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Any short scale basses that do NOT have neck dive?

S

Stillwater

Feb 18, 2014
13
0
New Jersey
#1
Lately Ive become a short scale bass convert. I have really small hands for a guy, yet I managed to get by in the past playing long scale. But short scale feels so much more natural and effortless for me, so im sticking with it from now on.

Currently playing an Epiphone EB0. i like the bass alot, but I dont care for the neck heaviness. I got a wide suade strap and it makes it bearable, but doesnt eliminate the problem.

When it comes toime to upgrade, I would like to find a short scale bass that is well balanced and has either minimal or no neck dive.

The options I currently have:

Solid body:

Gibson EB3
Fender Mustang
Gretsch Electromatic G2220

Semi-Hollow:

Epiphone Rumblekat Allen Woody Signature
Fender Coronado
Fender Starcaster
And the various hollow/semi hollow basses from Gretsch or Ibanez

The only other option would be to put together a bass with a Warmoth body and neck which i would also consider.

Thanks for the advice.
 
#3
What's your price range?

Birdsongs do NOT neck dive (I know the strap they use to test and it's thin and slippery and sucks and ANYTHING will neck dive on it, and the Birdsong basses don't). But we're talking a very different world from the Squiers and Epiphones.

If you want to stay in the non-custom price range, yeah, Mustangs are pretty cool. I don't hate the Squier Jaguars either, but I've never tested them with a strap standing up, so I have no valid input there.
 
#4
A properly set up EB0 shouldn't neck dive much. You can't play it with the neck horizontal like you would a Fender. It will work much better with the neck closer to vertical, like an upright bass. When I play my EB-2, that's how it hangs, and it stays put just fine. If you don't like the neck close to vertical, then it is likely you won't be happy with any Gibson bass.
 
#5
Stillwater said:
Currently playing an Epiphone EB0. i like the bass alot, but I dont care for the neck heaviness.
Click to expand...
That's about the only shortscale that does neckdive, and you can somewhat fix it with a bridge weight:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/291089250974
More that I own that neckdive:
Hamer Slammer w/two soapbars
Dean EVO-XM
Basically go with something that has an extended upper horn like most others.
 
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#7
The Squier Bronco and Mikey Way basses don't neck dive. I had a Squier Jag and I don't remember it having any significant neck dive. One of my other band members has it now and he LOVES it - has never mentioned any issue with neck dive. My '64 EB-0 has no neck dive. In general SG-bodied Gibsons and Epis with 30" scale necks should have little to no neck dive. In my experience, long scale necks on SG-bodies often have SEVERE neck dive. I'll never buy another SG-bodies bass that isn't 30" scale.

About the only short scale basses I have run into with neck dive are hollowbodies. In all the solid bodies I have had, the shorter neck has either totally or mostly prevented neck dive.
 
#9
My Kramer Duke has no-by any definition of the term-neck dive at all. In fact, I actually have to hold the neck down slightly; with the right strap, though, it stays right where I want it to. If you can get past the fact that the Duke is a Steinberger-style headless bass with an aluminum neck, it's a great bass. It always amazes me to hear the huge sound that comes out of the little thing. I like mine a lot. :)
 
#10
The Ibanez AGB200 doesn't dive, but the balance slightly favors the neck in stock form. The strap button near the neck is on the back and gives the bass a slight tendency to tilt forward or away. I plan to use a strap lock button in another spot to perfect this, maybe something like that can help create options for you, i.e. To rein in neck dive.
 

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