What exactly constitutes as neck dive?

[Tupac]

When I hold my Jaguar below a 45 degree angle, it naturally requires me to hold it up, since it wants to fall to a flat angle. How would this be any different on, say a Thunderbird?

[boynamedsuse]

A bass without neck dive does not need the neck to be held to stay in position. The amount of acceptable neck dive depends on the person, but some really have no neck dive. A common "fix" is to use a wider strap with a rougher surface to keep the bass from slipping and therefore make the bass seem to have less or no neck dive.

[bassguitarthund]

Originally Posted by boynamedsuse

A bass without neck dive does not need the neck to be held to stay in position. The amount of acceptable neck dive depends on the person, but some really have no neck dive. A common "fix" is to use a wider strap with a rougher surface to keep the bass from slipping and therefore make the bass seem to have less or no neck dive.

This plus some times you can move the front strap button to a diff location. This may be an easy task or more challenging
depending on the bass in question.

[grendle]

4" padded leather strap fixes all. Got my levies for $30.

[Tupac]

So let me get this straight. My Squier Jaguar Special DOES have neck dive, technically?

[OldDog52]

Yes, a wide leather strap is an effective anti-gravity device and will cure any neck dive problem.

[darkstorm]

The thunderbird will try its hardest to smack the floor with its headstock. Is the difference in neck dive.

[RBrownBass]

Originally Posted by Tupac

So let me get this straight. My Squier Jaguar Special DOES have neck dive, technically?

If you have to hold the neck up even a tiny bit to position the bass where you want it, yes. Someone will show up and say, "Just hold it up- I do!!". But if you ever need to really play, you'll probably find it easier to do that without having to use your left hand to balance AND fret.

Look for basses with the strap button at or around the 12th fret or basses that are so totally body-heavy that they won't dive no matter where the strap button is.

[grendle]

Originally Posted by OldDog52

Yes, a wide leather strap is an effective anti-gravity device and will cure any neck dive problem.

+1

Get a good quality strap and play anything you want. Nothing neck dives with a good strap, not even BC rich's.

[audiomitch]

Go to GC or someplace and strap on an Epiphone EB-3. You'll learn pretty quickly what neck dive means.

[bassbenj]

Originally Posted by grendle

+1

Get a good quality strap and play anything you want. Nothing neck dives with a good strap, not even BC rich's.

A bit overstated. The horrible neckdive on my Carlo Robelli 8 string took more than a "good strap" to cure. I own a LOT of good straps and even though they grip nice, as you move around they do slip giving dive if the bass is unbalanced.

There was this thing that Sam Ash used to sell some years ago that looked like octopus suckers that went on your strap. Was supposed to cure any neckdive. They should have given one out free with every Carlo Robelli! I just wonder, though, if they'd give you a hickey?

[gaudenti]

Is there such a thing as bridge dive?

[RED J]

>>What exactly constitutes as neck dive?

A. Bass player holds bass in level position.
B. Player lets go of neck.
C. Headstock drops to floor, smashing to bits.
D. Bass player has meltdown
E. Practice/gig ruined

[Baron Von Vik]

Neck vvvvvvvv. Hard to . You = .

You'll know it when it's happening. Then you'll get another bass.

[Datsgor]

The point at which your bass balances is the front strap button. If there is more weight toward the headstock----you have neck dive. connect your strap to just the front button, then pick the bass up by the strap...how does it balance....you'll know what constitutes neck dive then.

[OldDog52]

Originally Posted by OldDog52

Yes, a wide leather strap is an effective anti-gravity device and will cure any neck dive problem.

PS I guess I need to point out I was being sarcastic.

[hrodbert696]

To the OP, neck dive is not an either/or thing; you can have a little or a lot of it. I think probably most basses have a tiny bit of it, but there are some, like the EB3s and Thunderbirds where it can be a major issue. The rule I always heard is that a top horn strap button over the 12th fret is about the right balancing point, but it does depend on how thick the neck is, how heavy the headstock is, the shape and weight of the body, all that. A wide strap (and well-chosen shirt!) that generates friction can impede the drag of slight neck dive but won't be a cure-all.

[rodcheapo]

Originally Posted by Datsgor

The point at which your bass balances is the front strap button. If there is more weight toward the headstock----you have neck dive. connect your strap to just the front button, then pick the bass up by the strap...how does it balance....you'll know what constitutes neck dive then.

This just seems like a recipe for disaster....please tell me you did this with strap locks.

[klejst]

Neck dive is pretty much what the name implies. When the neck (and head stock) of the bass cause the bass to dive down on it's own. Most basses you hold up while playing anyways, however I am taking the dive when not being held. It's true you either have neck dive or not, depends on the bass too that can determine how bad it is. Even my Fender P dives a little, however I used a Thunderbird one time (original location of buttons for strap) and that thing had neck dive like no other. You can move the strap buttons to different locations and try different straps. It's just the way some basses were made. Just my experience and explanation of the whole neck dive thing.

[Datsgor]

Originally Posted by rodcheapo

This just seems like a recipe for disaster....please tell me you did this with strap locks.

Common sense is a big part of it, and, as with most things in life, how can one learn if they don't explore and experiment. I don't "check" my basses for neck dive, but I have strap locks on all my basses.