Neck Dive Cure????

[OnThaCouch]

OK all...did my best search-fu and came up with some info mostly related to Warwicks and Gibsons but would like to know if there might be other ideas/options out there or anyone that cured their Conklin of neck dive.

I have a Conklin GT7 with a custom body made from really light "dragonwood". While the bass is crazy light, the wenge/purpleheart neck is always wanting to point at the ground.

I love the feel of the neck/bass and want to play it more but can't really do more than 30mins trying to hold the neck up without it making my wrist sore later afterwards .

I have an Ibby BTB 6er that balances like a beauty but weighs noticibly more and doesn't have the buttery smooth feel of the wenge neck on the Conklin. If only there were a way to blend both basses, it would be my ultimate workhorse .

Is there a cure for neck dive aside from relocating the strap button??? I have a wide strap and ultralight tuners already installed. Is there a super heavy 7-string bridge out there? Would this even help?

Thanks in advance,
Tom

[P Town]

Sell the basses you currently own, and choose your next instrument carefully.

[curbowkid]

The body is made heavy for a reason. A 7 string neck in general is a very heavy neck. To counter act that the body is purposely made heavier. Making it lighter will almost ensure neck dive. By lightening the body you change the balance point

[RedLeg]

there are pictures around here of people affixing 4 inch or so dowels/metal rods to their upper strap horns to extend the strap button closer in the direction o the nut. not the best looking advice, but there isnt much else to do.

ask a thumb or tbird player!

[og61pbass]

get a 3.5 or 4inch wide leather strap with a suede backing,really works...

[OnThaCouch]

Originally Posted by curbowkid

The body is made heavy for a reason. A 7 string neck in general is a very heavy neck. To counter act that the body is purposely made heavier. Making it lighter will almost ensure neck dive. By lightening the body you change the balance point

Thanks for the thoughtful response. I was figuring this was the root of things. I purchased the bass used and didn't spec the superlight body wood...taking a chance that I wouldn't like it long term.

Love the neck so much that I have contemplated getting another body done when I get some money ahead .

Thinking of something with more heft (walnut/mahogany). I hate destroying the aesthetics of the instrument to make it playable (adding horn extensions etc). I would rather have another body made at some point.

[OnThaCouch]

Originally Posted by og61pbass

get a 3.5 or 4inch wide leather strap with a suede backing,really works...

I have a superwide strap that keeps it fairly well placed. It is just that the body/neck imbalance is so pronounced.

[bassinplace]

I saw a G&L ASAT for sale on here once that had this odd looking appendage affixed to the upper horn. It suspended the strap pin out into mid air and was supposed to counteract neck dive. Not sure what it was exactly, but it looked like something store bought, not homemade.

[Andyman001]

Also you could add some weight to your strap at the back end for counter balance.

[Bruce Johnson]

You don't need to have a new body made. You just need to add some counterweight to the back end. There are different ways to do this. You can drill some holes in the edge of the body, near the rear strap button, and epoxy in slugs of steel or brass bar stock. Then cover them over with wood plugs or paint. Or you can make up a heavy decorative brass block that attaches to the outside. Or one that fits inside the back end of the control cavity. You need to add some heavy metal back there. The closer to the back edge it is, the less weight you'll have to add.

The first thing to do is to experiment with some weights to figure out how much you need to add. Use some heavy steel washers or nuts or whatever you can find, and hang them from the back strap button with some baling wire. Add and subtract those weights until you get the balance where you like it. I build my basses so that the center of gravity ends up about 2" back from the forward strap button. That's usually about right, but it depends on the body shape.

Once you've figured out how much weight you need, then you figure out how you want to add it to the back end of the body.

[OnThaCouch]

I appreciate your feedback. Great option to allow me to work with what I have without the expense of getting a new body. Let's me enjoy one of my favorite basses.

[gebass6]

I believe I have found an inexpensive cure for the neck heavy bass!!Take an old belt.Shorten it so that it can wrap around your upper thigh.Mine is about 25 inches long.Drill some new holes so you can buckle it.Now,with your bass strapped on feed the belt between the back of the bass near the end strap peg between the bass and your strap.Wrap the belt around your upper thigh of your right leg (or left.Your choice)to complete a loop and buckle it!Tighten it so that it is snug enough.There!Your bass neck is angle at a good playing angle.The neck doesn't dive!You can walk around with it.

[Codger]

Originally Posted by bassinplace

I saw a G&L ASAT for sale on here once that had this odd looking appendage affixed to the upper horn. It suspended the strap pin out into mid air and was supposed to counteract neck dive. Not sure what it was exactly, but it looked like something store bought, not homemade.

Someone was selling a metal plate that bolted to the neck attach plate. It extended out and had the strap button on it.