Using curtain cord for a strap?

Cornfield

Cornfield

UU VIP
UU VIP
Joined
Oct 24, 2011
Messages
1,968
Reaction score
233
Location
Aurora, IL US
Sometimes I like to use a strap but I have not been happy with available products. A lot of the straps just seem too big. I've been searching for some decorative rope and a way to attach it.
I was at a Hobby Lobby store and bought a spool of curtain cord. It's a thin decorative rope. I used about 70 inches per instrument.
I tied a hitch knot and looped it around the end pin of a ukulele. I ran the cord under the C and E strings at the headstock and tied a simple knot there.
The real break through was re-discovering the hitch knot. This makes an inexpensive, attractive way to hold up the uke.

Has anyone else tried this?
 
At the headstock I just tied a square knot, nothing pretty. I was a Boy Scout a long time ago but didn't remember any of these knots.
I found a free Android app (Knots Guide) that shows lots of knots, how to tie them and what they were traditionally used for.
 
Someone posted a thread about Willie Nelson's guitar, and I got to looking at some pictures of Willie with his guitar, and I think that he has an old twisted nylon fishing stringer attached to the clip that goes in the sound hole. It looks like that to me.
 
Last edited:
I've been using decorative cord for instrument straps for well over a year now. I've mentioned it in several other postings ... not that that's of any consequence!

I started by whipping a loop to fit snugly on the end-pin and using a length of bootlace at the machine head end, then I moved on to passing the cord itself under the strings between the machine heads. On some installations I use a piece of tubing for minor adjustment, as in : pass cord through tubing, around machine head, then back through tube. Dimensions of tube will depend on dimensions of cord, obviously. The tubular top off a ballpoint pen with the end cut off works for me ... else a small buckle from a handbag strap or similar (I found one lying on the ground in a car-park)! The very end of the cord has also been whipped to prevent fraying and make it easier to thread under the strings and through the tube/buckle.

The super-de-luxe ultimate custom-fit version has a spliced loop at both ends, a small loop for the end pin (obviously ... a bit of extra whipping was needed here to tighten the loop) and a larger loop under the strings around the machine head. All looks very smooth, but actually having no adjustment means it's only really perfect if I'm wearing just a shirt!

I've got these arrangements, in one form or another, on five ukuleles of various sizes and a short-scale nylon-strung guitar and it's fine on all of them. I've used more conventional straps on my other guitars, mandolin/mandola and banjo either for comfort with the weight of the heavier instruments or just because I already had the straps to be used. I'd have no reservation recommending/using the decorative cord on any lightweight instrument :)

YMMV but enjoy the journey ;)
 
I would love to see photos of how you have the chord tied on. I use nylon twine for knotted prayer beads and I bet it would work great for the same purpose. I used to order my twine from FNT Industries - but they are out of business now. I did find this, however. http://divinetwine.blogspot.com
 
kypfer said:
I've been using decorative cord for instrument straps for well over a year now. I've mentioned it in several other postings ... not that that's of any consequence!

I started by whipping a loop to fit snugly on the end-pin and using a length of bootlace at the machine head end, then I moved on to passing the cord itself under the strings between the machine heads. On some installations I use a piece of tubing for minor adjustment, as in : pass cord through tubing, around machine head, then back through tube. Dimensions of tube will depend on dimensions of cord, obviously. The tubular top off a ballpoint pen with the end cut off works for me ... else a small buckle from a handbag strap or similar (I found one lying on the ground in a car-park)! The very end of the cord has also been whipped to prevent fraying and make it easier to thread under the strings and through the tube/buckle.

The super-de-luxe ultimate custom-fit version has a spliced loop at both ends, a small loop for the end pin (obviously ... a bit of extra whipping was needed here to tighten the loop) and a larger loop under the strings around the machine head. All looks very smooth, but actually having no adjustment means it's only really perfect if I'm wearing just a shirt!

I've got these arrangements, in one form or another, on five ukuleles of various sizes and a short-scale nylon-strung guitar and it's fine on all of them. I've used more conventional straps on my other guitars, mandolin/mandola and banjo either for comfort with the weight of the heavier instruments or just because I already had the straps to be used. I'd have no reservation recommending/using the decorative cord on any lightweight instrument :)

YMMV but enjoy the journey ;)
Click to expand...

If you have any photos, please share them. I have some nylon cord here and I'm in the mood to try something! I have a uke leash right now.
 
sounds painful to me, but congrat's on rediscovering the hitch knot, hopefully you'll find more uses for it in the near future!
 
Doesn't Ukeval on UU use something like that?

I sure would like to see a photo of what you're describing, John. Maybe you'll do a Seasons video with it.

Danielle uses it on her uke, I think. I'm not crazy about her knot, though.
http://youtu.be/AuFD4IKz6bk
 
Last edited:
Ukejenny wrote :
I would love to see photos of how you have the chord tied on.
Click to expand...
If you have any photos, please share them.
Click to expand...

Strap.jpg

Hope this helps. The top two images show the "basic" version. On the left the end of the cord whipped and threaded through a piece of appropriately sized tubing, in this case a cut-down pen top. On the right, the end of the cord whipped, looped and whipped again to fit the strap-button on the ukulele (10mm).

The lower two images show a slightly "flashier", though not necessarily superior, system, with spliced loops at each end ... in hindsight, non-adjustable so a bit tight if I'm wearing a fleece :(

Both arrangements are "pre-production prototypes" or "proof of concept" so could doubtless be made neater and tidier should one so wish.

The "cord under the strings" arrangement may be a bit tight on some instruments, so you might prefer to slacken the strings to thread it and re-tune when finished. Alternatively, attach a length of boot-lace or similar and thread that for your tie-off. On another thread, one poster recommended attaching a loop of boot-lace to the end of the cord, passing the loop under the strings and simply hooking the loop onto one of the machine heads to retain it. I've not got around to trying this yet, but it sounds like a simple idea which would save having to actually tie off at the machine heads ;)
 
Some Ideas:
If you are using chord that has any plastic in it you can prevent fraying by applying a cigarette lighter to the end of the chord.

For other chord material: Put a dab of glue at the frayable end. Loop the chord back on itself to create an eyelet of whatever size is appropriate. wrap tape around the glued end and the chord. In sailors parlence this is called the bitter end. They used tar rather than glue. I would use cloth backed electricians tape.

Alternate arrangement: Use a length of chord twice+ as long as you need. Make a loop and knot the two ends together. a square knot will do. Slip the loop end under the strings on the headstock leaving the knotted end above the headstock. Bring the loop end behind the headstock and insert the knotted end through the loop and pull tight. You now have a perfectly usable Ukulele strap. I need one of these and now I have one. I made it as I typed.
 
Last edited:
coolkayaker1 wrote:
I can't justify headstock burns when I resell ukes
Click to expand...
I fully understand your reservations. The cord I'm using seems to be soft enough not to cause an issue, there's certainly no sign on the headstock of my Kala (or any other instrument) that a cord has been tied there, (the Kala gets played most days), but a more delicate surface may not be so resilient.

I've deliberately not used any sort of tape or glue which might create a "hard-spot" or stickyness adjacent to the woodwork, hence the whippings. The whipping thread would have had a wipe of beeswax just to give it a bit of "bite" for the initial few turns. Applying a flame to a scrap end of cord resulted in an impressive flare-up and a rather unsightly black blob once the flame was quenched ... serviceable, but not very pretty :(

... as always, YMMV :)
 
Last edited:
Does the beeswax really add to the friction when fabricating your whippings. Fiddle rosin would work for this application as well.

If you don't like the unsightly blob when fusing the ends of plastic chords don't touch the flame to the material. A quick touch with a soldering iron or a hot stove/frying pan will also work but may lead to spousal abuse.

Those who are concerned with scarring the headstock should consider using I-Cord; particularly the kind with a soft velour finish.
 
Does the beeswax really add to the friction when fabricating your whippings.
Click to expand...
Yes, and it's cheap and readily available at the local hardware store. I am talking beeswax in it's pure form, just a stick of relatively hard wax that'll soften slightly in your fingers. Dragging the whipping thread "briskly" across the wax generates enough friction to melt the wax enough to impregnate the thread ... a trick I learnt when tying flies for fishing ;) Just hold the thread firmly against the block of wax with a thumb then pull the wax along the thread ... or pull thread across the wax ;) Do just as much as you need at a time, trying to wax long lengths of thread all in one go can end up with annoying tangles if the thread stretches!
 
vanflynn said:
Ooh, I have the perfect gown for that

View attachment 71754
Click to expand...
I remember that joke... it was perfect... I never laughed so hard.

For those DIY people, I have a part that might be handy (a leather keyhole button connector) http://shop.ukeleash.com/Button-Adapter-for-Guitar-Style-Strap-BA-GGS.htm
I also make protective sleeves that might help in some circumstances. http://shop.ukeleash.com/Protective-UltraSuede-Sleeve-US.htm If you are in the USA, I can offer free shipping on these flat, lightweight items. Just PM me for details.


–Lori
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

AndrewHardel
The 12 Bar Blues Using Only Single Notes!
Replies
1
Views
90
Wiggy
Wiggy
P
Which Mics are they using on Hawaii music supply?
Replies
3
Views
207
KohanMike
KohanMike
J
using iPad for "song sheets"
Replies
15
Views
396
Altrove
Altrove
P
Voicing using REW (room eq wizard)
Replies
0
Views
101
PNWuke🌲
P
TBB
Question About Raising the Saddle Using Shims
Replies
14
Views
542
oldjazznut
oldjazznut
Top Bottom