stewblack Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 I've experimented with many solutions and the most effective was still a little inelegant. I have a canvass pouch designed to hang from a belt or bag whilst out hiking. This pouch holds a water bottle. So when I cycle to my rehearsal with my tiny travel bass I take the bottle from the bike, fill it with water at the rehearsal room, clip the pouch to my guitar strap (at the bum end of course) and the weight of the water precisely balances the instrument without me having to carry anything heavy on the bike (which would kind of defeat the object of travelling light). I carry the bottle anyway and it becomes lighter throughout the ride as I consume the initial quantity of H2O. So I rehearse with a bottle swinging at my hip. Perfect if, as I say, inelegant. I am therefore adapting the idea for when I'm actually gigging with a neck heavy bass. Quite simply velcro attached to the back end of the strap and a certain number of curtain weights sewn into a flat pouch with the other half of the velcro sewn to the pouch. Balanced bass? Remove the pouch, neck heavy? Velcro it on. The 'certain number' of weights is arrived at through trial and error but by using three smaller pouches rather than one big one I can stick on differing amounts of weight to suit each bass on a case by case basis. Or a bass by bass casis. A bag of curtain weights, yesterday: Pictures to follow. When I've actually done the sewing. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BreadBin Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 Great idea, simple and effective 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted April 22, 2019 Author Share Posted April 22, 2019 🙏🏽 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 An alternative, more visually pleasing approach would be to tie a large, colourful helium balloon to the headstock. The more neck heavy the bass, the bigger the balloon. Thunderbirds generally need a giant rainbow coloured unicorn. 😎 4 1 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil.c60 Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 11 minutes ago, Maude said: An alternative, more visually pleasing approach would be to tie a large, colourful helium balloon to the headstock. The more neck heavy the bass, the bigger the balloon. Thunderbirds generally need a giant rainbow coloured unicorn. 😎 Or an anvil. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted April 22, 2019 Author Share Posted April 22, 2019 The bottle counterweight solution 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilp Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 I don't get the worry about neck dive. I have four basses. The Wal, Aria and Cort balance perfectly. The Thunderbird (obviously) does not. The solution? a tiny bit of support from the left hand. Don't let go of the neck, and the problem goes away. Maude, all Brighton based bassists have such a thing in their gigbag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted April 22, 2019 Author Share Posted April 22, 2019 8 minutes ago, neilp said: I don't get the worry about neck dive. I have four basses. The Wal, Aria and Cort balance perfectly. The Thunderbird (obviously) does not. The solution? a tiny bit of support from the left hand. Don't let go of the neck, and the problem goes away. Maude, all Brighton based bassists have such a thing in their gigbag I suppose the answer to that is if it bothers you it's a problem if it doesn't it isn't. The Hohner travel bass is literally unplayable to me. My left hand needs to glide freely up and down the neck not act as a shelf bracket Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest oZZma Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 It surely works but no thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted April 22, 2019 Author Share Posted April 22, 2019 1 minute ago, oZZma said: It surely works but no thanks You referring to my velcro weight solution or the rehearsal room bottle solution? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest oZZma Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 Just now, stewblack said: You referring to my velcro weight solution or the rehearsal room bottle solution? The bottle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted April 22, 2019 Author Share Posted April 22, 2019 Just now, oZZma said: The bottle Indeed it isn't elegant to look at but bear in mind I'm cycling to rehearsal and therefore minimising weight. The bottle can be carried empty or I can drink from it en route. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bay Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 My Gibson Thunderbird has zero neck dive, is it the epiphone ones that dive as none of the Gibsons I tried ever have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest oZZma Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 (edited) My bass dives, and it's HEAVY. I find comfortable to wear an extra-wide rough leather strap. It keeps It in place and distributes the weight so It doesn't cut my neck. Edited April 22, 2019 by oZZma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 (edited) 47 minutes ago, stewblack said: I suppose the answer to that is if it bothers you it's a problem if it doesn't it isn't. Very much so - one's person's comfortable bass can be another's ergonomic nemesis. Edited April 22, 2019 by ahpook Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agwin Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 3 hours ago, ahpook said: another's ergonomic nemesis. Now there's a prog band just waiting to happen 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steantval Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 Don’t buy an SG bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted April 22, 2019 Author Share Posted April 22, 2019 28 minutes ago, steantval said: Don’t buy an SG bass. Aw, but I want one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goingdownslow Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 To stop neck dive on my EB3 I pass the strap behind my belt. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 6 hours ago, T-Bay said: My Gibson Thunderbird has zero neck dive, is it the epiphone ones that dive as none of the Gibsons I tried ever have. It is possible that you are not as 'sensitive' and/or wear the bass lower than other people, as I found that wearing the bass low reduces the neck-dive feel. I haven't found a bass with the strap button levelled at around the 15-17th fret that doesn't have some degree of neck dive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted April 22, 2019 Author Share Posted April 22, 2019 25 minutes ago, goingdownslow said: To stop neck dive on my EB3 I pass the strap behind my belt. That's flipping genius. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 (edited) This is how I tame the dive on my Jack Casady - the fishing line holds the strap over the front of the bass so the pointy end doesn't go south if left unattended. Edited April 22, 2019 by ahpook Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted April 22, 2019 Author Share Posted April 22, 2019 5 minutes ago, ahpook said: This is how I tame the dive on my Jack Casady - the fishing line holds the strap over the front of the bass so the pointy end doesn't go south if left unattended. I love this too! I have a semi acoustic bass which hangs all over the place and this might just be the answer. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 (edited) 24 minutes ago, stewblack said: I love this too! I have a semi acoustic bass which hangs all over the place and this might just be the answer. Sorry, did I say fishing line ? Of course I meant my patented (ahem) ToneConduit music tether. Want to know why all the session players use it ? You'll be amazed at the answer !! Edited April 22, 2019 by ahpook 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted April 22, 2019 Author Share Posted April 22, 2019 17 minutes ago, ahpook said: Sorry, did I say fishing line ? Of course I meant my patented (ahem) ToneConduit music tether. Want to know why all the session players use it ? You'll be amazed at the answer !! Don't keep us on tenterhooks ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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