Balance between neck and body

[Operation Skye]

I have a Traben Array Limited 5'er that I really enjoy playing other than the fact that it is not balanced. The neck always starts drifting towards the floor (body up towards ceiling) and places unneccesary stress on my left hand. Is there any way to battle this other than just getting rid of it? Also, is there an actual term for this?
My other two Trabens (Kore and Phoenix) are balanced perfectly.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

 

[Epitaph04]

Yes. The term is called neck dive. You can try fixing it by adding weight to the actual bass. If there is space in the control cavity you could add a roll of quarters there or something like that. You can also try hanging some small weights (someone suggested scuba weights on this forum a while back) on the bottom part of the strap (the part that goes on the lower strap button)

 

[ffutterman]

I've also heard replacing tuners with Hipshot Ultralights can help. In any case, the idea is to reduce weight at the head and increase weight at the body.

 

[Operation Skye]

Thanks! Knowing what it is called is a big help lol! Researching more online now!

 

[michael_atw]

If there is space in the control cavity you could add a roll of quarters there or something like that.

Is that a roll of quarters in your bass...or are you just happy to see me?

 

[Epitaph04]

^^Hehe!

 

[WardEarth]

I believe adding some sort of extention to the upper horn would be better then adding weight to the instrument. Also moving the placement of the rear strap button can help as well. The extention would be some sort of a metal piece, like piece of brass rod or something. May look a little weird, but would probably work wonders.

 

[klaus486]

DUNLOP DUAL DESIGN STRAP LOCKS!!!!!

Cheap and easy!

 

[Stilettoprefer]

The strap button on the butt end of my Schecter is higher up on the body (more towards the arm contour), and that is probably what is causing it to not be neck diving because Schecters have pretty large headstocks.

 

[Jrussblues]

Also known as warwickitis...they all seem to have the same issue.

 

[grendle]

A good thick strap fixes this on even the worst offenders (bc rich etc. ). Get something like a 4" padded leather levies. It will make it behave like it should and definiatly be more comfortable.

 

[Operation Skye]

Thanks for all of the tips! A new strap is in order!

 

[MindRise]

Leather strap will do the job, it stays where you put it.

 

[NML1986]

I have this problem with a Dean Z bass, friend of mine said to use model lead weights, haven't come across any though.

 

[NML1986]

Leather strap will do the job, it stays where you put it.

I have a leather strap, and it doesn't stop it moving. (not for me anyway)

 

[LuckeyLukey]

Double strap design (like a 'Y' where the 'I' end goes to the back and the 'V' to the horn) works wonders on my Epi JC.

 

[THORRR]

There is a strap that I saw advertised on TalkBass once that
has little pockets built into the tail end of it where you can add
small lead weights to counterbalance your bass.

You could probably do-it-yourself to any strap.
It wouldn't take much weight to balance the bass either.

Or take some fishing weights, put them n a pouch and attach it to your strap or hang it from your strap button, etc.

 

[edpal]

Extend the button at the horn - if the button is below 12 fret, will always dive. Schecter Stiletto is a prime example - horn only comes to about 13.5 fret. Nothing but dive.

Hipshot Ultrlights weigh about 20 grams per tuner less than Grover or most Grover-look-alikes. I just changed some today so I have this firmly in mind.

 

[Epitaph04]

I have a leather strap, and it doesn't stop it moving. (not for me anyway)

I'll back that up too. Had an ibby 6 with lots of neck dive...the leather strap kept it from actually hitting the ground, but the balance was still off. Had to keep pushing down on the body with my plucking hand, which started to lead to some very uncomfortable sharp angles on my wrist.

 

[Diogenes]

A wide strap with a surface that grips at your shoulder (suede or a rubbery surface) will help a little against neck dive. Also repositioning the bridge end strap button a couple of inches in towards the center of the body can help. Both of these 'fixes' solved the neck-dive issue I had with one of my basses... a Tune TWB53.