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The Cure for a Neck Heavy bass

I thought I was the only one who considers stuff like this... Lol
The best solution I've found is to insert a 1.0 or 1.5 pound wrist / ankle weight from a fitness store, into the control cavity of the guitar or bass. because the control cavity is usually near the bottom of the guitar body, this nicely reduces or eliminates neck dive.
Obviously though, some basses and guitars don't have enough room for this fix.
D
 
Nobody sees a belt around your thigh? Sounds like your bass is a little low. If you strapped it higher it might not neck dive so badly in the first place.

I have a Tune TWB63 six string fretless.The lowest end is at my mid thigh.The upper horn end is at my sternum.If I wear it too high,it will be difficult to play the first position comfortably.Too low,can't play in the upper register.Where I have it is just right.Especially while sitting. At any height,the bass neck dives.Weight is weight.High or low.The belt fixes the angle of the bass at about 45 degrees.More or less.My left hand and arm do not have to support the neck weight.I take my left hand away.The angle is the same.Near effortless fretting.
 
I thought I was the only one who considers stuff like this... Lol
The best solution I've found is to insert a 1.0 or 1.5 pound wrist / ankle weight from a fitness store, into the control cavity of the guitar or bass. because the control cavity is usually near the bottom of the guitar body, this nicely reduces or eliminates neck dive.
Obviously though, some basses and guitars don't have enough room for this fix.
D
Right!Tried that!Two years ago I had a Schecter five string bass with the same problem.I put lead weights from a model train store in the cavity.It worked a bit.But not enough.I even considered a lead block sewn into the strap.Never got that far.
 
I have a Tune TWB63 six string fretless.The lowest end is at my mid thigh.The upper horn end is at my sternum.If I wear it too high,it will be difficult to play the first position comfortably.Too low,can't play in the upper register.Where I have it is just right.Especially while sitting. At any height,the bass neck dives.Weight is weight.High or low.The belt fixes the angle of the bass at about 45 degrees.More or less.My left hand and arm do not have to support the neck weight.Near effortless fretting.

That sounds like it is horribly unbalanced to begin with. When playing with a strap your bass should sit in the exact same spot as it does when seated. If I have my bass strapped on and sit down, it falls perfectly onto my lap, if anything is a c-hair higher than my leg.
 
That sounds like it is horribly unbalanced to begin with. When playing with a strap your bass should sit in the exact same spot as it does when seated. If I have my bass strapped on and sit down, it falls perfectly onto my lap, if anything is a c-hair higher than my leg.

It does and it IS balanced.The angle stays the same.Sitting or standing.When I play sitting,my bass is between my legs.The lower horn is on my left thigh.In front of me.I don't see how you think that's unbalanced when I don't have to adjust the angle from sitting to standing.It also may be that your bass is a bit narrower than mine.IDK
 
Simple. Just get a tube that goes around your junk and run it down your leg and into a bag that will catch your pee so you dont even have to leave the stage. No neck dive. No pee breaks. Im sold.

Every combat aircraft I worked on had a narrow plastic funnel located under the pilot's seat, with tubing attached that exited through the bottom of the plane. It's called a "relief tube".
 
That sounds like it is horribly unbalanced to begin with. When playing with a strap your bass should sit in the exact same spot as it does when seated. If I have my bass strapped on and sit down, it falls perfectly onto my lap, if anything is a c-hair higher than my leg.

I clicked on your namelink.There is a picture of you playing a bass.I play at a little less angle and a bit lower than you play.
 
I feel very fortunate to have never needed to strap a belt around my thigh in the crotchal area to make my bass comfortable to play...very fortunate indeed.

I was jokingly thinking about dangling a weight from the body of the bass as a solution....and then a guy said he puts a weight in his bass....like for real...this thread is awesome!!

BTW....+1 for the pee tube idea KablesP


I thought I was the only one who considers stuff like this... Lol
The best solution I've found is to insert a 1.0 or 1.5 pound wrist / ankle weight from a fitness store, into the control cavity of the guitar or bass. because the control cavity is usually near the bottom of the guitar body, this nicely reduces or eliminates neck dive.
Obviously though, some basses and guitars don't have enough room for this fix.
D
 
resolite tuners and a high mass bridge. extra wide strap.

edit: sorry thought this was a serious thread.

The post started as a serious statement,but the comedians took over.Let 'em run to the joke.They need it!Seriously,I've considered changing out the tuners to some lighter ones.Possibly some exotic wooden ones.THG Knobs makes some interesting stuff.As far as the bridge is concerned,a bridge much like the kind in a Traben Chaos or Core model would be perfect.But I doubt that Traben makes a six string bass bridge.I've even though of the prospect of inserting a brass or aluminum block under the bridge.But I don't dare go that far!Resolite tuners eh?Interesing!I'll check them out!
 
Changing directions a little...

With a post title like that one might expect it to be a good cure for many types of basses, however we have learned it only applies to this particularly ungainly bass.

Not just my bass.There are many popular basses that neck dive.Gibson Thunderbird.The Fender Jazz and some P-Basses I hear take a dive.Most five and six string basses dive.I've had over 18 different basses over the last thirty years.And half of them dove to some degree!The only bass I've had that didn't dive was a Traben John Moyer!(Not the expensive one)So many basses also dive.Not just mine!Plus many with basses that neck dive have been compensating by raising the neck unconsciously.And really don't know it until they play a bass that doesn't dive.
 
Go on...

Only having owned seven or eight basses over the last 20 years I must say I have never had a problem with neck dive. This includes some Yamahas with very light/small bodies.

I am happy you found a solution you like for your bass, but you must see it is not one most people are going to use, or even need for that matter.
 
I have a MIJ Jazz with neck dive -- light basswood body being the culprit, probably.

I think about solutions a lot, especially as I'm about to put a fretless Warmoth neck on it, which will probably be heavier than the stock neck. I'm hoping Ultralite tuners will make enough of a difference, but I follow these kind of ideas with interest just in case.
 
It does and it IS balanced.The angle stays the same.Sitting or standing.When I play sitting,my bass is between my legs.The lower horn is on my left thigh.In front of me.I don't see how you think that's unbalanced when I don't have to adjust the angle from sitting to standing.It also may be that your bass is a bit narrower than mine.IDK

Ohhhh... you play classical position, that is why. I have never met/seen a bass player who plays classical style, I suppose that is where it would rest when seated.

Also, I am headbanging in the picture, my bass neck is not normally at such a high angle... and yes I nipple ride.
 
Ohhhh... you play classical position, that is why. I have never met/seen a bass player who plays classical style, I suppose that is where it would rest when seated.

Also, I am headbanging in the picture, my bass neck is not normally at such a high angle... and yes I nipple ride.

Hmm...I didn't think about that.It just feels comfortable.I suppose a classical guitarist footrest under my left foot would be in order!