Neck heavy Viper 404, any experience?

[kr0n]

I got a Viper 404 and it is as the topic says, it dives.

Now I've been browsing for forums, trying to figure out the best way to fix it. Seems there's 2 solutions:

1) Install strap button in a different location.

Having this done in a guitar shop probably costs more than 100 bucks, DIY having the risk of messing things up. I'd rather move the one behind the upper horn (it's against me) behind the neck.
Older models seemed to have the button on top of the horn, but I guess they moved it for a good reason. Also figuring out the best spot for it seems kinda hard.


2) Installing Hipshot Ultralites.

This thing has Grover tuners, seem to do the job just fine, dunno about the weight difference tho. Can't seem to find the weight of Grovers online. Marketing guys say about 30% but I don't know if it's enough.

What I'm asking here is what solution is the best and most probable to fix it once and for all. If there's one out there with the same model, that'd be great.

Oh, and please no "buy a new bass" comments, that's not very useful.

[solomon707]

I think drilling for a new strap button location is in order. I used to have a Viper 304 with the button at the end of the horn and didn't have any issues with neck dive. In any case, if you mock up a few different locations with duct tape or something before you drill to help you decide where you want your strap button, an ESP LTD is not the kind of instrument that will be significantly depreciated by having an extra button hole or two.

[kr0n]

Yesterday I called the local guitarshop and asked what would a new strap button drilling cost me, it was basically nothing. I bought some duct tape and tested where to put the button. I took it to the repairshop, took the guy 10 minutes in total from "Hi!" to "Bye!". And best of all, cost 5 euros. Easy job for him, would've taken me much longer to find the right bits and a new screw.

So the place I put the front button was right behind the neck. The old one was in the top horn, behind the body facing my chest.

With a wide strap, it balances great. First time in a while I'm not getting sore wrists from playing. Wish I had done it sooner, lazy me.

Will post pics later.