Headless bass handmade strap hook (for Steinberger Spirit, Hohner B2, etc..)

Nicely done! Sometimes its better to just make things yourself. Unfortunately not enough demand for a major supplier, but you'd think a motivated home metalworker or small machine shop could turn a profit making these. I have a Steinberger XP-2, but never felt the need for a strap extension, guess it depends on how you like to hold the bass.

 

Hola Augusto
Great work. I just got a Steinberger Sprit XT25. Do you have a template we can use to create similar hook? Bosch part is on order. Regarding painting - would acrylic paint work well (I have white variant and was thinking of using white acrylic for the hook). Until now the Spirit balances perfectly on my thigh. Would be cool to play standing up.

 

very nice, well thought-out solution! congrats!

 

OK I will see what I can dig up from Google images and experiment with this

 

So the Bosch part arrived in post. Took Augusto's pictures then messed with scales etc to get alignment. Seems to me you drill hole where raised cylinder is on mouth of tool. Then two more 20 mm centre to centre with first starting 10 mm from other end (point) of tool. Will try to post my photo.

Being impatient I made a plywood hack and taped this into place ... Works well. I prefer playing in the sitting position with Steinberger but this cool design of Augusto's works.

Seems to me the hook end needs to line up with protection of straight edge from body. This would then suggest where to drill 2nd fixing hole in the body

 

Here's another solution for those who don't want to use the extended bracket. I removed one of the strap buttons from the end and moved it to the back of the bass. This shifts the bass position enough to make it a lot easier to reach the end of the neck. I 3D printed a rubber foot to replace the strap button that I removed from the end. Without this, the bass won't sit level.

BTW, if you noticed the electronics cover, I'm not Paul Maass. Paul was a good friend who taught me a lot about playing bass. He kept trying to sell me this bass to use when I travel. But I wasn't interested. After he died I bought it from his family for the sentimental value. It was missing the cover, so I made one out of a old mint green pickguard I had, then put his name on it to remind me. Its just the kind of DIY hack that Paul would have liked!

I also replaced the strings with La Bella flats, and this thing has monster thump tone. I'm not kidding. It thumps more than my P Bass with flats!

 

I also 3D printed these simple thumb rests. They work great and are hardly noticeable - they blend right in as if they're part of the pickup. They're printed from a rubber material called TPU. They're not perfect, you can see the lines from the printing in them. But from 2 feet away they look great! I love them. If anyone has one of these basses and wants a set of thumbrests, let me know and I'll print you a set.

 

Nice! JOOC, would the business end (pins) of the wrench fit within the confines of the heel?

Riis

 

The heel is the part where the neck and body join right? In which case it doesn't seem the tooling goes near there.

What I intend to do us use the existing strap pin hole as the mid hole on the strap hook. A new hole then need to be made in body of my Steinberger (wooden Spirit) 20mm away and this is no where near the heel. The new strap pin is connected to the tip of the tool and this seems to sit nice if I line the curved part up with projection of body straight edge. I suspect I can cut the tool with hacksaw (larger one) then a load of filling. Getting the raised cylinder off (mid of each lip of the mouth) might be harder - so perhaps a Dremel (or even a Bosch ) tool will help

 

My public library has a 3D printer and I made a strap hook online with Tinkercad (see link). It cost me $0.25 to print out and took ~35 minutes. You have to drill the holes for the screws once you find your optimal angle. The plastic is 6 mm thick and it works well. So frustrated with Gibson after numerous phone calls to dealers, and others who could not order the Synapse strap hook extension. "Strap Hook 7 | Tinkercad"

 

Well, I just got my Bosch spanner wrench for this mod. I have a lefty XT25 and sitting is awesome with the kickstand but when I'm standing, I use strap-locs and with it being on the back of the bass, it naturally falls away from me and becomes awkward. This mod will allow for better strap positioning and keep the neck angled toward me.

 

I would love a set of thumb rests, [email protected]

 

I've as of late become interested in a travel bass. A lot of companies are now making travel size basses but they're up to $1,200+. I can find a used Steinberger online for under $400. It's a no brainer. The only thing I didn't like was that the neck pulled too far away from the body. There are two very good solutions here and I'm partial to the "adding another strap button" as the other solution is a bit of an undertaking for me. Thanks everyone for joining in the thread! I appreciate all comments!

 

Excellent solution, tried and confirmed that it works very well, without adding brackets, awkward and aesthetically disputable extensions. The best idea to solve the whole question in 3 minutes. Thanks Jpmcbride!

 

Thanks for this info!!

 

I've done this on my B2, but have yet to do it on my XT25. Works great. I just made mine from a scrap if Al I had laying about, but the next one will likely be CF.

 

Think I might try the simple button move. I am very enamored with the tones I get from my Spirit, and having so many frets. Soloing is a breeze. I also like not bumping into stuff while recording and leading my pit band! My Jag may be getting sad, however, since we don't see each other as much any more.

I only wish I could find double-ball tapewound strings somewhere.