Nope. Both Yamaha TRB6Ps I have played longer term were pretty neutral. Heavy, but without neck dive.
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Nope. Both Yamaha TRB6Ps I have played longer term were pretty neutral. Heavy, but without neck dive.
Plenty of well balanced 6s out there.
There's also a bunch of headless 6s that completely eliminate the heavy headstock and tuners issue
There's also a bunch of headless 6s that completely eliminate the heavy headstock and tuners issue
There is a trade off when it comes to 6ers. If you insist on a featherweight instrument, I think you can probably expect some dive.
Most are 35” scale, and with the extra mass of the neck and headstock, a lever effect is more probable. If you accept a heavier body, that effect will be countered.
Most are 35” scale, and with the extra mass of the neck and headstock, a lever effect is more probable. If you accept a heavier body, that effect will be countered.
I wouldn't say they are all neck heavy...
Already mentioned by other poster, most 6 string basses have top horn strap pin position parallel to 12th fret, which I'm guessing you've already realized when you put the strap on that it wouldn't feel neck heavy. Thus, set the strap length so that the bass will not change position between playing it while sitting and standing.
Playing 6 string basses on one lap while sitting down without a strap would likely make them feel neck heavy. But, as depicted by @gebass6, if you would position the bass in between the two laps, just like classical guitar playing position, then no neck heavy would occur, even without putting on a strap.
One cure to neck heavy basses are swapping the tuners with lightweight ones. From available online pictures of the HBX 406, seems the Brice came equipped with die cast tuners, which most likely licensed Gotoh GB7 tuners. I weighed the licensed GB7 that came with my Ibanez basses, they were 60 grams each. They aren't the lightest tuners, but they are significantly lighter than BT4S tuners used on some Fenders.
The currently available lightest bass tuners on the market are either Hipshot Ultralite (lic'ed = 49 grams, USA = 42 grams) or Gotoh GB350 Res-O-Lite (40 grams). But they might not be economical solution for low priced basses, especially that the GB350s are quite pricey.
Agree on the increasing use of lighter body woods. They don't counter balanced the increasing mass of the neck that well, so neck heavy might occurs.- The potential is probably higher to be neck heavy. 2 more tuners, and (maybe) a bigger head stock certainly wouldn't help...
- The increasing use of lighter body woods, coupled with 2 more tuners, etc., etc., wouldn't help, either...
Like any other type/style bass, I'm sure there are 6-stringers that are better balanced than others. But, I don't know which ones they are; sorry. I'm sure there are lots of folks who do, though... and one showed up as I was typing this, in fact.
But regarding the additional tuners... as mentioned by other poster, most modern 6ers came with lightweight tuners, thus the 2 more tuners could mean nothing, i.e.:
- 4 string Fender Precision and Jazz Deluxe BT4S tuners, 123 grams each = 492 grams in total;
- 4 string 1966 - 1982 Fender basses Schaller tuners, 110 grams each = 440 grams in total;
- 4 string G&L Musicman and Fender Mexican tuners, 95 grams each = 380 grams in total.
vs.
- 6 string Brice HXB-406 or from my personal experience, Ibanez SRFF806, which came with (licensed) Gotoh GB7 tuners, 60 grams each = 360 grams in total;
- 6 string Cort Artisan A6 with (licensed) Hipshot Ultralite tuners, 49 grams each = 294 grams in total.
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I had a Brice HXB 406 that was neck heavy until I put Hipshot Ultra-Lite tuners on it. I also have an Ibanez with the same problem. But I had a Carvin Icon 6 that was perfectly balanced from the factory. So no, not all 6 strings are neck heavy.
No! Definitely not. I understand you're dilemma. My first 6 string was a Brice because it was cheap and I wasn't sure I was going to like playing 6 string. Needless to say it was exactly as you described and it's the only bass I've ever sold in my life. I've owned 3 since and none had the balance issue that the Brice had.
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yeah, this definitely helps. My Peavey has a similar body shape, and I have no neck dive issues with it....
It all depends on the construction. These are the factors you want to consider if you are looking to avoid neck dive:
- The upper horn should extend up to the 12th fret
- Avoid lighter body woods such as poplar (I once owned a Modulus six string with an light weight alder body that I couldn't play sitting down due to the neck dive)
- Necks made of heavy woods such as walnut and wenge
Neither my Yamaha RBXJM2’s or Carvin LB76F has any neck dive (and neither did my ESP LTD 6s).
Do they feel heavy? The Yammies are definitely heavier than the Carvin, but I don’t know if it’s the bass itself or something heavy about the neck.
Do they feel heavy? The Yammies are definitely heavier than the Carvin, but I don’t know if it’s the bass itself or something heavy about the neck.
I have the 7 string Ibanez hybrid, and the neck is quite heavy, and dippy.
Luckily I played string bass, so it very comfortable keeping the bass in a more vertical position.
I also use an Aframe brace (the kind classical guitar players use), the helps stabilize the bass in a more vertical position against the left leg, and buffers against the bass body cutting off circulation. BTW, I don't need a strap when playing seated.
Luckily I played string bass, so it very comfortable keeping the bass in a more vertical position.
I also use an Aframe brace (the kind classical guitar players use), the helps stabilize the bass in a more vertical position against the left leg, and buffers against the bass body cutting off circulation. BTW, I don't need a strap when playing seated.
Ibanez SR506 is also a neck diver.
I've been using a wide leather strap which does help, when slung just the right way it will balance ok.
Still, I'd like to get one of these, but there always seems to be something else of higher priority to spend on:
I've been using a wide leather strap which does help, when slung just the right way it will balance ok.
Still, I'd like to get one of these, but there always seems to be something else of higher priority to spend on:
My ibanez SR506 balances ok. There's a bit of neck dive though even after getting a pretty thick strap and changing the tuners to some Gotoh res o lites
We have somewhat similar taste in basses, but I'm surprised to see Conklin on the list because the one I tried in a shop was diving toward the floor like crazy!
I use a wide Levy's strap and usually wear it a little high. That usually eliminates any neckdive for me.
I don't see any string basses in the original post, so I can't tell if all six of them are neck heavy. The DB side of the forum might know better, though.
It’s kind of all over the place from my experience. I wouldn’t say there’s a given that a 6 string will be neck heavy, or that a 4 string won’t. The bass with the worse neck dive out of the ones I owned was a 4 string. The 7 string I had while being stupid heavy was actually pretty well balanced. Lot of things factor in. The weight of all the materials, strap pin locations, shape of the body.
