My new 8-pound Squier Precision. Light body + 4-in-line headstock = neck dive. But a new grippy strap is helping a lot, and a tuner swap might be enough to make it unnoticeable.
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Worst neck dive
- Thread starter Flatsnashtrays
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- #neckdive
I've had some very neck-divey basses over the years, but the absolute winner is a Kramer XKB-10 "Flying V" bass I had (briefly) back in the 80's (exactly like this one). The combination of the V shaped body and the aluminum neck made it unwieldy to say the least. Was very heavy in general and the neck dove straight for the ground like an over-enthusiastic Kamakaze. Better suited as a farm implement than a musical instrument. What was Kramer thinking? What was I thinking when I bought it?
For me it was my first-run late '70s fretless Wal Probass. Huge paddle headstock with massive Schaller M4 machine heads - the current M4S is designated 'light' at 68g, but I'm sure back in the early days they were anything but. Coupled with a lightweight solid ash body the dive was unworkable on the strap. The later Mk1 'Custom' models had a slightly smaller tapered headstock and I suspect that the mahogany core with exotic facings and really hefty electronics package compared to the Probass made the body a little heavier as I don't remember them suffering in quite the same way. Eventually the Mk2 body shape extended the upper horn to the 12th fret which solved the problem once and for all.
These days I have a Warwick Corvette that also has a slight tendancy to dive, but nothing like the old Probass - it seems to stop at horizontal so still needs some right arm support to stay put, so it only gets played sitting down at home. But I do wish I still had the Probass. I sold it at a time when you couldn't give them away. These days I could sell it for silly money but probably wouldn't.
Worst neck dive....
....without question, my '09 Thunderbird Pro 5
....without question, my '09 Thunderbird Pro 5
My Epiphone Rivoli was really bad until I put a Hipshot bridge and Ultralite tuners on it, now it sits level.
I've had a few basses that were "top heavy," but never changed out hardware or moved strap pins, rather I started using very wide leather straps, 4-inches plus, these days, and the added friction over my shoulder took care of any dive sans any physical modifications, and distributed the weight better too, so I don't have to ask, "Weight?" every time I look into buying a bass.
This are THE solution for neck dive: Long Scale Gibson EB-3L 4L etc have been the worst I've encountered and these pretty much eliminate it, you let go of the neck and they stay put and your arm doesn't get tired holding them up either. These are 3" wide, not cheap but definitely worth the money. When I see the five thousandth thread on neck dive I wonder "When are they going to learn?" Three to four inch wide cotton or leather straps are not only comfortable but distribute the weight and the pull and poof, it's gone! They're also very good for heavy basses.
That would have to be my MIM 5 string. While I was able to tame it a bit with an appropriate strap, what made the biggest difference was installing Hipshot Ultralite tuners. It basically cured the neck dive and made playing it so much easier.
Fender Kingman ABG. Full size jazz neck with full-size cloverleaf tuners on an acoustic guitar body.
I forgot to mention the Les Paul bass I owned fir a while.
Bad neck dive, but that wasn’t the biggest irritant.
The real deal breaker was the type of sticky nitro finish that caused little balls of scum appear on the back of the neck while playing
Bad neck dive, but that wasn’t the biggest irritant.
The real deal breaker was the type of sticky nitro finish that caused little balls of scum appear on the back of the neck while playing
Me too. I've owned both. Not only do the SGs neck dive but in my experience they also pull away from my body. I've never played a bass that was intent on meeting the floor as an SG bass.
I looked it up yesterday and made a correction post (#60). What a stupid idea to put a long-scale bass neck with a long headstock and heavy tuning keys on a modest-size acoustic guitar body!
I still have a Rocket Roll I bought new in '76 or '77. A wide leather strap keeps it from diving much. I would love to have the 70's Destroyer explorer to match this and neck dive be damned! -Tom.Back in the late '70's early '80's, I had an Ibanez "Rocket Roll" flying V bass. Incredible neck dive, but I was the coolest looking bass player around.
I was referring to the bridge hanging off the body. I figured that was obvious???
There is plenty of adjustment range on the saddles to allow the bridge to be mounted closer to the bridge pickup so that it sits on the body properly.
Worst neck dive=great basses often ignored
These days, I take my Spectors, Thumb, and Thunderbirds over my P basses. (And looking at the post above mine, I’m kind of hoping I come out of my 5-string phase soon…my ASAT is seeing too much case time!)
Neck dive doesn’t scare me, but I do take a couple steps to mitigate. I wear my basses fairly low, and I make sure my straps are neither too slick nor too grippy.
These days, I take my Spectors, Thumb, and Thunderbirds over my P basses. (And looking at the post above mine, I’m kind of hoping I come out of my 5-string phase soon…my ASAT is seeing too much case time!)
Neck dive doesn’t scare me, but I do take a couple steps to mitigate. I wear my basses fairly low, and I make sure my straps are neither too slick nor too grippy.
JeezyMcNuggles
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- Feb 23, 2018
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It's 34" scale, and sits perfectly with a standard bridge. I changed the bridge. Also, it's actually not off the body, it's sitting directly on the edge...which is rounded.I was referring to the bridge hanging off the body. I figured that was obvious???
There is plenty of adjustment range on the saddles to allow the bridge to be mounted closer to the bridge pickup so that it sits on the body properly.
Gives an illusion of being off, especially at that angle. But, it's really not.
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