"a" style strap button placement

[Terry W. Harvey]

Have an A style mando and want to use a strap button instead of looping strap around headstock. I've put them on guitars, is there any problem screwing them into the heel piece? it would seem the logical place, just checking to make sure i'm doing it right.

Thanks,
Terry

[Bruce Clausen]

Two schools of thought here. #One says never make a hole in a mandolin because they're all collectors' items. #Other says make it work for you the player. #I have put buttons into the back of the body near the heel (not the actual heel, which to me means the little plane of neck wood that joins to the back). #There's a block inside, so make sure you're screwing into the block. #Also make sure the neck angle is such that the mandolin can lie flat without the button hitting the surface you've set it on. #Some screw into the neck itself, but if you play up in the high positions the button will get in your way. Hope this helps.

BC

[mandolirius]

<Two schools of thought here. One says never make a hole in a mandolin because they're all collectors' items. Other says make it work for you the player.>

Of course, the first school of thought is completely incorrect, imho.

[MikeEdgerton]

Here are several threads that discuss this. I personally loop a piece of leather around the body under the elevated fretboard, provided you have one. Some folks don't like that either. If I didn't do that I'd go for a strap button. I personally don't care to have the strap attached to the headstock. Others seem to like it. As for the strap button itself, I prefer these nickel plated ones from All Parts. They are a bit smaller. I usually replace the screws with something a bit shorter. I use stainless or chrome plated screws. There are a few hardware stores near me that sell oval head slotted chrome screws that are perfect for this.

[Paul Hostetter]

I think, if you just have to punch a hole in a mandolin, that doing it like these is best:





The strap button about halfway between the heel and the board, and a generous pilothole is drilled before the screw is run in, of course. The mandolin hangs in a way that engages the strap so it can't slip off. Your left hand is never hindered.

If you use the metal button Mike showed above, consider using a felt or leather washer between the button and the wood.

There are some really nice strap buttons on the market (Stew-Mac, Elderly) made of sweeter materials like ivoroid and so on.

[Ivan Kelsall]

When i got my #'A' style Beartooth,i tried various strap button positions by using a couple of pieces of double sided tape to emulate the button. I found that the only place (for me) was in the body at the heel position.Anywhere else & i found that the Mandolin rotated forward and/or the strap was in the way of my left hand at higher positions. I fitted the strap button as in the pic..
The Mandolin hangs 'straight down' - no forward rotation & no interference with my left hand. I placed a leather washer (home made),between the button & the back of the Mandolin,
# # # # Saska

[Terry W. Harvey]

Thanks Guys,

All really helpful info and photos as well, i can safely proceed.

[mandroid]

The manner in which you arch the palm of your hand,
to reach the fingerboard on top of the body,
is such that the side of the heel of the neck mounting location,
for a strap button, really is not in the way.