Worst Neckdive You've Experienced

[apolinario87]

(The worst) No. 1: Epiphone EB-3
No. 2: Epi EB-0
No. 3 Washburn WB-66

 

[amper]

Definitely a Warwick Thumb I checked out at NJ Guitar & Bass. Those things are so unbalanced, I can't understand why anyone would want one.

 

[drlemon]

Rick Turner Hollowbody . There was neck dive when you sat down.

Ooh boy, seconding this. I love my Rick Turner to death (fretless 5 string Renaissance), but if I let go of it, it sinks like a stone. Luckily it's an incredibly light bass so I keep it up with the combo of a wide strap and a little bit of bracing with my right arm, but it's still noticeable. Doesn't bother me when it sounds so good and plays so well though!

(Not the strap I've currently got on it)

 

[amper]

One of the most beautifully made basses I've ever seen was my Matsumoku-made 1980 Washburn B-20 Stage Bass. Just superb but neck-dived straight down as soon as your hand left it. Too bad, oh too bad! Such a superb bass otherwise. I wish I'd kept it because of its build/beauty.

Early 80s Matsumoku-made instruments are a thing of real beauty. My first guitar was a Matsumoku Epiphone Emperor F. I sold it in 2012 for not much money, only to see them skyrocket in price in the past 6 years.

 

[Kevan Campbell]

Where the button is located will make a huge difference. I have both a Gibson and an Epi 5 string Thunderbird...the Gibson, the button is located on the back and there's next to no dive. I could also raise my arms like the video and it wouldn't move, while wearing a standard 2" strap no less. If I wiggle and bounce around it might start heading toward the ground, and once it gets past horizontal, it will slide the rest of the way. But as it is, it stays put without any sort of effort.

The 5 string Epi I bought used off eBay. The previous owner moved the button from the upper horn to a strange location on the back, basically where the neck and body come together. I don't really like it where they moved it so I put it back to its original location on the upper horn...and that lasted about 30 seconds. Horrible neck dive! I mostly understand why they moved it after that...I just don't know why they chose so close to the neck. I don't really want to put an additional hole in the thing to move it to the same spot as my Gibby, so I'm just dealing with it. Anyhow, that one slightly dives...it's heavier than my Gibson with a wider neck being a 5er and the extra tuning key...but if I were still, I could probably still do the hands up move, so it's not horrible and instant dive.

Interesting. I briefly owned a 2013 Gibson Thunderbird IV with the strap button in the rear at the neck joint like yours, and on that bass (with a padded 3” strap) if I took my fretting hand off the neck at all it would dive quickly. However, my Mike Lull T5 has its strap button on the upper bout like your Epi and there’s no neck dive at all when I take my fretting hand off.

It could be a product of different woods and manufacture processes, or maybe the multi-laminate wood neck on the Gibson has something to do with it? I dunno.

 

[jason the fox]

One of the most beautifully made basses I've ever seen was my Matsumoku-made 1980 Washburn B-20 Stage Bass. Just superb but neck-dived straight down as soon as your hand left it. Too bad, oh too bad! Such a superb bass otherwise. I wish I'd kept it because of its build/beauty.

View attachment 2991919 View attachment 2991920 View attachment 2991921

Thee look so cool. Did Rudy Sarzo play these at one point? I might be way off with that.

 

[Perrygoround]

My diamond Hailfire bass.
It has a LOT of Neck Dive, much worse than my Epi TBird Classic IV. But, however, I have found the way to play it very confortabily. The secret is to have a nice wide and very long leather strap, set very very low, so the nut is very reachable and play with the bass in an angle of 45º of more.
First time I used it, with a strat set like in my TBird it was a weird instrument to play. After finding out the right strap lenght it became much more easy. And after applying that lenght with a nicer strap, it feels like home to me.

 

[ajn]

Of all the basses I've owned along the way, this Lyle (Matsumoku) single cutaway hollowbody had, by far, the worst neck dive.

 

[dikger]

For me it was a 79 aluminum necked Kramer DMZ 6000B. Straight toward the ground like it was a dividing rod, and i was looking for water! Beautiful bass though, tone for days.

 

[jonzbass]

A Ken Smith BT6. Great sound, awful neck dive even with a wide strap. Better with the gruv gear duo strap, still uncomfortable though.

 

[Joma3]

Interesting. I briefly owned a 2013 Gibson Thunderbird IV with the strap button in the rear at the neck joint like yours, and on that bass (with a padded 3” strap) if I took my fretting hand off the neck at all it would dive quickly. However, my Mike Lull T5 has its strap button on the upper bout like your Epi and there’s no neck dive at all when I take my fretting hand off.

It could be a product of different woods and manufacture processes, or maybe the multi-laminate wood neck on the Gibson has something to do with it? I dunno.

Interesting indeed. Though admittedly, with a strap, I've only played the two I own. I've tried others at the store, but didn't strap them up.

 

[Greyfoxxero]

Warwick Thumb BO 5 string. Hell, pretty much any Warwick I have ever demo'ed.

 

[Sidewinder IV]

I had a 67-68 Vox Sidewinder IV. The headstock was heavier than the entire bass. Despite the dive, I would take it back in a heartbeat.

 

[GonePlaid]

It's been mentioned but I sold my Epi EB-3L because of the neckdive. If I let go...... like a crash-diving U-Boat.

 

[ebo]

Gibson EB0/3, and a Warmoth parts bass that had an ebony neck. Not just an ebony fretboard- an ebony neck.

Also some Thumbs have dove straight down.

I agree with the Gibson EBO. I have a ‘66 and it sits in the closet because I can’t stand having to hold the neck between songs. Used ones almost always have repaired necks. Mine is still clean but also sitting in the closet...

 

[Vara La Fey]

Nothing and I mean absolutely NOTHING points straight to the floor quicker or worse than the Honda Flash (by harry fleishman ) bass I have.
An Inaudible Hum: Noise & the Tyranny of Form: LOW ARCHITECTURE 9: HONDO "FLASH" BASS

OMG lawn dart. Even my Bird wouldn't be that bad, and it dives like Greg Louganis.

So far only 1 mention of a 'Splorer. I want one of those, but the Bird-like shape has always worried me. I'll put up with the Bird diving for field mice, but I also want something that looks as cool and stays in the air.

 

[eddieout]

This bass.
When it was fretted.

But it doesn't dive now.
Now it's fretless.
And it has Hipshot Ultralite tuners.
And I use a wide,soft Comfort Strapp.
No dive.
Hands off.View attachment 2992116

How do you like the Hipshot Ultralight Tuners? I've thought about them for an upgrade.

 

[GonePlaid]

OMG lawn dart. Even my Bird wouldn't be that bad, and it dives like Greg Louganis.

So far only 1 mention of a 'Splorer. I want one of those, but the Bird-like shape has always worried me. I'll put up with the Bird diving for field mice, but I also want something that looks as cool and stays in the air.

I have a NR 'Bird. Never dives.

 

[D Bowden]

I have an old Fender Squire Katana from the early 80’s. My buddy calls it Shazam, say it looks like a lightning bolt. Looks dated, but kinda cool. If you take your hands of it, it nods off immediately.

 

[mikael wilt]

The worst neck dive bass that I have had and didn't keep for less than a month was a Epiphone ThunderBird Bass. Besides the neck dive I felt like I had to stretch my arm out a mile to play the first five frets...MDW