Flying V basses

[deff]

V basses are maybe a little neck heavy if that sort of thing bothers you. I guess I have a different playing position when playing V's and haven't found it to be an issue. V's have always been super comfortable things to play while standing, not easy to play sitting, despite the whole inside thigh position.

 

[Aussie Player]

Just to toss some fact on the table, I still own my 2012 Gibson Flying V bass and
a) It is not neck heavy
b) it is a light bass, mine weighing 7.8 pounds, all solid mahogany.

 

[Ric5]

With the majority of the body weight behind you I find it hard to see a V being neck heavy. To me the biggest issue is having the neck sticking so far out, it can be quite a reach to the first fret.

most Gibson basses have bad neck dive. The flying V bass has no upper horn to put a straplok on to. a good rule of thumb is that the strap button has to be about the 12th fret otherwise there will be bad neck dive. I hear stories of people claiming their Gibson bass does not neck dive but I have played many that do. I remember the first fenderbird that I built I was amazed at how much work it took to keep that neck from diving to the floor.

 

[Aussie Player]

most Gibson basses have bad neck dive. The flying V bass has no upper horn to put a straplok on to. a good rule of thumb is that the strap button has to be about the 12th fret otherwise there will be bad neck dive. I hear stories of people claiming their Gibson bass does not neck dive but I have played many that do. I remember the first fenderbird that I built I was amazed at how much work it took to keep that neck from diving to the floor.

The lower "V" balances a flying V bass so there is no need for the traditional upper horn or the 12th fret location to provide balance. If you are putting a Fender neck on a home made V interpretation that has no basis for comparison or direct reflection on a Gibson factory designed and build specimen.

 

[Williethump]

I love my new old used modded Gibson Episode EB-0, from ought-one, with the stylish tiny bully horns. Plays nice and great tone. But however stylish- and I adore it, the short horns combined with the too-big headstock and big tuners make it submarine crash neck dive. It's fine, I mostly play seated and forgive a lot for tone and beauty. And I've never played a Vee at all except at GC or flea markets for 5 minutes so I know nothing about Vee dive except that and what I read.

 

[BassToGoGo]

most Gibson basses have bad neck dive. The flying V bass has no upper horn to put a straplok on to. a good rule of thumb is that the strap button has to be about the 12th fret otherwise there will be bad neck dive. I hear stories of people claiming their Gibson bass does not neck dive but I have played many that do. I remember the first fenderbird that I built I was amazed at how much work it took to keep that neck from diving to the floor.

I had an Epiphone Korina Flying V with the strap button location exactly as you describe. No neck dive whatsoever. The only problem I had was my gut getting in the way. I stand by what I said.

 

[tim gueguen]

Haru of the Japanese band Bridear has been playing a couple of Burny Flying V basses of late. One apparently belongs to ka-yu of the defunct band Janne Da Arc.

 

[Ric5]

I had an Epiphone Korina Flying V with the strap button location exactly as you describe. No neck dive whatsoever. The only problem I had was my gut getting in the way. I stand by what I said.

I would want a strap button located like the one below right, and I realize the back button pushed farther back will help balance the bass.

I often add a straplok extender on my Gibson style basses to prevent neck dive.

 

[msb]

I’ll say this for the third time here … my Epi V does not neck dive . I can put it on , raise both hands in the air . It stays just where it is .

 

[Basvarken]

By the way, it is not true that most Gibson basses are neck divers. They made more than 80 different models. And only a handful of them suffer neck dive.

 

[Williethump]

It's frustrating to have anecdotal proof of no neck dive on your personal ax when cyber world says Gibson Epiphones are real U-boats. Because Gibson is pretty predatory on the imaginary property issue and I dislike corporate rent seeking, I'd hesitate buying a new Gibson. But I love my new old '01 EB-0 for the tone and handling and forgive the noticible neck diving since I usually need to sit down to play very long anyhow. If a Vee sounded good enough I'd play it seated too, the looks are killer.

 

[Ric5]

straplok extender

 

[Aussie Player]

I would want a strap button located like the one below right, and I realize the back button pushed farther back will help balance the bass.

View attachment 4500901

I often add a straplok extender on my Gibson style basses to prevent neck dive.

View attachment 4500910

Note the location of the rear strap button on my V, it is further back than your Epi.

 

[Aussie Player]

It's frustrating to have anecdotal proof of no neck dive on your personal ax when cyber world says Gibson Epiphones are real U-boats. Because Gibson is pretty predatory on the imaginary property issue and I dislike corporate rent seeking, I'd hesitate buying a new Gibson. But I love my new old '01 EB-0 for the tone and handling and forgive the noticible neck diving since I usually need to sit down to play very long anyhow. If a Vee sounded good enough I'd play it seated too, the looks are killer.

Please don't compare an EPI with a USA made Gibson as they do not use the exact same woods. I have a few Gibson basses and have used them for 50 years and never had cause to complain about neck dive though to qualify that statement, I have no long scale Gibson's though obviously over that decades have played a few here and there.

 

[Ric5]

It's frustrating to have anecdotal proof of no neck dive on your personal ax when cyber world says Gibson Epiphones are real U-boats. Because Gibson is pretty predatory on the imaginary property issue and I dislike corporate rent seeking, I'd hesitate buying a new Gibson. But I love my new old '01 EB-0 for the tone and handling and forgive the noticible neck diving since I usually need to sit down to play very long anyhow. If a Vee sounded good enough I'd play it seated too, the looks are killer.

Gibson basses have a well earned reputation of bad neck dive and there are those who are clearly neck dive deniers ... So if your Gibson bass does not have neck dive you have a real uphill battle to get others to believe what you say is true.

 

[Aussie Player]

When truth is denied, it does not change an untruth remaining a lie.

 

[msb]

My SG bass does have a little dive , if I rest my arm on the body it’s fine . Put both arms in the air … down she goes . It’s not an issue for me . My DC Jr on the other hand is well balanced . My Epi V is Korina . I believe that was the traditional wood for them . And for a simple slab bodied bass without elaborate inlay , carving , or binding I have to say it’s very well made . It was made in the Unsung factory according to the serial number , and word is they have an excellent reputation for really good work at that factory . I don’t think an American built bass would be superior , simply more expensive . That Epi is that good .

 

[sleddogn]

i'm all for those with dive put'm up for sale, someone will gobble'm up

 

[BassToGoGo]

I would want a strap button located like the one below right, and I realize the back button pushed farther back will help balance the bass.

View attachment 4500901

I often add a straplok extender on my Gibson style basses to prevent neck dive.

View attachment 4500910

View attachment 4500911

View attachment 4500912

I've seen you talk about this several times. No offense but I personally don't care for how it looks and I have found no need to modify any of my basses in this fashion.

To each their own.

 

[BassToGoGo]

Gibson basses have a well earned reputation of bad neck dive and there are those who are clearly neck dive deniers ... So if your Gibson bass does not have neck dive you have a real uphill battle to get others to believe what you say is true.