What basses have the worse "neck dive" issues

[Sid Fang]

Worst neck diver I've personally played is one I own - my first bass, a '64 Epiphone Embassy. Think of it as a massive mahogany Thunderbird-type neck and electronics on a tiny Wilshire body, with the strap button parallel to the 15th fret. It was in the used section of Leo's Music in Oakland for a long time, despite having great tone. Fortunately, it's pretty light overall, and I was able to tame it with a wide, contoured strap that hugs my shoulder.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

Those Epi Embassy basses are very under-appreciated. That's a nice piece!

 

[nashvillebill]

A Gibson Les Paul 5 had the worst neck dive of anything I've ever owned (or even picked up). Small body, long heavy neck.

When a family member stole it to pawn it for drugs, they were almost doing me a favor...

 

[deste]

My Danelectro Longhorn (1999 Korean reissue): chunky neck, hollow masonite body. I had to buy a padded leather mandolin strap to get some grip on my shoulder.
And I bought it only because it was light...
(but I like it a lot!)

 

[retardedpossum]

Kramer 450b

 

[funkateer86]

I had a '77 Alembic Series 1 that had some impressive neck dive.

 

[bassmanrocke]

Late sixties Vox Cougar was the worst I had. My old Guild b-301 was a pretty bad neck diver, but at least it had great tone.

 

[marcray]

I love Guild B301's, 302's, but the neck dive is atrocious. I used it for a year on the road but couldn't take it no more.

 

[Steve Dallman]

I had no neck dive problems with the Explorer bass I built in the 80's.

 

[funkingroovin]

This bad boy..

The headstock dove to the 5 o'clock position regardless what strap I used,due to small body and the strap pin at the 21st fret. I kept it around for a couple years because it was an absolute tone monster thanks to its late 70's Double Eagle electronics,but eventually comfort while playing won out. It's still the one I most regret selling.

 

[rtslinger]

Worst one I had was my BC Rich Jersey Beast

 

[GIBrat51]

Kramer 450b

^Yes! A hundred times yes!. This one, and to a much lesser extent, my Gibson T-Bird, are the only two out of my 16 that I consider "neck-divers". Standing still, with a grippy strap, the Kramer has pulled my shirt-tail completely out of my pants, in just less than a minute-all by itself. Some of my basses, like the 2 Ricks and the Carvin, want to be parallel to the floor, but that, to me, is not "neck-Dive". Any yes, I know it is, to a lot of people. But, when it's my bass, on my strap, on my shoulder, then I get to decide. The rest of my basses stay where I want them, no problem. Playing the Kramer, for me, is like holding it's neck and an 8" cast iron skillet in the same hand; the T-Bird is more like holding the neck and a can of beer. But, the Kramer has a tone like no other bass, and it's the sound of "Lucifer's Hammer" that makes it worth the pain.

 

[GM60466]

Waterstone TP 12string bass

 

[BassHappy]

I need to start paying more attention to the neck dive issue - but since I am on the medium scale diet, I haven't noticed it in any of the basses. The fact is - I don't stand up much and some of them might be diving away.

BassHappy
www.innertainment.net

 

[halfjackson]

Warwick Thumb basses.

 

[Walmark]

60s extra long scale (uk term?) Tbird ,no doubt.... But I love a bird that gets the neck down

 

[Batmensch]

I can't ever recall having any kind of issue with neck dive on any bass I've ever played.

 

[Steve Dallman]

Look, With a neck heavy bass, you use a wide strap that is not slippery. And/or switch the tuners to lighter ones.

I've been using a Slinger Waist Strap the last year, and neck dive is never an issue. No shoulder or neck pain either. (which used to be a problem with my arthritis and aging body.)

 

[Warmuth]

All 3 of my warlocks were a royal p.i.t.a. to play until I put brackets on them to extend the straplock position. Felt like I was holding up the entire bass with my left hand.

 

[Brian Jeffries]

gibson EB-3L