Looking for the right strap..

**Ivan Kelsall** · Nov-18-2008, 5:50am

Although i am an advocate of the quality of the straps that John Brown in Miami FL makes, as well as the fact that he's a great guy as well. Randy King has some beautiful two-tone deer hide braided straps on his site,
Saska

**AlanN** · Nov-18-2008, 5:58am

I remember something like a .. Guitar Suit.
zipped up the back, had the electric guitar attached to the front..

Yeah, Rick Derringer wore something like this, a silver thing, back in the Johnny/Edgar Winter days.

**Bill Auld** · Nov-18-2008, 8:08am

The straps by Bill Bailey and those by Randy King are both excellent. You'll find them in the classifieds here periodically.

**Timbofood** · Nov-18-2008, 9:29am

Hartz Mountian dog leash! poke a hole in the one end after you cut the snap off and put the handle around the scroll. Any decent hardware store or pet shop can help. besides it helps with "Bark"! HA!

**Steve Ostrander** · Nov-18-2008, 10:15am

Great idea, Timbo! That beats using my wife's. old braided belts. She's been wondering where they went...

**Laura Leder** · Nov-18-2008, 1:34pm

I have to say that I found the mandolin strap that I've always wanted....Randy King makes them! Just beautiful and functional!

**mandroid** · Nov-18-2008, 2:11pm

OP has said narrow strap causes nerve pinching, & spasims
An Image of Bass Guitar player Phil Lesh, with his big thick
padded sheepskin lined strap
comes to mind, But Those sort of things are made to order by someone
a custom project.
another possibility , there are figure 8 strap sets, that cross behind the back,
so both shoulders can share the load, {the Vest Idea was a carry over from seeing those , wide shoulders of a handmade leather vest with clips on the front, for the strap ends..
but not made off the shelf for mandolins, a creative project, rather than a simple shopping list.

**Timbofood** · Nov-18-2008, 3:24pm

There was the nut job that used a sax strap (with the steel clip) in the hole of his F2, It makes me shiver just thinking about that!

**Ivan Kelsall** · Nov-19-2008, 3:45am

Just a point here.Of the 2 braided & 1 flat straps that John Brown made for me,the flat strap is so comfortable as to be vituallly unoticeable when wearing it & it stays put - no slipping,
Saska

**Rod_Neep** · Dec-27-2008, 8:48am

Well..... just before Christmas I read all of this stuff.... and although I am a very satisfied customer of Sully for his wonderful guitar straps, I decided on one of the Bailey mandolin straps.

It arrived this morning here in England..... and I am so impressed! It doesn't slip on the shoulder with the top heavy F mandolin, and the particularly neat thing that I like is the loop and thick leather washer arrangement for fixing to the end pin. It is simply brilliant compared with the usual hole & slot method. Very secure, and really easy to get on and off.

The whole strap looks really great too! Only one downside...

When it is in use, not enough of the beautiful weave and colours show from the front.

I love it!
Thanks Bill.

Rod

**tburcham** · Dec-27-2008, 9:38am

I use Bailey's on all my mandolins. They are very secure when properly installed. They also feature suede on th backside that grips your clothing to keep it from slipping. I haven't tried the hollow softie, I'm sure they're very good based on the Cafe member's response.

Bailey's are expensive, but like most things in life, you get what you pay for!

**Don Christy** · Dec-27-2008, 9:47am

Steve,

Check out the Webb. It's 1 1/2" and has some light fleece backing and a loop for the scroll. I use them on all my mandolins. WEBB MANDOLIN STRAP
Don

**shadco** · Dec-27-2008, 8:37pm

I wish I had a better picture of this strap, it's a Sully's vintage.

It really works great

**Sean Greer** · Dec-27-2008, 8:56pm

I can't speak highly enough of my El Dorado strap. It's got a nice 1" to 1 1/4" width that is really comfortable, doesn't slip around, and is a real nice looker to boot. You can check them out here [1], nfi.

Sean

[1] http://elderly.com/accessories/items/ELMA.htm

**Sean Greer** · Dec-27-2008, 8:58pm

Originally Posted by tnbluegrasser

It's pricey but I absolutely love my El Dorado Mandolin Strap. It is perfectly wide and extremely well made. Here the link...

http://www.eldoradostraps.com/new-products.htm#banjo

+1

**Alex Orr** · Dec-27-2008, 11:58pm

I just use a basic guitar strap. Best thing I've found. However, I play an A, so I'm not sure if it would be as comfortable with an F.

**Kerry Krishna** · Dec-28-2008, 9:10am

I have been making my own straps for years. I go to anyone of the 4 or 5 thriftstores here in town and buy (for mando anyway) womens belts. The longer the better.Takes about a half hour and a few tools and the job is done. No one has yet mentioned sheepskin straps. I bought a lifetime supply of whole lambskin a few years ago at IKEA. I contact cement the skin to the leather and sew them at the ends. Recycling is a good thing....KK...