't even believe in Santy Claus!"

  22. #17
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
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    Exclamation Re: Strap Recommendation

    An irrepressible FAQ.. I forgot what I said all those other times..
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    is like dancing,
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  23. #18
    My Florida is scooped pheffernan's Avatar
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    Default Re: Strap Recommendation

    Quote Originally Posted by Bill Kammerzell View Post
    I don't know if they still sell mandolin straps at the Collings Store, but those ar nice and reasonable as well.
    Those Collings models were just a rebranded Long Hollow Softy (a fine strap), were they not?
    1924 Gibson A Snakehead
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  24. #19

    Default Re: Strap Recommendation

    FYI, the Longhollow Big Softy works for an A5, but when you put it on an F5, the wide soft part lands in the middle of your back instead of on your shoulder. As they say in software, it's not a bug, it's a feature.
    2010 Heiden A5, 2020 Pomeroy oval A, 2013 Kentucky KM1000 F5, 2012 Girouard A Mandola w ff holes, 2001 Old Wave A oval octave
    http://HillbillyChamberMusic.bandcamp.com
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  25. #20
    Fatally Flawed Bill Kammerzell's Avatar
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    Default Re: Strap Recommendation

    Quote Originally Posted by pheffernan View Post
    Those Collings models were just a rebranded Long Hollow Softy (a fine strap), were they not?
    I don't know.
    Ray Dearstone #009 D1A (1999)
    Skip Kelley #063 Offset Two Point (2017)
    Arches #9 A Style (2005)
    Bourgeois M5A (2022)
    Hohner and Seydel Harmonicas (various keys)

    "Heck, Jimmy Martin don't even believe in Santy Claus!"

  26. #21
    Fatally Flawed Bill Kammerzell's Avatar
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    Default Re: Strap Recommendation

    Quote Originally Posted by Don Grieser View Post
    FYI, the Longhollow Big Softy works for an A5, but when you put it on an F5, the wide soft part lands in the middle of your back instead of on your shoulder. As they say in software, it's not a bug, it's a feature.
    That has never happened to me. I wear my strap over my shoulder. Exactly the way in which both God and Bill Monroe intended for a mandolin strap to be worn.
    Ray Dearstone #009 D1A (1999)
    Skip Kelley #063 Offset Two Point (2017)
    Arches #9 A Style (2005)
    Bourgeois M5A (2022)
    Hohner and Seydel Harmonicas (various keys)

    "Heck, Jimmy Martin don't even believe in Santy Claus!"

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  28. #22
    Registered User Doug Brock's Avatar
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    Default Re: Strap Recommendation

    I've made a few with boot laces but the thin strap bothered my shoulder even though the mandolin isn't heavy. You can always try it out (just for the price of a set of boot laces).

    You can use almost any guitar strap on a mandolin, using leather strips or shoe strings if needed for one or both strap ends.

    Some folks have braided some nice straps from parachute cord, string, or leather. Lots of guides online.

    My favorite mandolin straps are the Lakota, but they aren't cheap.
    Doug Brock
    2018 Kimble 2 point (#259), Eastman MD315, Eastman MDA315, some guitars, banjos, and fiddles

  29. #23
    Fatally Flawed Bill Kammerzell's Avatar
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    Default Re: Strap Recommendation

    Quote Originally Posted by Don Grieser View Post
    FYI, the Longhollow Big Softy works for an A5, but when you put it on an F5, the wide soft part lands in the middle of your back instead of on your shoulder. As they say in software, it's not a bug, it's a feature.
    I've noticed that when Earl Scruggs was with Bill Monroe he wore his banjo strap the way that Bill wore the mandolin strap. With Lester he also wore it over his right shoulder same as with Bill. But I know later in life, with the Revue he wore it like most guitar players. Over the left shoulder and around the back.
    At Swannanoa last year, Mike Marshall was one of my instructors. Nice guy. Really good teacher. He kept trying to get me to wear the strap what I call "guitar style". Had to do with balancing the mandolin on all its points when seated. Etc. I remarked about God and Bill Monroe intending it to be worn differently.

    Mike then told me he saw an interview with Earl where Earl had said, "We wore the straps that way to keep from taking our cowboy hats off when we put our instruments down." I don't know? Never heard that before. But I do know he never wore a cowboy hat with the Revue and he did wear it differently.
    Ray Dearstone #009 D1A (1999)
    Skip Kelley #063 Offset Two Point (2017)
    Arches #9 A Style (2005)
    Bourgeois M5A (2022)
    Hohner and Seydel Harmonicas (various keys)

    "Heck, Jimmy Martin don't even believe in Santy Claus!"

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  31. #24

    Default Re: Strap Recommendation

    I braided mine out of 550 cord about 20 years ago and it's still going strong.

  32. #25

    Default Re: Strap Recommendation

    Bill, what did Mike Marshall have to say in response to your God and Bill Monroe comment? (Aren't they the same person? )
    2010 Heiden A5, 2020 Pomeroy oval A, 2013 Kentucky KM1000 F5, 2012 Girouard A Mandola w ff holes, 2001 Old Wave A oval octave
    http://HillbillyChamberMusic.bandcamp.com
    Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@hillbillychambermusic

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