stewblack Posted November 16, 2020 Share Posted November 16, 2020 Are there any non invasive solutions for this problem? I bought a beautiful bass hereabouts, it took a huge BC effort to get it to me, but I can't play it because I only have two hands and my left one is busy holding the neck up. Definitely don't want to have any holes chopped in it. The only thing I've found that helps is to hang something off the rear strap button, thus balancing the beast at the cost of greater body weight. But its an inelegant solution and unpleasant with a weight swinging around back there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakester Posted November 16, 2020 Share Posted November 16, 2020 Big wide suede strap? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newfoundfreedom Posted November 16, 2020 Share Posted November 16, 2020 (edited) Give it to me. You'll never have to worry about the neck dive again. 😁 You have too many basses anyway. 😉 Edited November 16, 2020 by Newfoundfreedom 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baxlin Posted November 16, 2020 Share Posted November 16, 2020 I think he of ‘unmentionable’ fame extended the top button by an inch or so on his ‘Ric style bass’ discussed elsewhere on here..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted November 16, 2020 Author Share Posted November 16, 2020 1 hour ago, Jakester said: Big wide suede strap? I have shoulder problems, using a strap to prevent neck dive exacerbates the problem. But thank you. 1 hour ago, Newfoundfreedom said: Give it to me. You'll never have to worry about the neck dive again. 😁 You have too many basses anyway. 😉 Oh God its true. 1 hour ago, Baxlin said: I think he of ‘unmentionable’ fame extended the top button by an inch or so on his ‘Ric style bass’ discussed elsewhere on here..... All a bit cryptic that! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted November 16, 2020 Share Posted November 16, 2020 Couple of pics nicked off t'net, same idea, different approach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted November 16, 2020 Author Share Posted November 16, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, Paul S said: Couple of pics nicked off t'net, same idea, different approach. Oooh, that's very interesting. Thank you. EDIT - no go I'm afraid. Set neck =no neck plate. Button on the back of body = not secure enough. Edited November 16, 2020 by stewblack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted November 16, 2020 Share Posted November 16, 2020 There are sometimes things you can do with just a button position change. Any chance of a pic of the present top horn + fretboard and also of the heel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted November 16, 2020 Author Share Posted November 16, 2020 35 minutes ago, Andyjr1515 said: There are sometimes things you can do with just a button position change. Any chance of a pic of the present top horn + fretboard and also of the heel? No probs: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3below Posted November 16, 2020 Share Posted November 16, 2020 (edited) The cure on my SG bass was Hipshot USA tuners. Schallers or Gotohs also seem a good possibility. With the Gibbo button on the back I use the trusty straplock fitting. It also has the added advantage of tilting the bass away from my body and making the left hand easier. It would be possible to have something fabricated as per the G&L ASAT picture @Paul S has above. This could be flat aluminium bar screwed into the back of the bass with a straplock bolted to it (easy diy). Edited November 16, 2020 by 3below 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted November 16, 2020 Share Posted November 16, 2020 Hi @stewblack I meant the heel of the neck, not the heel of the fretboard. Sorry - my bad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted November 16, 2020 Author Share Posted November 16, 2020 18 minutes ago, Andyjr1515 said: Hi @stewblack I meant the heel of the neck, not the heel of the fretboard. Sorry - my bad Oh... I'm back in bed, if I can get up again today I'll picture the back, sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted November 16, 2020 Share Posted November 16, 2020 3 minutes ago, stewblack said: Oh... I'm back in bed, if I can get up again today I'll picture the back, sorry. No probs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigguy2017 Posted November 17, 2020 Share Posted November 17, 2020 A helium balloon on the head end? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted November 17, 2020 Share Posted November 17, 2020 Fender solved this many years ago with a strap button on the back of the headstock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted November 17, 2020 Author Share Posted November 17, 2020 On 16/11/2020 at 16:50, Andyjr1515 said: Hi @stewblack I meant the heel of the neck, not the heel of the fretboard. Sorry - my bad How's this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted November 17, 2020 Share Posted November 17, 2020 Ah.... In that case I'm not going to suggest what I was going to suggest. If it's what I think it is, it's one of the nicest feeling neck heels I've ever come across and not one to drill a hole in an unusual place (which was what I was going to originally suggest you could try). So - in terms of fully reversible: Lightweight tuners (have a peep at Axesrus Licenced Hipshots. Much, much cheaper but pretty good) Wider strap or harness strap (I seem to remember someone at the SW Bassbash with a brilliant one?) Extension button as suggested by @Paul S (hope all well with you Paul!) I can see why you don't want to hand a weight on the back - I suspect this is pretty heavy to start with Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrixn1 Posted November 17, 2020 Share Posted November 17, 2020 You can get an indication of whether lightweight tuners would work, without spending money upfront, by removing one or two of the existing tuners and see if the balance of the bass improves. If it does, work out the weight of the tuners still remaining on the bass. That is the total amount that four new lightweight tuners must not weigh more than. 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
machinehead Posted November 17, 2020 Share Posted November 17, 2020 On 16/11/2020 at 15:30, stewblack said: Oooh, that's very interesting. Thank you. EDIT - no go I'm afraid. Set neck =no neck plate. Button on the back of body = not secure enough. I made a few strap extenders, similar to the one in the left pic, from carbom fibre. One screw at the end into the body and supported against an additional strap button. It's totally secure and folds away. This was on a Steinberger Spirit XT2 "cricket bat". I made a few extra and gave them away on here. It takes time to make them but it doesn't require a lot of skill. Frank. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted November 17, 2020 Author Share Posted November 17, 2020 1 hour ago, Andyjr1515 said: Ah.... In that case I'm not going to suggest what I was going to suggest. If it's what I think it is, it's one of the nicest feeling neck heels I've ever come across and not one to drill a hole in an unusual place (which was what I was going to originally suggest you could try). So - in terms of fully reversible: Lightweight tuners (have a peep at Axesrus Licenced Hipshots. Much, much cheaper but pretty good) Wider strap or harness strap (I seem to remember someone at the SW Bassbash with a brilliant one?) Extension button as suggested by @Paul S (hope all well with you Paul!) I can see why you don't want to hand a weight on the back - I suspect this is pretty heavy to start with I'm not going to put any holes in it. The strap button is on the back so no way to extend that with a single fixing, it will just rotate. A wide strap pulls on my damaged shoulder. I was at sw bash 2 years ago with a waist strap made from a weightlifting belt, but it needs holes drilling. It's an absolute beauty to look at and to play, if I end up having to move it on I can't be putting holes in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 There's actually nothing wrong with doing it like an old fashioned acoustic, with a thin strap just behind the nut... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BreadBin Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 Have you tried this Stew? https://images.app.goo.gl/S5G8oBdnbsLkzkMY7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJohnson Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 I played Thunderbirds for about ten years, about a dozen went through Chez Johnson. Because I'm a strapping chap i never suffered this neck dive people keeping going on about; sure if I took both hands off the bass it would rotate on it's axis, but then every bass I've owned has done this. You play with both arms/hands on the instrument; if you're having difficulty controlling the balance of an instrument that weighs less than 9lbs, most of which is carried by your shoulder, you probably need more protein in your diet. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 10 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said: (hope all well with you Paul!) Extremely good, thanks - you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted November 18, 2020 Author Share Posted November 18, 2020 2 hours ago, BreadBin said: Have you tried this Stew? https://images.app.goo.gl/S5G8oBdnbsLkzkMY7 Actually, no! But I certainly will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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