Headstock dive when sitting down? This is your lucky day!

[Ray Matthews]

I saw a guy on YouTube (can't find it again now so can't thank him) but he has just solved the age-old mystery of how to defeat neck-dive on your bass when sitting. And it also stops a Fender Jazz from slipping forward on your legs too.
So what is the great revaluation that is of almost mystical significance to bass players?
Genius but so simple! Sit down with your strap on. Unhook only the neck end. Slide it under yourself towards the leg under your fretting hand and sit on it. Eureka ... It won't dip no matter how you tug on it. There is a god after all!
All thanks and praise appreciated!!!

 

[BassChuck]

I'd feel like I was playing bassoon.

 

[Stormer]

I can't believe I never thought of that. Good tip.

 

[Watchootognbout]

How about this.
With the strap on play in the classical position.With the lower horn on your left leg.

 

[Ray Matthews]

With a five string fender bass with added fat- finger and headstock tuner? Good luck with that one!

 

[Ray Matthews]

Actually, I just tried the classical position with my strap on and it works quite well. Of course a good headless bass would make this thread I've started redundant.

 

[Watchootognbout]

With a five string fender bass with added fat- finger and headstock tuner? Good luck with that one!

I do this and I have a 13 lb seven string.

 

[Ray Matthews]

A 13lb seven string! Dude you must have shoulders of iron!
I'm complaining about my ten pounder four string.

 

[Ray Matthews]

Dude, toting a 13lb seven stringer you get my vote!

 

[Ray Matthews]

Man, I'd be so lost on that. Especially with a plain fretboard. If it's got more than 4 strings and no fretmarkers it might just as well be starship control panel. I wouldn't know where to start. It's huge, too. At 56 yrs of age I reckon it would give me a hernia or ruptured tendons in my arms.
Respect to you!

 

[Philonius]

@silky smoove could use that for his demo work. My New Studio Build (perhaps overly detailed) | Page 3 | TalkBass.com

Just kidding. I may not want to play such a beast, but that doesn't make it wrong.

 

[silky smoove]

Wow, 13lbs is no joke. I used to own a 1997 Warwick Corvette 4-string that clocked in at 12lbs. Solid bubinga body and a wenge neck made it quite heavy to say the least. I couldn't tolerate it for more than one set of music. More power to you if you can manage that 13lbs monster!

 

[Bass]

How about this.
With the strap on play in the classical position.With the lower horn on your left leg.

I tried this but it felt very awkward, what am I doing wrong?

 

[Watchootognbout]

I tried this but it felt very awkward, what am I doing wrong?

Like this.

 

[Misfit]

Like this.View attachment 670378

I actually really like that. This is a similar angle to how I hold standing. It's always bothered me that my sitting and standing position was different. I'm going to give this a try.

 

[Watchootognbout]

I actually really like that. This is a similar angle to how I hold standing. It's always bothered me that my sitting and standing position was different. I'm going to give this a try.

Actually I have a simple way to keep this angle when standing.
Interested?

 

[Misfit]

Actually I have a simple way to keep this angle when standing.
Interested?

I am interested. Thanks.

 

[Watchootognbout]

I am interested. Thanks.

This works from the bridge end.

• Take an old belt.(I prefer an old dress belt)Shorten it so that it can wrap around your upper thigh.Mine is about 25 inches long.(First picture)Drill some new holes so you can buckle it.

• Notice that I have relocated the end strap peg to the back of my bass.Here!All three of my basses have this done.You may not need to do this.(second picture)

• Now,with your bass strapped on feed the belt from the outside of the back of your upper thigh in between your legs.Then between your bass and the strap.Wrap the belt around your upper thigh of your right leg to complete a loop and buckle it!(Third picture)

• Tighten it so that it is snug enough.There!Your bass neck is fixed at a good playing angle.(Fourth picture)

Now the neck doesn't dive!You can walk around with it.Your left arm doesn't have to support the weight of the neck.And your right arm doesn't have to push down on the body's upper edge.You can fret and play your bass with less forearm muscle tension.

This works by using a lever and fulcrum basis.Your bass is a lever.Your neck and shoulders together are a fulcrum.You can either decrease weight on one end of the "Lever"(the neck) to raise the neck.Or you could increase the weight or"counterbalance"and/or anchor the bridge end.The belt "dead ends"or anchors the bridge end of the "lever" without adding weight.Try it out!

 

[Misfit]

This works from the bridge end.

• Take an old belt.(I prefer an old dress belt)Shorten it so that it can wrap around your upper thigh.Mine is about 25 inches long.(First picture)Drill some new holes so you can buckle it.

• Notice that I have relocated the end strap peg to the back of my bass.Here!All three of my basses have this done.You may not need to do this.(second picture)

• Now,with your bass strapped on feed the belt from the outside of the back of your upper thigh in between your legs.Then between your bass and the strap.Wrap the belt around your upper thigh of your right leg to complete a loop and buckle it!(Third picture)

• Tighten it so that it is snug enough.There!Your bass neck is fixed at a good playing angle.(Fourth picture)

View attachment 678664 View attachment 678665 View attachment 678666 View attachment 678667


Now the neck doesn't dive!You can walk around with it.Your left arm doesn't have to support the weight of the neck.And your right arm doesn't have to push down on the body's upper edge.You can fret and play your bass with less forearm muscle tension.

This works by using a lever and fulcrum basis.Your bass is a lever.Your neck and shoulders together are a fulcrum.You can either decrease weight on one end of the "Lever"(the neck) to raise the neck.Or you could increase the weight or"counterbalance"and/or anchor the bridge end.The belt "dead ends"or anchors the bridge end of the "lever" without adding weight.Try it out!

Very nice. I have a couple old belts lying around. I will give this a shot and see how I like it. Thanks.