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Neck Dive...Really?

#81
I was actually thinking of making a thread like this. I don't know why it's so hard to believe that a P bass can have neck dive. My P bass has plenty of neck dive, it's actually been annoying me a lot lately. My jazz bass didn't but my p bass does. It can happen guys, even if it hasn't happened to you. I know this is Talkbass and P basses are still a big deal but that doesn't mean they're always perfect.
 
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#83
In my opinion, since the upper horn and strap button are right above the 12th fret, neck diving only occurs with ultra light weight bodies, like a Fender Bass in the below 8 lbs range...........which is pretty rare.

Once I built a P bass with a 3 lbs 8 oz Warmoth ash body and the completed bass was somewhat neck heavy. I switched out the tuners to Gotoh Res O Lites which took about 5 oz off of the headstock and killed the neck dive.

The completed Warmoth/Fender P Bass ended up @ 7 lbs 3 oz for a total weight. Almost floats out of the case when the lid is opened! :thumbsup:
 
#88
Warwick Thumb BO. Man, that thing was a dive machine. The bass is so pretty, but the upper horn is so short the first position is really far away and the bass will always strive to be horizontal or worse. Putting on a wider/rougher strap only made it take off my shirt (true story!). Finally traded it for a Fender J that, while it's not as pretty or well built, it is more comfortable and sounds better.
 
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#89
fhm555 said:
Hey folks...

So I keep seeing all these warnings about neck dive with Fender basses. I've never owned enough P basse long enough to have any real standing up all night performing with a P experience, but what limited experience I do have in that regard, I cannot recall ever having to wrestle to keep the neck up off the floor.

With Jazz basses I've own(ed) all manner of variants from Fender, standard, dinky body, long scale, UL tuners, factory BA bridge, factory Schaller locking bridge, and just about anything else you can think of. I've also logged a lot of hours standing all night with a Jazz performing and have never experienced even a hint of neck dive. I've also discussed this with a lot of other bass players and so far I have yet to meet a single bass player with any experience with neck dive when using a Fender Jazz bass.

Outside of Fenders I've played a lot of other basses over the years, a lot of different Peavey models, a bunch of hollow and semi hollow bodies, short scale, long scale, ex long scale, and 4 and 5 strings and unless it happened in my sleep I can honestly say I've never experienced any neck dive, or so little I can't recall it happening.

Am I living a sheltered life or is there something I'm missing here. I understand the basic premise of balance and how strap button placement, top horn length, etc, can have an effect on balance, or the obvious too much weight out at the end of that lever called the neck, but are there other factors like where you wear you bass in relation to your body, neck angle in relation to the ground, type of strap, width of strap, etc that can contribute to or cause neck dive.

I'm just trying to get a handle on why I read about neck dive but have never experienced it and don't know anyone else who has.

Thanks in advance for any and all opinions and experiences.
Click to expand...

You're not alone. I've been playing close to 20 years and never, ever, experienced what everyone refers to as "neckdive."

Additionally, I don't remember ever worrying about the weight of my instrument. I am NOT a big strong guy and have never had issue playing my 10-ish pound jazz bass for a few hours.
 
#90
My Fernandes FAB has a huge neck dive due to the hollowed out body. It is playable with a strap, but it is not comfortable. I only use the bass at home playing it sitting down, in that position the neck dive is not so bad. I won't sell that bass though, the sound is just to good. It is possible to make the body heavier with some lead ballast, but after so many years playing on it I sort of got used to the neck dive.
 
#91
99% of my career I've owned and payed Fender basses. The only instrument I've ever experienced neck dive on was an Epiphone T-bird that I played for a super last minute gig; I didn't have anytime to go home between work and playing, and one of the other bands' bass players said I could use his rig. It wasn't horribly annoying either, but it was something I hadn't experienced before.
 
#93
J-Bassomatic said:
Gibson EB0 and EB3. Had one of each, got tired of holding the necks up. Loved the shape and color. I have heard from people here that they did not experience the problem but you will find it's not uncommon. Bought a J-Bass and have never had the problem since.
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I've never had an EB-3, but I used to gig with a Gibson EB-0 a lot when I was younger. It had no neck dive, period. So I have to include myself as one of those people without the problem. It does seem clear, though, that some people have the problem and some don't (for whatever reason.) In my case, if my bass had had any neck dive, I wouldn't have been able to tolerate it at all. Because at that time I was having to play and sing, too. As you've mentioned, a J-bass also has no neck dive. At least none have that I've played.
 
#94
All the basses I've ever owned had some neck dive. My Gibson Thunderbird was the worst. I prefer 34" scales precisly for that reason, but my Lakland 55-94 was only avaliable in a 35" scale (when they built the original
prototype, they apparently were considering a 34") The solution for me is a Duo Strap. it solves all those problems.

Ric
 
#95
bass40hz said:
Had a BC Rich Mockingbird Heritage Classic, the legends are oh so true, the worst neck dive ever...re-homed her real fast. Its the only bass I've had neck dive with.
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TRUTH!

As for the Fenders, I have two light-weight MIJ basswood body models and neither has a hint of neck dive. I also have a flying V variation with no upper horn for a strap button, and it doesn't neck dive either because the extensions on the V body compensate for the neck/head weight perfectly.
 
#96
Rocker949 said:
I've never had an EB-3, but I used to gig with a Gibson EB-0 a lot when I was younger. It had no neck dive, period. So I have to include myself as one of those people without the problem. It does seem clear, though, that some people have the problem and some don't (for whatever reason.) In my case, if my bass had had any neck dive, I wouldn't have been able to tolerate it at all. Because at that time I was having to play and sing, too. As you've mentioned, a J-bass also has no neck dive. At least none have that I've played.
Click to expand...
I'd still have the EB3 if it wasn't for that. it was a pretty nice bass all in all, even if I found one without the problem they are so expensive right now. I LOVE the shape of the body.
 
#100
Try a five string or two. And try with one of those seat-belt material straps. If you're using a strap with suede or anything remotely grippy against your shoulder you may not experience it.

Tom
 

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