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How much of a problem is neck dive?

J Gold

J Gold

Jun 7, 2011
1,909
1,622
Albany,NY
#1
Ive gotten opinions from 3 custom bass builders on a body shape that has equally sized short horns, sort of like the Alembics. All 3 builders are reluctant because of the potential for neck dive.

So, my question is:
How much of a problem will neck dive be, especially doing 3 1-hour sets every weekend?
 
#7
Hi, as said above it is personal preference. It also has to do with the style you are playing, more technical styles can get very difficult on a neck heavy bass simply because of the additional resistance placed on your fingering hand. Then again depending on your play style for example, I tend to rest my thumb on the bridge pickup with minimal forearm contact, not as extreme as steve harris' style though, but if you play more slap bass you might have more contact which will help balance it out.
 
#8
If I don't hold my Epiphone Thunderbird IV when it's strapped on to me, it just falls down till the neck is pretty much like a '\'. I have a very wide leather strap, too.

Incidently, the strap cost as much as the bass.
 
#9
Moderate neck dive isn't a big problem for me, as long as I use a wide and grippy strap.

But severe neck dive is an absolute no-go for me. I'm not interested in holding up the neck at the same time I'm trying to play it. My arm tires quickly and my playing ability suffers.

If I had heard the cautions you have heard, I would immediately change my order to a short scale bass with featherweight tuners, and ask the builder what they thought of the potential for neck dive with that configuration.

I absolutely would NOT order a custom bass with a prospect for an unknown degree of neck dive. It would be a waste of money.

My advice: LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE WHO DESIGN THESE BASSES. THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

End of shouting.
 
#11
With a good quality, wide strap that will grip enough on your shoulder, I don't see neck dive as any sort of problem .

The only time I have noticed a neck dive has been with the thin, inexpensive straps that are slippery. I think they are primarily polyester, which is slick, and their thin design makes them slippery.

I played a friend's T-bird recently, which is notorious for the dive according to many posters, but I had my own wide leather strap and there was no problem whatsoever.
 
#13
HypersoulRocks said:
Ive gotten opinions from 3 custom bass builders on a body shape that has equally sized short horns, sort of like the Alembics. All 3 builders are reluctant because of the potential for neck dive.

So, my question is:
How much of a problem will neck dive be, especially doing 3 1-hour sets every weekend?
Click to expand...

Could the neck dive be corrected with the use of a heavier wood?
 
#14
The only way you'll know is to try basses that neck-dive, then decide if it is an issue for you.

BTW I do have a bass that has some neck-dive. I tried it out sitting down, so I did not notice. The neck dive has been mitigated somewhat by a wide leather strap, sueded on the inside.

My feeling is with real neck-dive, you'll be compensating for it somehow. Whether that becomes a problem is up to you.
 
#16
MisterFabulous said:
The only way you'll know is to try basses that neck-dive, then decide if it is an issue for you.
Click to expand...

That's a good idea!

The worst neck-diver I have ever had was an Epiphone EB-3 (the 34" scale, two-pickup Epi version of the EB-0.) Try one of those for a half-hour or longer in a store, and it may give you a feel for the issue.
 
#17
Well, if you're playing instead of standing there, your fretting hand is holding the neck in place regardless of if it has a heavy neck-end or not. My favorite guitar (tele thinline) has massive neck dive, if I let go of the neck it falls down to "\" level. But when i'm playing (when it actually matters how much the guitar weighs) it's impossible to notice and won't ever bug me.

My Schecter has a pretty heavy neck end, but the strap button on the butt is locate closer to the top, so it's not noticeable when wearing a strap.
 
#19
3 separate sources say neck dive may be an issue, I'm guessing that the instrument may be a bit neck heavy.

Is that a problem? You're the one who's gonna be playing it. So, how do YOU feel?
 
#20
Warwicks seem to want to parallel themselves with the floor.....which is hard for some, since the neck feels like it's way out to the left already.

I've got a Kawai FIIB, that has an Alembic look to it, and it doesn't really dive......to be honest, I'm not sure how it doesn't, considering the placement of the strap buttons and the length of the horn.
If I move around a lot it likes to shift down a touch, but nothing terrible.

On a thunderbird/RD shaped bass the strap button is on the neck heel....which helps a ton.

Like others have said.....heavier body wood, lighter tuners, smaller/shorter headstock, heavy bridge, etc.....
 

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