I used to occasionally play a friend's H?fner-clone violin bass, which had lost the front strap button; he did, indeed, tie the strap at the nut, accoustic-style. You'd start out with the neck at about 2:30, and within a few bars it would be at midnight and you'd be playing upright - what a pain. And given it's hollow body, it probably was at least as neck-heavy as any Alembic. Not a recommended option.
Peter
(Message edited by Cozmik_Cowboy on April 21, 2007)