Lower Strap Button Placement

[SpiderBass1965]

Looked like it. I have no clue why - live streaming/filming???

Exactly. Gives you a good view of what he's seeing

 

[Tim Skaggs]

I built some extensions out of aluminum strap I bought at the local hardware store. A bass with a bolt on neck has a ready-to-use point of attachmen.

 

[mikecd1]

I put ultralites on my JMJ mustang and the neck dive went away.

 

[MochaFiend]

I put ultralites on my JMJ mustang and the neck dive went away.

I know I mentioned that I'm dying with this bass, and so am not worried about making modifications. I was unable to find drop-in ultralight replacements. Every lightweight tuner I looked at required re-drilling for the screws. Can you tell me what tuners you ended up using?

 

[WI Short Scaler]

You can rig it up temporarily to try out the effect of raising the rear strap button. Put the strap on the button where it is, and then use a piece of duct tape to tape the strap tight against the body up higher. This will be about the same effect as moving the strap button to that upper point. Try it on and see if it works.

Raising the rear strap button can help with the balance, but it probably won't be enough for you. Since you're describing the neck dive as unusable. You'll probably need to move the upper strap button by making some kind of extension.

I used this suggestion from Bruce over the weekend. Taping the strap gives you a good idea of how the bass will hang. And once I found a good spot I used a real small drill bit to make the initial pilot hole. I removed the tape and the strap, drilled the proper hole and moved the lower strap pin. Problem solved. The total distance of the move was just over 2 inches. For reference, the bodies are a CV Mustang and Fender Musicmaster. I assume ever body style and bass setup might be different.

Unlike the OP the neck dive I had was not "unusable" though. If I would let go of the neck the basses would only hang straight horizontal and not dive for the floor. This keeps them more in line with the location/angle I wanted while playing.

The pins look much like the setup in @humbuckaroo's photo here.

Oddly enough the Tele short scale didn't have the issue. But that also has a very lightweight Bronco neck.

 

[mikecd1]

I know I mentioned that I'm dying with this bass, and so am not worried about making modifications. I was unable to find drop-in ultralight replacements. Every lightweight tuner I looked at required re-drilling for the screws. Can you tell me what tuners you ended up using?

I used the hipshot HB6C and drilled a small hole to accommodate the screw. No biggie

 

[MochaFiend]

I built some extensions out of aluminum strap I bought at the local hardware store. A bass with a bolt on neck has a ready-to-use point of attachment.

I will continue to wish for instruments that come balanced from the manufacturer, but yours is actually a really cool idea. Not the most aesthetically pleasing solution, but absolutely fantastic without risking the torque on the upper horn.

Thanks! I had them cut & anodized because at one time I owned 6 ASAT basses and something had to be done about the [for me] less than comfortable ergonomics. Even sold about a dozen all over the world. But alas, I sold all the ASATs & returned to my slab roots.
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Genius. Love it.