I just purchased a MIJ Jaguar Bass. I love the sound and controls. However, the neck dive is incredible. Any suggestions regarding reducing the neck dive will be greatly appreciated.
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Jaguar bass neck dive
- Thread starter TheGreatSealof
- Start date
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,633
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
i currently have two of them and neither one has a neck dive issue. i can only guess that your's must have a pretty lightweight body? (mine weigh 8lbs 14oz and 9lbs 3 oz).
I have a 2005. The neck dive shouldn't be too bad. But it is noticeable. Here are a few options:
1. Try a leather strap with suede backing and use the suede side against your shirt.
2. Try shortening your strap or lengthening it a bit. I found just last night that raising the bass an inch or so helped to control it.
3. Increase the angle of the neck/fingerboard with the floor.
4. I would ordinarily never recommend this, and it's against my cardinal rules of bass playing, but if you stil can't live with it, try resting your right forearm on the upper bout to counteract the headstock weight.
5. Get lightweight replacement tuners and a heavy brass replacement bridge.
If yours is like most, the next question you'll have is how to get rid of that annoying hum. I just had mine gutted (three of the switches had been damaged during shipping so it was in the shop to begin with). I copper sheilded all of the cavities, brought the body back to my luthier (Jim Mouradian). Jim told me that although there needs to be a good deal of wiring in this bass, all of the wires were about 25%-50% longer than they needed to be. He re-installed the electronics, trimming the wires as needed and soldering grounds to my copper sheilding as needed. The bass is drop-dead silent even with the amp cranked and with Fender nylon tapewounds on it.
Good luck! These basses sound fantastic.
1. Try a leather strap with suede backing and use the suede side against your shirt.
2. Try shortening your strap or lengthening it a bit. I found just last night that raising the bass an inch or so helped to control it.
3. Increase the angle of the neck/fingerboard with the floor.
4. I would ordinarily never recommend this, and it's against my cardinal rules of bass playing, but if you stil can't live with it, try resting your right forearm on the upper bout to counteract the headstock weight.
5. Get lightweight replacement tuners and a heavy brass replacement bridge.
If yours is like most, the next question you'll have is how to get rid of that annoying hum. I just had mine gutted (three of the switches had been damaged during shipping so it was in the shop to begin with). I copper sheilded all of the cavities, brought the body back to my luthier (Jim Mouradian). Jim told me that although there needs to be a good deal of wiring in this bass, all of the wires were about 25%-50% longer than they needed to be. He re-installed the electronics, trimming the wires as needed and soldering grounds to my copper sheilding as needed. The bass is drop-dead silent even with the amp cranked and with Fender nylon tapewounds on it.
Good luck! These basses sound fantastic.
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,633
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
i agree, a set of gotoh res-o-lite heads will take more than 5 1/2 oz off of the headstock (which is ALOT of weight, and in the location where it will help the most). IME, a HM bridge won't do all that much for a neck dive issue, unless it weighs over a pound.
Loop the strap through your belt. No mods, and unless you play at your nipples, no change in instrument height or angle, save the headstock isn't straining to say hi to the floor.
Why have I read dozens (hundreds) of posts grumbling about neck-dive and never seen this solution mentioned? None of my basses dives, but I've just tried the solution out and it certainly holds everything in place. If you've (ahem) eaten too many pies so your belt isn't very adjacent to where the bass lies it would be easy to rig a loop from your belt with velcro or a popper.
Quite the creative solution, but I'd personally hate having my bass attached to me so to speak. knowing me I'd trip or forget it's stuck to my belt and wreck it. Also, I think it would restrict freedom when playing and moving around. Though that is dependant on your playing style of course.
30+ years ago I sewed a little pouch near one end of my strap and inserted enough 2x3" sheet lead pieces into it until my Bicentennial T-Bird was balanced.
I think Reverend is now making a strap like that.
I think Reverend is now making a strap like that.
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,633
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
yes, there are straps with weight pouches that are available now. i guess i just prefer removing weight on a bass (especially at the headstock) , rather than adding more weight to the strap or body to balance one. i'm getting old, and my back is bad enough as it is. 
Well back then I was only 21 and an extra half pound meant nothing.
Today I'd probably tie a dozen helium balloons to the headstock.
Today I'd probably tie a dozen helium balloons to the headstock.
or you could sell me you jaguar bass neck and buy a lighter jazz neck 
hahahaha
naaah just kidding, i think a bigger strap would work!
Good luck with that!
hahahahanaaah just kidding, i think a bigger strap would work!
Good luck with that!
