How do you combat Neck Dive?

[Robroy]

I apologize if there is a better section for this to be in.

I love my bass, and I'm not sure if its common with all basses, but my guitars never did this. There is a bit of neck dive that causes the bass to settle about parallel with the ground. The neck is at that point too low for me to comfortably play, so I end up holding the neck up which I'm sure ultimately hurts my potential in playing.

What do you do to fight it?

I bought a "scratch and dent" six string bass that had bad neck dive. I adjusted the balance by doing something similar to what they did with those 80's headless basses. I got a flat steel bar about 6" long and bolted it to the back of the upper horn pointing toward the head somewhat parallel to the neck. It stuck out in that direction by about 3". I then bolted a strap peg to the end of it and that fixed it. The bar is painted flat black and it's hardly noticeable.

Edit: I just noticed the post above mine. It's sort of the same thing except mine is fixed length...

 

[jd56hawk]

Weighted strap, for those who have a problem with simply using a wider strap such as the Comfort Strapp Pro Bass Strap.

 

[Watchootognbout]

My new Washburn T-14NMK balances.
But then I AM using a Comfort Strapp.
And it is a four string.

 

[EdO.]

Anyone simply tried adding a Steinberger strap hook? By my measurement that would extend the front strap attachment point by 5". I might have to try that on my Epi T-Bird 5 string neck through, would require taking it off my Spirit bass but I'd have to drill one more hole in my T-Bird to mount it...

 

[EdO.]

Alright then. After my last post I got to thinking about "what if I DID" put the Steinberger strap hook on my T-Bird, could that actually solve my neck dive issue? FWIW mine is a recently purchased Pro V 5 string, it has a heavier than usual neck (7 piece maple and walnut laminate) and although neck dive doesn't seem to be an issue for all T-Birds it certainly is for mine, and even though I've moved strap knobs around etc at the suggestions of numerous T-Bird owners on the forum I've still been unable to completely solve the issue.

So first off I measured the length of the hook as mounted on the Steiney to get an idea of where the end of it would be in relationship to the fret board on the T-Bird. The hook moves the attachment point of the strap forward by 5", which puts me at about the 13th fret on the neck. Tied a leather strap that came with the last guitar strap I bought through the front hole on the strap and then tied the strap to the neck at the 13th fret. Boom, the neck stayed put and actually felt like the bias was now more to the body of the bass as it should be.

So I got out my Spirit, removed the strap hook and mounted it onto the T-Bird. The front strap attachment point is exactly lined up with the 12th fret. No more neck dive, the neck sits at a nice upward angle about 10 - 15 degrees above level and it STAYS THERE. Problem solved! I've attached a couple of photos to show what it all looks like. Some may think it a bit weird, I like to think of it as outside-the-box problem solving. But by God it freaking works. Now I just have to get another strap hook for my Steiney, and I also have to modify the case so the damn thing fits and lays flat in the case...

 

[DavesnothereCA]

Fenders certainly can have neck-dive. The worst dive I have at the moment is a light-bodied P-bass that dives down to near-horizontal. It doesn't bother me all that much, but it's certainly noticeable, and becomes a hassle when I reach for my drink and the headstock falls and hits the cymbal next to me.

I see some claims here that upper horn length/position at a particular fret will determine whether neck dive is a problem for the design. Not true.

The angle at which something hangs when suspended from two support points depends both on the location of the support points AND the weight distribution (and therefore center of gravity) of the item itself. You cannot predict the angle something will hang if you only know the position of the support points.

Now, clearly some designs are more likely to balance properly given expected ranges of material weights.

But wood weights differ so extensively, from chambered basswood to the densest mahogany, that you can easily be fooled.

~
If that's the extent of the problem, then might I suggest that you stop setting your drink on the drummer's floor tom, and move it to somewhere on your other side.

But seriously, I am looking carefully and seriously at all of the offered suggestions, other than those suggesting different straps and basses.

Moving the bridge side strap button appeals to me the most, but adding a horn extension is on my list too.

The bass is a FrankenRic 4001 - already had many pickup and electronics mods over the years (looks ugly, but sounds a lot like a Jazz with no hum), so not worried about drilling another hole or 3.

EDIT : I see I forgot to put lighter tuners first. - But of course !
~

 

[BruceWane]

~
If that's the extent of the problem, then might I suggest that you stop setting your drink on the drummer's floor tom, and move it to somewhere on your other side.

But seriously, I am looking carefully and seriously at all of the offered suggestions, other than those suggesting different straps and basses.

Moving the bridge side strap button appeals to me the most, but adding a horn extension is on my list too.

The bass is a FrankenRic 4001 - already had many pickup and electronics mods over the years (looks ugly, but sounds a lot like a Jazz with no hum), so not worried about drilling another hole or 3.
~

I recently saw this; seems like probably the most surefire method to manage neckdive with no modifications at all. Give it a try, and if it works well for you I think an improvement would be to make a small hole in the strap near your belt loop and use a carabiner to make putting on/taking off a lot quicker and easier.

 

[Snakeman1066]

I apologize if there is a better section for this to be in.

I love my bass, and I'm not sure if its common with all basses, but my guitars never did this. There is a bit of neck dive that causes the bass to settle about parallel with the ground. The neck is at that point too low for me to comfortably play, so I end up holding the neck up which I'm sure ultimately hurts my potential in playing.

What do you do to fight it?

run the bridge end of your strap under your belt or belt loop before hooking it to your strap button...easy and solves the problem