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Alembic Club » Alembic Basses & Guitars » Archive 2006 » Archive through July 14, 2006 » Neck dive and different body styles? « Previous Next »

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brianm
Junior
Username: brianm

Post Number: 31
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Friday, June 30, 2006 - 12:14 pm:   Edit Post

I currently own a 70's Series I, medium scale, point body, 4 string. I don't find neck dive to be much of an issue with my bass. I do use a very wide strap. I am looking for a second used Series bass. I'm wondering about how much neck dive there would be or if it would be roughly the same as my current bass. In a perfect world my "new" bass would be a small body 4 string either medium scale or short scale. I was wondering if there is much of a difference in neck dive with different body styles and also medium scale vs. short scale?
adriaan
Senior Member
Username: adriaan

Post Number: 950
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Sunday, July 02, 2006 - 5:35 am:   Edit Post

You could put it this way. For a small body, they will only do medium scale if you're a special customer who knows what they're ordering - because of the neck dive.

Here's a recent thread about one of the rare long scale small bodies in existence -
http://alembic.com/club/messages/394/29335.html?1151643490 - the owner has put the 'neck strap button' on the lower horn to fix the balance issue.

There are plenty of large body long scales, and there's not really a neck dive issue with them, just that they balance more or less horizontally, so you will have to rest your arm on the body to make the neck point upwards.

The wide strap is a very good idea in any case.
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 4009
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Sunday, July 02, 2006 - 10:23 am:   Edit Post

Of all the Alembic body styles, the Small Standard has by far the most reports of neck dive; and as Adiraan said, almost all Small Standards have short scale necks as a result. Even with a short scale neck, balance can still be more of a problem than with the other body styles.
brianm
Junior
Username: brianm

Post Number: 32
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Monday, July 03, 2006 - 11:12 am:   Edit Post

I didn't think of relocating the "strap button" to solve the balance issue till I saw the pic http://alembic.com/club/messages/394/29335.html?1151643490. Now I'm not worried about the different body tyes and balance issues. Thank you :-)
olieoliver
Senior Member
Username: olieoliver

Post Number: 522
Registered: 2-2006
Posted on Monday, July 03, 2006 - 11:23 am:   Edit Post

Adriaan is right about the large body, long scale basses being better balanced, but man are they heavy! That or my age is becoming a factor. :-(
bsee
Senior Member
Username: bsee

Post Number: 1216
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Monday, July 03, 2006 - 11:29 am:   Edit Post

That seems a silly way to "solve" the balance issue. Now it's a bass that wants to fall forward because of the physics of how it is supported. A previous owner of my current bass didn't get it either, but had a better idea. He tried three times to move the bottom strap peg up the side of the body. That, at least, would still leave the bass hanging correctly. A wide, soft strap is still the best option in my mind.

I don't know, I think Epics are pretty bad on balance, too, especially in 5-6 string models.

The small standard is definitely not made to be a low slung rock star bass, but it is wonderful if you wear it at or above the belly button with a good strap. Not sure if it would still be so in medium scale, though.
bassdr
Member
Username: bassdr

Post Number: 83
Registered: 10-2004
Posted on Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 2:40 pm:   Edit Post

Flame Koa essence has absolutely no neck dive or rise, it feels prefectly balanced, 34"scale. Michael
jacko
Senior Member
Username: jacko

Post Number: 712
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Thursday, July 06, 2006 - 1:04 am:   Edit Post

I can't agree with bob here. I have a 5 string epic that has no balance problems at all. The upper horn reaches the 13th fret near enough.Until about a year ago, I was using a shiny PVC strap and it never took a dive earthwards.

Graeme
keavin
Senior Member
Username: keavin

Post Number: 877
Registered: 12-2002
Posted on Friday, July 07, 2006 - 1:06 pm:   Edit Post

My extra wide strap is actually screwed into the body in three places,,,,1.behind the 24th fret(into the body) 2.into the upper horn, 3 into the Butt ....so it cannot be removed at all, & I also wear my bass sorta high up so that helps balance too......I don't trust strap locks so therefore my strap is part of the Bass....... Stanley Clarke does to his Alembics also!

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