Mandolin strap

[rbsumner]

Hi... New to the board here and to the Mandolin. Love it but having trouble finding a strap I like. I use it over one shoulder. Sure would like to here some recomendations!
Thanks!

[fatt-dad]

I make a nice one out of three rawhide shoelaces braided together. It'll cost you about $5.00 and if you mess up or what to refine the ends, etc. it just takes some rework. No problems!

f-d

[theBlood]

I bought an El Dorado strap recently and am very pleased with it. No frills, just very nice quality leather with no metal parts. Not cheap but none of the ones using really good leather are, I've found.

I used to be Mr. Make-Do and used old belts and shoe laces. But when I paid over $2g on an instrument, though, it didn't seem appropriate. The other realization was that a good strap will stay with you a lifetime, through many instruments possibly. Another reason to get a good one...

JY

[theBlood]

Here's the El Dorado mandolin strap...

[rbsumner]

Hey, thanks for the input, I will check out the recomendations!

[Stephen Perry]

Jeremy Spurgeon braided. Long Hollow Leather softie.

[Alex Fields]

Neotech if you're looking for one that isn't leather (as I was)...also cheaper than most of the leather ones.

[Ivan Kelsall]

Check out jbguitarstraps.com - John Brown makes great straps,both flat & braided.
If you can´t see what you want,contact John & he´ll make it for you if he can,
Saska

[Alex Fields]

Check out jbguitarstraps.com - John Brown makes great straps,both flat & braided.
If you can´t see what you want,contact John & he´ll make it for you if he can,
Saska

Is he the one who had that dream I keep hearing about?

[Tim2723]

I like NeoTech.

[powercat]

I've got a Long Hollow braided Softy that I got of the Mandolin Cafe Classifieds (as shown in the link). #I really like the looks of it and it is made out of a very soft leather. #It was a little long for my tastes and the strap button holes were too far down, but I used my wife's scrapbooking punch to put one right where I wanted it. #NFI.

John

[drob111]

Randy Hogan makes a very nice strap

[herbsandspices]

The Bailey Strap for me.

[Ivan Kelsall]

Here's a pic.of the flat strap that John Brown made for me.It's wider than most straps,but that makes for extra comfort & it certainly stays where you put it,
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #Saska

[Mike Bunting]

Sully's Straps
Encore une fois.

[TigerMal]

Ditto - Sully's straps are awesome. I have two. Here's one:

[TigerMal]

And here's the other (for my Absaroka):

[mritter]

I'll 'second' the vote for the El Dorado strap. Simple, nice leather, slightly firm. A bit expensive but........

[Sean Greer]

I'll 'second' the vote for the El Dorado strap. Simple, nice leather, slightly firm. A bit expensive but........

I'll 'third' the El Dorado strap. I like it's width at the shoulder and it's narrow softness at the scroll.

I did find that with my Weber's endpin I had to make a 'lock ring' out of a pick to ensure that the strap would not come off. The Weber endpin is smaller than the traditional and therefore the strap was not secure enough. I took a 1mm pick, trimmed it to a circle, drilled a small hole in it and then cut a slit to the center. I really locks that strap on and I didn't feel the need to use a fishing line lanyard for backup.

[Dave Dearnley]

I've got one made by Lauren Dudenbostel. A very nice strap. The best part is the looks I get when I toss down the Calton and say, "yeah, I've got a Dudenbostel in there."

[Capt. E]

To some extent the strap you choose depends on the type of mandolin: an F might need something different than an A.

I have also braided a strap with three lengths of leather lacing each about 40 inches long. Works nice and the only thing cheaper is a boot lace. I've seen straps made of all kinds of cordage and lacing. Once I saw a Lyon and Healy with a strap made from upholstery piping.

[rbsumner]

to continue the thread about the El Dorado strap, I had the same issue about the end pin hole being to large for my Eastman 815, To be fair, after contacting him over this mater he supplied a replacement bottom portion at no charge but the hole is still somewhat large! Do not know just why he is afraid to make a smaller hole? That idea of the modified pick as a lock ring sounds pretty good and I will try that, great strap other than the endpin hole!

[mandroid]

Hole needs be larger if there is a jack-endpin,3/8"ish

rather than the fiddle tapered endpin.

Perhaps? punch a smaller one ..