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Thread: recommend strap for F style?

  1. #1
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    Default recommend strap for F style?

    I was looking through amazon, just to get an idea of what was out there. Didn't seem promising. Levy's and Walker & Williams straps looked good, but the comments were all about "too stiff", "not long enough", and/or "too thick to fit under the scroll".

    So, any suggestions? Most of the individual makers I used to know of seem to be out of business (it's been a while since I was looking).

  2. #2

    Default Re: recommend strap for F style?

    I like the Lakota straps. I left one on my Eastman and the Levy’s strap on the mando I swapped for is very stiff compared to those and a little shorter. But the Lakota is a step up in price. Still, on my short list to replace.

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  4. #3
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
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    Question Re: recommend strap for F style?

    Hundreds have asked, there is a post archive... [bottom of the page]
    writing about music
    is like dancing,
    about architecture

  5. #4

    Default Re: recommend strap for F style?

    Long Hollow Softy.
    Light, comfortable, won't slip.

  6. #5
    Registered User doc holiday's Avatar
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    Default Re: recommend strap for F style?

    Braided kangaroo straps, i believe are still available at Carter Vintage Guitars. Almost identical to the old "Roo Straps." (much thinner than any braided cowhide strap). They're made by Jo Brooks in Australia. Ms Brooks has a company page on Facebook. Her company is "Little Satchel." You can always send her a message. Jo makes great leather products.
    https://www.facebook.com/alittlesatchel
    Last edited by doc holiday; Jan-03-2023 at 4:24pm.

  7. #6

    Default Re: recommend strap for F style?

    Quote Originally Posted by keith.rogers View Post
    I like the Lakota straps. I left one on my Eastman ....
    What Keith says ^^^.

  8. #7
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: recommend strap for F style?

    The Mandolin Store offers a variety of straps...

    https://themandolinstore.com/product...ndolin-straps/
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

  9. #8
    Registered User Kirk Higgins's Avatar
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    Default Re: recommend strap for F style?

    I have had many straps for my F style mandolins but my favorite is the Harrison strap.

    The only place I have been able to find them is with Northfield Mandolins. While my mandolin is not a Northfield, it was worth it to get one of the Harrison straps.
    Kirk

    2007 Kimble F5
    1985 Kentucky KM 650

  10. #9
    Quietly Making Noise Dave Greenspoon's Avatar
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    Default Re: recommend strap for F style?

    Longhollow Softy.
    Axes: Eastman MD-515 & El Rey; Eastwood S Mandola
    Amps: Fishman Loudbox 100; Rivera Clubster Royale Recording Head & R212 cab; Laney Cub 10

  11. #10
    not a donut Kevin Winn's Avatar
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    Default Re: recommend strap for F style?

    Sully's Straps
    Little Satchel (available at Carters)
    "Keep your hat on, we may end up miles from here..." - Kurt Vonnegut

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  13. #11
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    Default Re: recommend strap for F style?

    Thanks everybody!
    Some of these seem hard to find, maybe the indidual crafters sold out over Christmas.
    Anybody have the Henry Heller strap? Looks nice.

    https://www.henryhellermusic.com/pro...HMANB/HMAN-BTN

  14. #12
    Registered User geechee's Avatar
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    Default Re: recommend strap for F style?

    I like the kangaroo braided straps (Hines via Carmel Music or Little Satchel from Carter's). Another maker highly recommend is Pinegrove Leather in England. These may be costlier than others. Good luck!

  15. #13
    Registered User meow-n-dolin's Avatar
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    Default Re: recommend strap for F style?

    I have had lots of straps through the years -- and my favorite straps have been braided leather. ON THE OTHER HAND, I made a mock-up of a "Dawg-leash" a while back and, after not liking it much the first few times I used it, am now totally addicted. It's very comfortable, and the end of the strap cannot come loose from the tail-pin because it isn't attached to it. They are expensive beyond all belief if you want to purchase one, but then, I spend right about $8 ea on my favorite flatpicks, so no big deal.
    Eastman 915 B Mando
    Eastman MD-314 Mando
    Eastman MD-524 Mando
    Godin A-8 Mando
    Eastman MDO305 OM
    Eastman ER1 Mando
    TC Bouzouki TM375 Zook
    Eastman MDC-804 'Cello
    Eastman E60M
    Epiphone "Hummingbird"

  16. #14

    Default Re: recommend strap for F style?

    My company, El Dorado Guitar Accessories, makes several varieties of mandolin straps, all with a thin "snake biting its tail" front loop that works on almost all F-style scrolls & for headstocks or under raised fingerboards of A-style mandos. Our mandolin straps feature a unique multi-adjustment length design.

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

    We also offer a special "Kachina" model mandolin strap with Native American design hitched-style web inlay. Happy to answer any questions.

    Bill Silverman

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    Click image for larger version. 

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  18. #15
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    Default Re: recommend strap for F style?

    I have four El Dorado guitar straps, and they are superb quality. Will definitely keep their mandolin straps in mind.

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  20. #16

    Default Re: recommend strap for F style?

    i converted one of my wife's old belts into strap and it has done the job for about a decade now

  21. #17
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
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    Question Re: recommend strap for F style?

    Anyhow, I got someone with a simple belt loom weave one for me the loop on one end the hole woven in the other end
    has a nice pattern, done in cotton ...
    writing about music
    is like dancing,
    about architecture

  22. #18
    Registered User J Mangio's Avatar
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    Default Re: recommend strap for F style?

    I use a rawhide boot lace with a noose on each end, and carry some dental floss in my travel parts bag...just in case.
    2021 The Loar LM700 VS

  23. #19
    Registered User John Soper's Avatar
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    Default Re: recommend strap for F style?

    I buy a pack of two 48" rawhide bootlaces and do a three-strand braid for my mandolin straps. One of the shoelaces is doubled up at about a bit less than 1/4 of the length of the center lace, which provides the excess on either end to attach to the mandolin You have a bit more grip on your shoulder with the braid. You can do a hangman's noose or a bowlin knot for the scroll (or under the fingerboard extension for an A model). I try to get the approximate length & then take a half hitch around the end button, but pass excess under the tailpiece and tie it back onto the strap. This makes sure that you won't have an end piece catastrophe and drop your mandolin on the floor if the end piece isn't glued in. Also handy so that you can flip the mandolin and carry it around the campsite at festivals (not). I'll try to find a photo of my technique.
    Last edited by John Soper; Jan-07-2023 at 12:11pm. Reason: correct autocorrect

  24. #20
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    Default Re: recommend strap for F style?

    I have done plain & simple in my time - leather thong (more comfortable than a lace) from Tandy, tie a running bowline for the scroll end, thread the thong through & you get a custom fit there, hangman's noose at the endpin end (easy to tighten for security and to loosen when removing).

  25. #21
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
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    Question Re: recommend strap for F style?

    I got a Neotech strap for my Mix A5, but they come with alternate ends that snap on...

    ... one is a scroll loop, the other 2 are buttonhole tabs for strap buttons .. https://www.neotechstraps.com

    writing about music
    is like dancing,
    about architecture

  26. #22
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    Default Re: recommend strap for F style?

    Quote Originally Posted by mandroid View Post
    I got a Neotech strap for my Mix A5, but they come with alternate ends that snap on...

    ... one is a scroll loop, the other 2 are buttonhole tabs for strap buttons .. https://www.neotechstraps.com

    I also got a Neotech! Not the prettiest but surely the most comfortable strap for my F-style Mandolin.

  27. #23

    Default Re: recommend strap for F style?

    these are well made, very nice and really striking -

    https://www.thebaileystrap.com/

  28. #24
    Registered User John Soper's Avatar
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    Default Re: recommend strap for F style?

    Click image for larger version. 

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    This is how I secure my straps to the endpin so that there is no problem with end pin pop out syndrome.

  29. #25

    Default Re: recommend strap for F style?

    I have the Walker Williams m-10. Nice strap. Maybe a little stiff at first, like a belt, but not bad. You can roll and work the leather a bit to soften it up or take it out and whack a tree or the deck railing to speed up breaking it in. I removed the Chicago screws and tied together using a short piece of leather boot lace to eliminate any possibility of them coming loose or scratching the instrument. More worried about the coming loose part, which a dab of threadlock would solve too.

    The Long Hollow Softy still gets recommendations, but I don't think they've been available going back at least a year, when I was looking for a strap.

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