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Subject: circle strap
Date: Mon, 21 Oct 2002 22:32:23 -0700

Hi!
I purchase a circle strap from your website. I received it but cannot manage to get it on my banjo. I have a Gold Tone Cripple Creek with a resonator, and where the straps are supposed to weave through (according to your instructions), the space is so small that I can't get the strap through. I yanked it through one tension hook, but it is stuck there and not loose at all. I had to pull it through with pliers! I can't imagine getting it under the rest of the tension hooks. Should I try a different strap?
Thanks,
Michele Abroff


Greetings Michele,

I've heard of this happening on a certain few banjos...however, it does fit and should still work well (far better than a clip-on strap with much more security)...and, you'll only have to install it once...for, once it's installed, it will work well...

An even easier way to install your strap would be to loosen the tension hooks you're installing under...after you have the strap properly woven through, then tighten up your tension hooks for a completed installation.

Be sure to check out our video and slide show on installing the Circle Strap:
http://www.folkofthewood.com/page1688.htm

And, be sure to get back with us if you have any future problems...

Mickey

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Date: Mon, 2 Sep 2002 16:24:01 -0400

I was looking at your mandolin straps and was wonderin if they could be used for a banjo?
Thank you for the great website.
Very informative.

Greetings,

It depends on which mando strap you're referring to...most mando straps are too short...however, the Stinger "T" strap is extra long and should work...keep in mind, due to the narrowness of most mando straps, they're not as functional as a standard banjo strap...banjos are notoriously heavy which can weigh in well on your shoulder with a thin strap.

Hope this helps, Mickey

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Date: Tue, 23 Jul 2002 09:39:12 -0400
Subject: Thank you

Dear Mickey,
Just a quick note to say thank you to you and Susie for the wonderful
Quartz KF and Deering Boston. The Quartz KF has a sound like nothing
I've ever heard. I can't seem to put it down at night and your on-line
videos inspire me to keep playing.....truly a beautiful sounding
instrument....makes me want to trade my Martin D-28 for ANY acoustic
instrument made by Breedlove! The Deering Boston sounds nice also....a
nice trade-up from Goodtime 2.

Can you tell me if there's a trick to "weaving" your FOTW circle strap
on my Boston. The tension hooks do not allow any room so I've removed
the resonator and "weaved" between the tension hooks inside the
resonator. Would this be correct? Thank you again for all your help (as
well as your Banjo video and circle strap) and look forward to receiving
your Mandolin video recently ordered. Michael Tagariello


Greetings Michael.

Thanks for the kind words...

My main mandolin is also a Breedlove...which I also am intrigued with...what a great instrument!

The Boston does have a narrower space under the tension hooks than the average banjo to accommodate the Circle Strap...sounds like you figured out a workaround. The only other way it can be accomplished is to shave the edge of the tongues...

Let me know if you attempt to do this in the future...and how it works out...if you make any mistakes, we'll send you a replacement strap free of charge.

Mickey

Subject: FOTW Circle strap
Date: Fri, 12 Apr 2002 11:47:42 -0400

It appears this strap is supposed to go underneath the bottom of the pot
behind the tension hooks. That means it had to rub across the bottom of
the neck on the instrument.
How do you keep it from rubbing the finish off the neck mount and
resonator?
Mike

Greetings Mike,

We're setting up a slide show on our website which will show the installation procedure... (As of 6/01/02 the FOTW Slide Show is now up...along with a 5-Minute Online Video demonstrating how to install the Circle Strap)

It can rub on the heel of the neck if you're not careful. Which, yes, over time can wear down the finish. Some of our customers will tape off the area that the strap rubs on to ensure that there's no wear.

If you're extra careful, you can place the strap flat against the resonator so that it bypasses the heel of the neck and only minimally rubs against the resonator.

I've seen every banjo strap on the market...and, the Circle Strap is the least intrusive of all...if you try tying a strap on the tension hook, or even using a strap that latches on the tension hooks, all the weight falls on the tension. If you tie the strap at the peghead, the strap will get in the way of your fretting hand and still be rubbing against finish to some degree...no other strap seems to support the banjo as well, with added security, than the Circle Strap.

If you come up with any other ideas on protecting finish on the heel, please share them with us...

Let me know if you have further questions...

Mickey

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Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 00:24:42 -0600
Subject: Circle Strap Questions

Banjo straps
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I have a "circle" strap for my banjo. This holds the instrument very securely, but I have never been able to figure out the best way to "route" it around the banjo. When the strap is in use, the left part rubs on the neck, and the right part rubs on the resonator. Over time, this contact will certainly damage the finish.

Any thoughts on a good way to attach this strap without these "rub points"?
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In answer to your questions regarding the "FOTW Circle" strap:
I've tried most every banjo strap in existence...and, found the circle strap to be the most functional...by balancing the banjo at just the right angle and adding a secure support system for the heaviest of banjos...

Your concerns are valid...I used a strap similar to the "Circle" strap , (called the "Cradle" made by Silver Eagle who's long been out of business) for 12 years 6 nights a week in one restaurant. In fact, this is the same strap that I, and the Main Strap, based the "Circle" design on with some improved modifications...interesting point of departure here is a recent discussion I had with Bill Keith (famous for introducing melodic/Keith style banjo)...he told me that Silver Eagle asked him about what he thought would work best for an efficient banjo strap. Bill said, "Why don't you try weaving the strap under the tension hooks so that the strap "cradles" the banjo." And, that's what they did...even using Bill's coined term: "cradle" strap...needless to say, Bill was never given credit for this great contribution. The under the hook weave is most definitely Bill's invention, and I'm giving him credit wherever I can. Now, the "Circle" strap also uses the under the hook weave process but goes further by added appointments to ensure proper fit and comfort. Bill Keith is still a great innovator to this day...we sell his Keith tuners (D-Tuners)...and, even though there's been many an imitator, no one has improved his D-Tuner design.

Back to your question:
On the heel of the banjo I was playing 6-nights-a-week, a Gibson RB-800, there is a slight wear of the finish...now, the other side where the strap weaves under the tailpiece, there's no problem with it touching the finish on the resonator...the way around eliminating any risk of heel finish wear would be to weave the strap above the heel on the top of the rim...this eliminates any movement of the strap near the heel...you can weave the strap up over the heel cap so that it remains stationary...

Watch for updates on our site; we're about to load an instructional demo on how to install the "Circle" strap...and we'll include further tips and tricks on using the "FOTW Circle" strap.

Mickey