Neck dive is for real! (And so are Res-o-lite tuners)

nice resolution to a neck dive problem!

i've used hipshot ultralites and gotoh carbon-o-lites to resolve the dive but i've never had the pleasure of using the res-o-lites. the carbon-o-lites helped to give me a 6.2 lb. ax!

when i was younger (20s-30s) i never had neck dive issues...ever! now i'm 70 and i smell neck dive in the neighboring counties. what happened?

 

When I did a detail strip and clean on my 78 Jazz, I was amazed at how much the tuners weighed! Without the tuners, the neck was as light as feather. Fortunately, I dont have neck dive but, that much weight on the end of the neck has got to affect the sustain or something. Did you notice any tonal difference after changing your tuners?

 

Interesting. I would have thought that lighter tuners would allow the neck to vibrate more, hence, more sustain and growl. If they are anything like the Gotohs that I just installed on my Martin HD-28, they are an upgrade for sure!

 

everybody makes fun...until they don't!

none.

the physics of the whole concept would actually suggest the opposite effect...if it actually mattered. all things equal + competent parts + competent setup = everything that matters occurs between the nut and the bridge saddles.

 

I changed from Fender-style to Hipshot lightweight paddle tuners - lost .4 lbs and solved neck dive completely. I couldn’t tell any sonic difference.

 

@tb-player, is your avatar bass a scpb with thunderbird pickups?

 

I use Gotoh & Hipshot and find light weight tuners a must.

Glad you got that beauty sorted.

 

I prefer low-mass machine-heads

 

In the "every little bit helps" category, I also add a short extension to the top horn strap button which also aids in the balance.

 

I changed the stock tuners on my 2004 MIJ Geddy Lee to HipShot UltraLites ad lost 1.0 lbs at the headstock. It’s a MUCH more comfortable bass to play now.
The UltraLites are a completely different footprint (much smaller) but I had to do something about my shoulder and neck! I bought the lollypop version and, although the stems are a little shorter, no one knows it’s been modded unless they look at the back of the headstock. I never thought I’d appreciate 1 lb the way I do now .

 

Well, I'm happy for you. Glad you solved your neck dive problem... no, really, I am. But, I have to ask; if you had your bass on a grippy strap, and let go of it; would it try to yank your tucked-in shirt out of your pants, and then pull it off over your head? No? Well, this one (yes, it's mine) can - and has. It's also kinda quick about it, too. And those special order Schaller tuners, at 64 gms each, aren't all that heavy to begin with, either; so even if there were other tuners that would fit the thing, I doubt they would make much difference. Short of hanging a car battery off its butt - or shortening the neck about 9 inches, - it will always dive like a scared U-Boat. I just... live with it. And wear a slippery strap....

 

Nah... I just hold a 12" cast iron skillet out at arms length, 3 times a week, for as long as I can. I try for 3 sets of 10... My right arm kinda looks like Popeye's, but I can hold the stupid thing up for a song or three...