Something you will see on vintage Fender basses (and also on reproduction vintage-spec instruments from the Fender Custom Shop if requested) is a strap button on the back of the headstock.<\/p>\n
Was this a factory Fender option? Yes, and it is called the hootenanny button. This actually was a factory Fender option introduced in 1960 for the Precision Bass.<\/p>\n
What is the purpose of the hootenanny button? Balance when standing while playing the instrument in the horizontal position. Some bassists (albeit few) preferred to wear a guitar strap “Nashville” style like the acoustic guitar players did of the time.<\/p>\n
The hootenanny button did not last much beyond the 1960s, as by that time the majority of bass players were very used to playing Fender electric basses horizontally with the front of the strap connected to the button on the top horn.<\/p>\n
This answer depends on certain factors.<\/p>\n
Got back problems?<\/strong> A strap connected via hootenanny button may provide extra comfort.<\/p>\n Got a multi-scale bass that’s really top heavy?<\/strong> Use of the hootenanny button may cure neck dive issues without having to add extra weight to the rear of the instrument.<\/p>\n Got a standard scale bass with “short horns”?<\/strong> A top horn that does not extend to the 12th fret (such as the Gibson SG Bass) will usually result in neck dive issues. Using a hootenanny button would help out quite a bit here.<\/p>\n Yes. You can put a strap on your bass the same way acoustic guitar players do that don’t have a front strap button by use of a tied string under the strings and behind the nut.<\/p>\n“Is there any way get a ‘hootenanny button position’ without drilling a hole in the headstock?”<\/h3>\n