Straps and Steinbergers (and other small-bodied headless basses)

[kesslari]

I have a Hofner headless, looks rather Steinie-like but is not.
It has a strap button where the neck meets the oh-so-small body, and one at the end of the body.
This is not really useful as far as playing position, and puts the lowest frets way, way out from my body.

I vaguely recall that Steinberger solved this with a boomerang-shaped contraption.
Are they available? Or are there any other aftermarket solutions before I try to jerry-rig something myself?

 

[Gilmourisgod]

The original Steinberger boomerangs are rare and expensive, they occasionally pop up on Ed Romans site:
Steinberger Parts

Here's another site with some links and parts
STEINBERGER - HeadlessUSA Guitar & Bass - Welcome to the official HeadlessUSA website!

 

[Tim de Martino]

Have a look at the Synapse bass. That is probably the easiest solution.

I had the same bass. My solution was a steel bar threaded on one end to take a nylock nut to keep the strap secure. It was sunk into the back of the bass in a diagonal channel routed with a half circle bit. It came out to about the fourteenth fret from memory. Worked really well.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Here's a link to a video by a guy who made his own, a little crude, but it works. Scrounge around online, I've seen other people make nicer ones. The original boomerang is just a piece of thick plastic, I suppose you could make one easily enough.
STEINBERGER HEADLESS BASS STRAP POSITION MOD

Check out this incredible build by @MPU for the 2017 winter build-off. He made his own carbon graphite bass, complete with boomerang. He might be willing to give you dimensions for one, or build one for you for a fee, though he seems like a pretty busy guy!
Winter 2017 build off- carbon headless bass

 

[MPU]

I have a mold for original Steinberger pivot plate so copies of the original plate are available in glass or carbon fiber.

 

[kesslari]

Thanks all! Good stuff here.