• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

How do you combat Neck Dive?

#161
Tie a weight to the bottom end of the bass. Then get blind drunk so you don't feel your aching shoulder.
RIro9ryl.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: PMagers
#163
You sell your neck-divey bass to an unsuspecting noob on Craigslist, extolling it's virtues and being sure to say (fill in name of obscure punk-rocker bassist) used one when he/she first started out.

Then with the money you get.....buy a bass that has no neck-dive.

Just kidding.......;)

But I did get rid of one bass (traded in) that had neck-dive......and now none of my basses have any...
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: DavesnothereCA
#164
ZenG said:
You sell your neck-divey bass to an unsuspecting noob on Craigslist, extolling it's virtues and being sure to say (fill in name of obscure punk-rocker bassist) used one when he/she first started out.

Then with the money you get.....buy a bass that has no neck-dive.
Click to expand...
That would send you on a long,arduous search ending with a bass that you may really dislike.
If you use my belt method,you can play most any bass you want.
And it will onlyl cost you an old belt.Snapshot_2015521.jpg
 
#165
staccatogrowl said:
Yep, that Dean Sledgehammer is just like a Warwick Thumb in the ergonomics regard. . Must reach into the anti-neck-dive bag of tricks to alleviate that.
Click to expand...
I can say that most of the past basses I've had dove to some degree.The only one that didn't dive was a Traben John Moyer Havok 5.That weighty bridge countered any neck dive!
 
Last edited:
#168
Stealth Fighter said:
If I understand you correctly, I agree with you. In the case of someone holding the bass in a position other that the normal horizontal position, there is no need to blame the player or the design/bass. It's nothing more than a choice that they made for themselves, and IMHO, they need to learn to live with it or find a solution that suits them.
Click to expand...

So your position is if someone doesn't want to play their bass parallel to the ground then they are wrong? Am I getting that right?
 
#169
staccatogrowl said:
Re: best neck dive solution:

Other notable solutions with many recaps from this thread:
  • wider straps
  • grippy surface straps
  • special configuration (contortion) straps
I explored many of these solutions before I sold my beloved Warwick Thumb basses. I miss their sound but not my perpetually sore left wrist.

PS
The Axe Balancer
(Not so) Heavy Metal | SF Guitarworks
Click to expand...

Speaking of grippy surface straps, A while back (when fighting the major dive of my then-new Carlo Robelli 8 string (doubled)), I encountered this weird thing at Sam Ash. It was this rubber shoulder pad that went on your strap where the bottom was covered with what looked like octopus suckers! I'm guessing that would cure neck dive fer sure. only I just got to wondering if you'd have hickey's all over your neck at the end of the gig. Or even worse it was some alien lifeform that would suck out my brain if I ever dozed off! I never bought one. I just extended the strap button toward the headstock.
 
#170
bassbenj said:
Speaking of grippy surface straps, A while back (when fighting the major dive of my then-new Carlo Robelli 8 string (doubled)), I encountered this weird thing at Sam Ash. It was this rubber shoulder pad that went on your strap where the bottom was covered with what looked like octopus suckers! I'm guessing that would cure neck dive fer sure. only I just got to wondering if you'd have hickey's all over your neck at the end of the gig. Or even worse it was some alien lifeform that would suck out my brain if I ever dozed off!
Click to expand...

red%20rings%20sturgeon.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: bassbenj
#172
BassGoblin said:
Why do people choose to read what they want to read and base their answer on that?

In my original post I stated that it has a 'bit' of neck dive. Hell, it is so little that everyone else who has played it said to me 'that is not neck dive at all'. 2nd, the balance, when it is VERY balanced is not a fundamental flaw. I suppose I stated the question wrong. I want to counter-balance the headstock to make the bass MORE comfortable. I said it may ultimately hurt my potential. I'm going to try a wider/grippy strap. if that doesn't work, not the end of the world.
Click to expand...

You never mentioned what bass you have. But, after reading all these responses, in my experience, it's the center of gravity that's really the issue with neck dive, even a slight neck dive. So, instead of experimenting with straps, I'd put my money into reducing the weight at the headstock, which means replacing the tuners with the Hipshot Ultralights. Next would be the location of the strap button, but in most cases, that's not an option as far as relocation goes! If you are experiencing only slight 'dive', then the lightening of the weight at the headstock should cure that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DavesnothereCA
#173
djaydjay said:
I've been considering the strap buttons (bringing that back one a bit higher) to my very neck-divy bass. How much does it change balance? If it makes only a little difference I won't bother since it woudln't be enough to balance that bass
Click to expand...
It won't make any difference at all. All that will do is make the neck point higher up, but the balance (center of gravity) won't change.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dug2
#177
A lower back strap button can move the bass weight center back some if it's played at a 40- 60 degree angle, as the strap then crosses the back of the body a little instead of having the whole bass body forward of the button. If the bass is played horizontally, it won't help.
 
#178
I don't buy basses with huge, heavy headstocks with #'s of hardware mounted way out there.
Nothing with a short (or no) upper horn, either.
I've got 5's and 6's and none dive.

Like a tire- if it's not round, you'll have to do something to fix it,
or drive it like that.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back