(I am not sure if this topic belongs on this forum, if not feel free to move it moderator(s))
Context: I have an old Matsumoku Vantage I've been playing for a while and anyone who's played these basses know that they are neither ergonomic nor balance well in any way. The bass has the same isses as the long scale Gibson EB basses in that the core ergonomic problems are that they are very neck heavy and that the reach towards the first position is uncomfortably long.
(how it hangs normally)
(how it hangs in my regular playing position with the combined effort of my forearm and my left hand holding the neck up)
After trying many different positions for relocation with tons of painter's/two sided tape I was thinking of moving the top strap button from the upper horn BESIDE the neck heel where the bottom horn is below, similar to an acoustic guitar's neck button location. For the record, I did try to unscrew the top left neck screw to see if I could just hook my strap there and it did work fine enough but I'm considering the added security of a proper strap button since the neck plate screws tend to not be the most reliable.
In order for it to have an effect to hang the way wanted I noticed that if I also relocate the bridge strap button 3 inches to the left (or 3 inches up if the bass is hanging), it seems to help bring the nut closer to me and hang the bass at a a better angle that doesn't involve me having to hold up the neck all the time. What I found out is that relocating only one strap button doesn't work but when I move both I get better results.
(both strap buttons in new position)
This is how the bass would hang after relocation (the strap isn't supposed to be wanting to escape my shoulder I just put it on sloppily for a quick photo):
(I had a hard time securing the two strap buttons with tape due to the top strap wanting to pull itself out of the spot I was trying to secure it to but I was successfull one or two times)
My question is, would there anything I might be missing or should watch out for I went ahead and did this? Or are there reasons that I shouldn't do this and consider alternatives?
The only problems I considered so far are trying to measure the exact spot to drill the top strap button at an angle where the screw does not drill through the neck itself nor hit the top left neck screw and that I'd have to hang my bass lower than what I'm used to in terms of my right hand (left would just be playing at a steeper angle)
Context: I have an old Matsumoku Vantage I've been playing for a while and anyone who's played these basses know that they are neither ergonomic nor balance well in any way. The bass has the same isses as the long scale Gibson EB basses in that the core ergonomic problems are that they are very neck heavy and that the reach towards the first position is uncomfortably long.
(how it hangs normally)
(how it hangs in my regular playing position with the combined effort of my forearm and my left hand holding the neck up)
After trying many different positions for relocation with tons of painter's/two sided tape I was thinking of moving the top strap button from the upper horn BESIDE the neck heel where the bottom horn is below, similar to an acoustic guitar's neck button location. For the record, I did try to unscrew the top left neck screw to see if I could just hook my strap there and it did work fine enough but I'm considering the added security of a proper strap button since the neck plate screws tend to not be the most reliable.
In order for it to have an effect to hang the way wanted I noticed that if I also relocate the bridge strap button 3 inches to the left (or 3 inches up if the bass is hanging), it seems to help bring the nut closer to me and hang the bass at a a better angle that doesn't involve me having to hold up the neck all the time. What I found out is that relocating only one strap button doesn't work but when I move both I get better results.
(both strap buttons in new position)
This is how the bass would hang after relocation (the strap isn't supposed to be wanting to escape my shoulder I just put it on sloppily for a quick photo):
(I had a hard time securing the two strap buttons with tape due to the top strap wanting to pull itself out of the spot I was trying to secure it to but I was successfull one or two times)
My question is, would there anything I might be missing or should watch out for I went ahead and did this? Or are there reasons that I shouldn't do this and consider alternatives?
The only problems I considered so far are trying to measure the exact spot to drill the top strap button at an angle where the screw does not drill through the neck itself nor hit the top left neck screw and that I'd have to hang my bass lower than what I'm used to in terms of my right hand (left would just be playing at a steeper angle)
) so I can’t guarantee anything if you’re pretty “physical” on stage but you’d probably be fine.
rock-on! 
