Neck diving – any remedy?
Question:
Mine’s a Levy, model GT102, too, on that most notorious of divers, a Gibson/Epiphone EB. It works fine. Ian "People ain’t no good." Lux Interior.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Anything I can do to lessen this, or am I stuck? > I’ve found that an extra-wide padded soft leather strap really helps anchor > the bass in one position, they sort of grip your clothing, I use a Levy > PM31. Skinny straps with a slippery surface are an invitation to > neck-diving. > I would imagine that moving the back strap button higher on the body would > help as well by shifting the point of balance rearward, and since you’re not > going to be drilling holes in an expensive bass this might be worth trying. > But at least give the strap a try, more comfortable on extended playing > sessions as well.
Response:
Move the strap botton on the bottom of the bass (bridge) up towards you about 3 inches. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Well, I finally figured out why I am so bad moving on the fretboard – I’m > holding it up. My bass neck dives until it’s pretty much parallel to the > ground. I can start it out in a comfortable position, but just breathing > seems to get it sliding down, down, down… > Anything I can do to lessen this, or am I stuck? > Oh, it’s not much of a bass – Squire by Fender P-Bass, from one of those > "everything you need to play bass guitar (except talent)" box things – and > I’m not holding up my end with the talent, either…
Response:
Hmm, I guess I have never had this kinda problem. I try to practice playing my bass in any position that I know it might be in at any point in time. When I practice sitting down, my strap is so short, it barely sits on my leg, and in most cases is pretty horizontal. When I play standing up, sometimes it is parallel with the ground, others I am headstock up high. While it is great to make sure your bass is in a position that you feel comfortable, remember that there may be situations where you will be playing in an abnormal position…and if it is a posibility, you should be ready for it. I was reading an interview with Billy Sheehan and he was talking about how he practiced tons of techniques that he almost never uses, because, well, you never know. I notice as far as bass players go, he plays with his neck pretty parallel to the ground. And as far as technical skill, you don’t get much better than Sheehan 
Thom – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Well, I finally figured out why I am so bad moving on the fretboard – I’m > holding it up. My bass neck dives until it’s pretty much parallel to the > ground. I can start it out in a comfortable position, but just breathing > seems to get it sliding down, down, down… > Anything I can do to lessen this, or am I stuck? > Oh, it’s not much of a bass – Squire by Fender P-Bass, from one of those > "everything you need to play bass guitar (except talent)" box things – and > I’m not holding up my end with the talent, either…
Response:
>I would imagine that moving the back strap button higher on the body would >help as well by shifting the point of balance rearward,
It does but it also pulls the bass forward making it awkward to play close to the bridge. I broke my neck over twenty years ago and have wrestled with the neck heavy thing for a long time as any instruments light enough for me to stand have always had light bodies. The only thing that was more than a stop gap solution has been to extend the horn or lighten the headstock. Straps (been through every conceivable setup) and strap button placement don’t really address the problems of a poorly balanced instrument they just transfer them. jeffb
Response:
>You can move the strap pins, but don’t strart re-drilling unitl you know >exactly where to do it. >Or, get yurself a new bass!
I had a doubleneck that was top heavy. By moving the strap button to the center of the bottom neck it changed the center of gravity and did the trick. Pt
Response:
> Anything I can do to lessen this, or am I stuck?
I’ve found that an extra-wide padded soft leather strap really helps anchor the bass in one position, they sort of grip your clothing, I use a Levy PM31. Skinny straps with a slippery surface are an invitation to neck-diving. I would imagine that moving the back strap button higher on the body would help as well by shifting the point of balance rearward, and since you’re not going to be drilling holes in an expensive bass this might be worth trying. But at least give the strap a try, more comfortable on extended playing sessions as well.
Response:
there is one weird approach you can try without altering the bass or buying anything. It looks strange, but works if your strap can handle it. Helps to have wide strap button/pins. Leave the top of your strap connected like you usually would. Disconnect the bottom part of the strap from the lower bout and pass it around in front of you to the same pin where the top of the strap is connected. Make sure to attach this part on top of where the other part of the strap is already attached. The pressure from the weight of the bass pulling accross will keep it attached. This will make the bass hang in classic ‘Brian Wilson’ fashion, really tilts the neck up. It feels weird, but you might be able to get used to it. I learned it from an Alembic owner who wasn’t prepared to alter his bass. http://xush.net/strap%20001.jpg http://xush.net/strap%20002.jpg my page is giving me trouble at the moment, if those don’t show up I’d be glad to email them to you. m
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Well, I finally figured out why I am so bad moving on the fretboard – I’m > holding it up. My bass neck dives until it’s pretty much parallel to the > ground. I can start it out in a comfortable position, but just breathing > seems to get it sliding down, down, down… > Anything I can do to lessen this, or am I stuck? > Oh, it’s not much of a bass – Squire by Fender P-Bass, from one of those > "everything you need to play bass guitar (except talent)" box things – and > I’m not holding up my end with the talent, either… > — > Nick Cassimatis > Today is the tomorrow of yesterday.
Response:
> Well, I finally figured out why I am so bad moving on the fretboard – I’m > holding it up. My bass neck dives until it’s pretty much parallel to the > ground. I can start it out in a comfortable position, but just breathing > seems to get it sliding down, down, down… > Anything I can do to lessen this, or am I stuck? > Oh, it’s not much of a bass – Squire by Fender P-Bass, from one of those > "everything you need to play bass guitar (except talent)" box things – and > I’m not holding up my end with the talent, either…
Thicker leather strap with more friction helps a LOT on neck divers. Consider this strongly even though they tend to be pricey. I really like the Franklin Straps. Hang a counterweight of some home-fashioning off the butt end of the guitar. (this does work). Smaller Lighter Tuners (costly, see below). Trade it in for a more balanced guitar that has a longer top horn and better balance. — /" ASCII Ribbon Campaign | Todd H / | http://www.toddh.net/ X Promoting good netiquette | http://triplethreatband.com/ / http://www.toddh.net/netiquette/ | "4 lines suffice."
Response:
You can move the strap pins, but don’t strart re-drilling unitl you know exactly where to do it. Or, get yurself a new bass!
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Well, I finally figured out why I am so bad moving on the fretboard – I’m > holding it up. My bass neck dives until it’s pretty much parallel to the > ground. I can start it out in a comfortable position, but just breathing > seems to get it sliding down, down, down… > Anything I can do to lessen this, or am I stuck? > Oh, it’s not much of a bass – Squire by Fender P-Bass, from one of those > "everything you need to play bass guitar (except talent)" box things – and > I’m not holding up my end with the talent, either… > — > Nick Cassimatis > Today is the tomorrow of yesterday.
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Well, I finally figured out why I am so bad moving on the fretboard – I’m > holding it up. My bass neck dives until it’s pretty much parallel to the > ground. I can start it out in a comfortable position, but just breathing > seems to get it sliding down, down, down… > Anything I can do to lessen this, or am I stuck? > Oh, it’s not much of a bass – Squire by Fender P-Bass, from one of those > "everything you need to play bass guitar (except talent)" box things – and > I’m not holding up my end with the talent, either… > Thicker leather strap with more friction helps a LOT on neck divers. > Consider this strongly even though they tend to be pricey. I really > like the Franklin Straps.
Wider’s good too – especially if it’s suede backed – or velcro if you’ve got hairy chests and shoulders… cb
Response:
Well, I finally figured out why I am so bad moving on the fretboard – I’m holding it up. My bass neck dives until it’s pretty much parallel to the ground. I can start it out in a comfortable position, but just breathing seems to get it sliding down, down, down… Anything I can do to lessen this, or am I stuck? Oh, it’s not much of a bass – Squire by Fender P-Bass, from one of those "everything you need to play bass guitar (except talent)" box things – and I’m not holding up my end with the talent, either… — Nick Cassimatis Today is the tomorrow of yesterday.
Response:
A few options: Try a ‘grippy’ wide strap ? Move the strap buttons around to give a better balance (as Bill wyman always does) ? Fit the strap to the headstock – like a true western guitar ? A minor point here – does anyone think the new fender bass tuning heads with the ‘lightweight’ nylon gearcase’s are going to last 50 years ??? Another step backward for fender quality… but in the name of balance – lol
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Well, I finally figured out why I am so bad moving on the fretboard – I’m > holding it up. My bass neck dives until it’s pretty much parallel to the > ground. I can start it out in a comfortable position, but just breathing > seems to get it sliding down, down, down… > Anything I can do to lessen this, or am I stuck? > Oh, it’s not much of a bass – Squire by Fender P-Bass, from one of those > "everything you need to play bass guitar (except talent)" box things – and > I’m not holding up my end with the talent, either… > — > Nick Cassimatis > Today is the tomorrow of yesterday.
Response:
>Well, I finally figured out why I am so bad moving on the fretboard – I’m >holding it up. My bass neck dives until it’s pretty much parallel to the >ground. I can start it out in a comfortable position, but just breathing >seems to get it sliding down, down, down… >Anything I can do to lessen this, or am I stuck? >Oh, it’s not much of a bass – Squire by Fender P-Bass, from one of those >"everything you need to play bass guitar (except talent)" box things – and >I’m not holding up my end with the talent, either…
Things I’ve done are to extend the top horn with lamprod to change the balance point of the bass (works well, looks weird) and then latter to remove that and install Sperzel tuners and shave the headstock a little which worked great and looked a little more normal. The bass fit in the gigbag better too. Since I did mine Hipshot came out with the Ultralight tuners which are a little less hassle to install and a helluva lot more available. That’s what I’d think about. jeffb
Response:
Nick A while ago I was at the Wal factory and Pete had an old heavy-ass bass (with a monster headstock) in to service (this i must add, was NOT a Wal!). This bass had a sort-of "strap extender" fitted. I’ve also heard of people doing this before, but never done it myself (It doesn’t look too great). Basically it’s just a tube of perhaps an inch in lentgh and 1/4 inch thing, made from chrome plated steel or brass (something really solid!) that you use as a spacer between the body and the actual strap button on the horn. The screw that is used is a bit thicker and a lot longer than you would normally use. Make sure it won’t bend and that it goes into the body deep enough. Also make sure that the shaft of the screw fits almost snug into the tube. A little common sense and physics regarding leverage should be kept in mind. Back to this bass Pete had there… apparently that extender has been on the bass for YEARS and it’s not bent, so that to me proves that it can be done, if the materials are right. If your bass is a budget type or you just don’t care about the aesthetics, then try it! -jake – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -"Nick Cassimatis" wrote… > Well, I finally figured out why I am so bad moving on the fretboard – I’m > holding it up. My bass neck dives until it’s pretty much parallel to the > ground. I can start it out in a comfortable position, but just breathing > seems to get it sliding down, down, down… > Anything I can do to lessen this, or am I stuck?
Response:
Usual remedy … another bass. Headless players often cite neck-diving basses as a reason for the change to headless. Neck-diving basses are one of my pet hates, which is why I carry a strap with me to the shop whenever I’m seriously considering buying a bass. A few other suggestions (some not terribly practical) Rest the forearm of your plucking hand on the body, if that’s consistent with your playing style. Weight down on the body, neck goes up. Replace your tuners with Hipshot ultralites. I’ve not tried this but I’ve heard recently it helps by reducing the weight you have up there at the top of the neck. Move the lower strap peg perhaps, … that would need experimentation and I’m not really sure what effect it would have. Sorry …. I’m not sure I’m being much help here. — Andy BIGBEATNUT AT GO DOT TO http://go.to/bigbeatnut
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Well, I finally figured out why I am so bad moving on the fretboard – I’m > holding it up. My bass neck dives until it’s pretty much parallel to the > ground. I can start it out in a comfortable position, but just breathing > seems to get it sliding down, down, down… > Anything I can do to lessen this, or am I stuck? > Oh, it’s not much of a bass – Squire by Fender P-Bass, from one of those > "everything you need to play bass guitar (except talent)" box things – and > I’m not holding up my end with the talent, either… > — > Nick Cassimatis > Today is the tomorrow of yesterday.
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