Who doesn’t mind neck dive?

[Warpeg]

This one has had me scratching my head for many years. Maybe I’m just an outlier.

Like many players, I’ve owned my fair share of basses that had some degree of neck dive. Some have had a lot and others just a small amount. Playing basses with neck dive has never been a hindrance to me; it’s basically unnoticeable while I’m playing and a non-issue while I’m not. Yet, I’ve read tons of posts from folks that treat neck dive as a nuisance. My question to the TB collective is this: Are there others that find neck dive to be irrelevant?

 

[Killing Floor]

Me. I’m not acting like I want it. But if a bass or guitar otherwise plays and sounds nice I don’t really care. There are definitely things that pull my trigger. But neck heavy is not a dealbreaker for me.

The 4 string I’m playing the most right now is a P with a 1 pc rosewood neck. It tips noticeably. I put a Fender brand strap lock on the front only, those offset the strap about 3/4”. I use a 2” Italia suede strap, I don’t care for wide straps. We all have different preferences.

 

[BassyBill]

I can’t play any bass with neck dive in a standing position. How can you play with good left hand technique if you’re using that hand just to support the neck? Talking as a right-handed player, obviously.

 

[swink]

Before I was active on TB, in had never heard of it, let alone worried about it.
It is one of those problems that only arises when it is pointed out to you.
Before I had a mirror, I would never have known I was ugly.

 

[Snarf]

Neck dive is objectively awful from an ergonomic and technique standpoint.

 

[Vodyanoi]

I don't care much for it since I always play while seated, exercising a classical guitar posture. Whatever neck dive my instruments have (minor on my Maruszczyk Elwood but quite noticeable on my Harley Benton PB50) is negated by my posture.

So, definitely not a deal breaker for me.

 

[JimiLL]

I have one of the most notorious neck dive happy basses ever created… Warwick Bolt on Thumb 5 string.

If you play the instrument higher up on the strap, the “correct” position, a lot of that issue goes away. Wider straps can also help.

And the Hipshot Ultralights I put on it made a noticeable improvement as well. But it still doesn’t balance as well is my cirrus

 

[Moondog]

I can't deal with neck dive. It's not ergonomic and I have way too many physical issues that neck dive makes worse. If a bass has neck dive, it' s a dealbreaker. Not for me.

 

[buldog5151bass]

If you have to support the weight of the neck, it affects your playing.

 

[Moondog]

If you have to support the weight of the neck, it affects your playing.

It certainly does, and not in a good way.

It's almost incomprehensible to me that most bass manufacturers don't take the time to weigh the bodies and necks and match them properly, so that there is no neck dive.

 

[nonohmic]

It certainly does, and not in a good way.

It's almost incomprehensible to me that most bass manufacturers don't take the time to weigh the bodies and necks and match them properly, so that there is no neck dive.

Cause then they would have a cadre of super heavy basses they could never sell.

 

[darwin-bass]

This one has had me scratching my head for many years. Maybe I’m just an outlier.

Like many players, I’ve owned my fair share of basses that had some degree of neck dive. Some have had a lot and others just a small amount. Playing basses with neck dive has never been a hindrance to me; it’s basically unnoticeable while I’m playing and a non-issue while I’m not. Yet, I’ve read tons of posts from folks that treat neck dive as a nuisance. My question to the TB collective is this: Are there others that find neck dive to be irrelevant?

For years it I didn't notice it. Then I got a bass that was 100% neck dive free. And I mean not even neck heavy. I could hang it from a nylon seatbelt strap and it would't move. Suddenly it was like the blinders had been removed and I found what I had been missing all those years. Playing became easier and the whole experience was just more enjoyable.

Same thing when I got a light weight bass. I didn't care until I discovered what I had been missing.

If you're happy with neck dive - more power to you!

 

[BassFishingInAmerica]

One advantage of playing with a pick is that my forearm rests on the body, offsetting any minor issues with balance.

 

[chris_b]

Beats me why anyone would design a bass that had any neck dive at all.

 

[eastcoasteddie]

I hate neck dive. That’s why I make sure my basses have heavy bodies. All my basses are 10.5 to 11.25 lbs.
They don’t neck-dive.

 

[6-3-2]

My main bass has it and I think I prefer a little neck dive. I haven't thought about why, but I think for my own style a little dive feels more comfortable. I don't have any pain or fatigue after playing either, and I move all over the neck. When I pull my bass up to 45 degrees, I just feel very cramped in the lower register.

I'm also like @Killing Floor that I don't like a wide strap, they dig into my neck. I bought one from Gruv Gear and sent it back immediately. 2" suede strap gives me zero issues.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Same here. Although I don't know that I have ever owned a bass with extreme neck dive, since I got one that was super well balanced, the ones that aren't become really apparent really quick.

 

[Altitude]

I think I might hold my bass in a more horizontal way, with my right forearm bearing some weight onto the bass that keeps neck dive from becoming an issue. I’ve never noticed it in any case.

 

[B-Mac]

Before I was active on TB, in had never heard of it, let alone worried about it.
It is one of those problems that only arises when it is pointed out to you.
Before I had a mirror, I would never have known I was ugly.

 

[Jrussblues]

Beats me why anyone would design a bass that had any neck dive at all.

Yep