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Best Neck Dive Solutions

Blackjac97

Blackjac97

May 27, 2012
1,248
1,441
Maine
#1
Greetings TBers,

If ever there was a worst-candidate for a four-string with neck dive, I think my Gretsch 6072 bass would be in the top 3 perhaps. It's full hollow and over 52" long with heavy ebony on the neck and fingerboard. No weight in the body, lots of weight towards the headstock.

I'm looking for a neck dive solution that DOESN'T involve:
-A wide strap that relies on friction to keep the bass in place. I don't like the feeling of the strap pulling on my clothes. I'm a big guy and I'm very picky about how my clothes fit, and if I 'aint comfy, I 'aint happy.
-Doing any modification to the body of the bass whatsoever. This bass, while not in perfect shape, is very cool and I want to keep all of the wood the way it is. No drilling, sawing, hacking, screwing, nailing, etc.

Are there any straps that have weights in them, or something that fits where the strap button originally goes?

Let me know about your best solutions!

Thanks!
 
#3
I've seen home-made strap extenders like this one:
K6JCA: Homebrew Horn Strap-button Extender for the G&L ASAT Bass
That has the " no drilling" advantage of being attached to the neck screws. You have to get attachment out towards the 12th fret to get any balance. I don't know if anyone makes something like this commercially. Short of that, its either lighten the neck with ultralight tuners, add weight to the body with a heavier bridge, or both. I suppose you could literally add weights inside the hollow body cavity. Somebody must have solved this, hopefully they will chime in.
Horn / Strap Button Extender (to prevent neck dive)?
 
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#10
RattleSnack said:
Change tuners for lighter ones and - if your bass generaly is not too heavy - add a lead weight to the bottom of the body (strap button or bridge).
If that doesn't help, nothing will.
Click to expand...

I like this idea. I'll look into those. Thanks! :)

Gilmourisgod said:
I've seen home-made strap extenders like this one:
K6JCA: Homebrew Horn Strap-button Extender for the G&L ASAT Bass
That has the " no drilling" advantage of being attached to the neck screws. You have to get attachment out towards the 12th fret to get any balance. I don't know if anyone makes something like this commercially. Short of that, its either lighten the neck with ultralight tuners, add weight to the body with a heavier bridge, or both. I suppose you could literally add weights inside the hollow body cavity. Somebody must have solved this, hopefully they will chime in.
Horn / Strap Button Extender (to prevent neck dive)?
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, the neck of a 6072 is attached via a heal and wood glue and has overstand, much like on a double bass. This option is not no-mod for this bass. It is pretty though! I wish I could do somthing like that.

ShonenCello said:
Move the strap to the head stock and just get used to how ugly that looks.

It might look good with that bass. Those Gretsch 6072 sure are pretty.
Click to expand...

I'll give that a try!

Killed_by_Death said:
I use a Comfort Strapp. They have a thick neoprene lining that grips your shoulder & keep the bass from slipping down.

Comfort Strapp™
Click to expand...

I have a strap just like this on 'er now. "NEO Strap" instead of comfort strap, same exact thing though. All it does is cause the bass to take my t-shirt with it on its way down and make me uncomfortable in the process. Our drummer doesn't like my back THAT much!

JustForSport said:
A bass with a small headstock or none at all.
Long upper horn can help or eliminate neck dive.
Buy a bass that hang s well to begin with.
Click to expand...

If only love were that simple...
 
#11
Blackjac97 said:
Greetings TBers,

If ever there was a worst-candidate for a four-string with neck dive, I think my Gretsch 6072 bass would be in the top 3 perhaps. It's full hollow and over 52" long with heavy ebony on the neck and fingerboard. No weight in the body, lots of weight towards the headstock.

I'm looking for a neck dive solution that DOESN'T involve:
-A wide strap that relies on friction to keep the bass in place. I don't like the feeling of the strap pulling on my clothes. I'm a big guy and I'm very picky about how my clothes fit, and if I 'aint comfy, I 'aint happy.
-Doing any modification to the body of the bass whatsoever. This bass, while not in perfect shape, is very cool and I want to keep all of the wood the way it is. No drilling, sawing, hacking, screwing, nailing, etc.

Are there any straps that have weights in them, or something that fits where the strap button originally goes?

Let me know about your best solutions!

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I have this. It works.
Planet Waves : Mobile Product Detail : Acoustic Quick Release System
 
#13
#14
Attaching a strap at the headstock certainly takes care of the balance problem. But it shifts the the guitar away from the fingering hand, creating a brand new problem.

There is anecdotal evidence that attaching the strap at the headstock and playing for years will bend the neck (headstock to the bass side). I've never seen it.

The real answer is to buy ergonomically correct products. This sends the message to the manufacturer's and their offerings will reflect the marketplace. This is exactly what happened during the sixties. By the next decade most guitar makers gave up making these designs for lack of sales. A generation of guitars found wanting have been found in closets sparking interest in these rejected designs. Will we see the same thing by 2020? Who knows?
 
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#16
image.jpeg
 
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#17
Blackjac97 said:
I like the solution of using the headstock. One thing I'm worried about is putting lateral pressure in the bass. Has anyone ever experienced the bass bending at the place where the neck meets the body? Where my neck isn't bolted on or through, that makes me worry a little.
Click to expand...

Lol.

Strings place hundreds of pounds of force on the neck and you're worried about 10lbs maximum? Friend you need to stop thinking so much.
 

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