SG Neck Dive Fix: $10 and 5 minutes

[AniML]

My new G400 has (had) a typical neck dive issue. A suede/leather strap helped a little but not enough and I prefer not to use such a heavy strap with such a light guitar.

The Grover tuning buttons weigh about 13g each; in the neighborhood of 3oz total. I bought a set of pearloid plastic tuner buttons for $10 on Reverb. All of them together weigh less than 1 of the Grover metal buttons.

Now, even with a nylon strap when I let go of the neck the headstock does not drop like a rock. It is more of a slow pivot to a little past a horizontal position. They are not the prettiest tuner knobs (you can see the mounting screws through them), but on a $300 guitar, this was about improving function so I am pleased with the results.

 

[Mincer]

Re: SG Neck Dive Fix: $10 and 5 minutes

Good tip! I've used a 1lb wrist weight around the body end of the strap, which also works very well.

 

[ICTGoober]

Re: SG Neck Dive Fix: $10 and 5 minutes

Some of us would be surprised how little the amount of weight it takes to balance things out. I've found aluminum Hipshot tuners save quite a bit of weight.

 

[dystrust]

Re: SG Neck Dive Fix: $10 and 5 minutes

My SG came stock with kluson style tuners, so swapping buttons wasn't an option. Luckily the Vibramate & Bigsby took care of the neck dive:

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: SG Neck Dive Fix: $10 and 5 minutes

...not to mention that they look like proper SG tuner buttons now! A great improvement.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: SG Neck Dive Fix: $10 and 5 minutes

...not to mention that they look like proper SG tuner buttons now! A great improvement.

Agreed!

 

[The_Junior]

Re: SG Neck Dive Fix: $10 and 5 minutes

I once made a control cavity plate out of 3/16" steel plate to fix sg neck dive..

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: SG Neck Dive Fix: $10 and 5 minutes

Adding weight to the tail end of the guitar strap or to the control cover may help to cure neck dive, but if light weight is one of the reasons for purchasing and playing an SG, then you have defeated that purpose. Light weight tuners and/or tuner knobs is a much better solution even if it doesn't cure the problem totally. Neck dive is inherent in the basic design of an SG (short, thin, light weight body; long neck, comparatively; and strap button location at back of neck.

The guitars I build have smaller, lighter weight bodies (total guitar weight is just about 6 pounds); long (25 1/2" scale) necks with clear access to the 22nd fret; heavy locking tuners; and yet they have NO neck dive! It's all about design.

While the SG is a very cool guitar in many ways, and really fun to play (at least it would be if there was no neck dive issue), it just isn't a perfect players' design that forces you to accept an important compromise.

I'm not an SG hater, I actually own 4 SGs (one with a 24 fret neck) and several SG-type guitars and I love them. I just accept the design flaw and deal with it. But that "flaw" is certainly one of the main reasons for me initially coming up with my own guitar designs.

 

[Mincer]

Re: SG Neck Dive Fix: $10 and 5 minutes

Adding weight to the tail end of the guitar strap or to the control cover may help to cure neck dive, but if light weight is one of the reasons for purchasing and playing an SG, then you have defeated that purpose. Light weight tuners and/or tuner knobs is a much better solution even if it doesn't cure the problem totally. Neck dive is inherent in the basic design of an SG (short, thin, light weight body; long neck, comparatively; and strap button location at back of neck.

The guitars I build have smaller, lighter weight bodies (total guitar weight is just about 6 pounds); long (25 1/2" scale) necks with clear access to the 22nd fret; heavy locking tuners; and yet they have NO neck dive! It's all about design.

While the SG is a very cool guitar in many ways, and really fun to play (at least it would be if there was no neck dive issue), it just isn't a perfect players' design that forces you to accept an important compromise.

I'm not an SG hater, I actually own 4 SGs (one with a 24 fret neck) and several SG-type guitars and I love them. I just accept the design flaw and deal with it. But that "flaw" is certainly one of the main reasons for me initially coming up with my own guitar designs.

I haven't seen pics of your guitars, but I love the idea of something balanced and light weight, though.

 

[DavidRavenMoon]

Re: SG Neck Dive Fix: $10 and 5 minutes

One reason I don’t use Grover tuners is they are bulky and heavy.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ErikH]

Re: SG Neck Dive Fix: $10 and 5 minutes

Good tip! I've used a 1lb wrist weight around the body end of the strap, which also works very well.

I tried that with an Esquire build. While it helped a little, all it really did was add more weight on my shoulder and made it less comfortable to play. That's why it's gone and I put together a Strat in its place, and it's much lighter.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: SG Neck Dive Fix: $10 and 5 minutes

Dave,
Here's a couple. I'm in the process of moving and all the others are packed away.
Bodies are fully chambered with large belly cut in the back so they fit comfortably and tightly against the body (I guess that's because I have a large belly). Woods are: Canary Wood, Padauk, Purple Heart, Wenge, and Maple. Necks are Maple with Purple Heart and Canary Wood fretboard. One of the necks is bound with b/w/b. Dual action truss rods. My own design bone compensated nut. Perfect intonation on each string anywhere on the neck. Fender locking tuners. Each weighs just about 6 pounds.

The one with buckers has GFS Dream 180s (really great clean vintage tone) and your "do it all" wiring. Tone bypass mini toggle.

The one with P-90s has ceramic magnets. Yes, I said ceramic. I usually don't have much good to say about ceramic magnets, but in these P-90s they are perfect. Bright, crisp, and edgy attack with warm mids and a solid bass. THIS is what P-90s are supposed to sound like.


(Well, it seems there is a problem...I can't get my images to upload. I don't know what's going on, I've never had a problem with this in the past. I guess you'll have to wait til I get this figured out).

 

[Mincer]

Re: SG Neck Dive Fix: $10 and 5 minutes

Dave,
Here's a couple. I'm in the process of moving and all the others are packed away.
Bodies are fully chambered with large belly cut in the back so they fit comfortably and tightly against the body (I guess that's because I have a large belly). Woods are: Canary Wood, Padauk, Purple Heart, Wenge, and Maple. Necks are Maple with Purple Heart and Canary Wood fretboard. One of the necks is bound with b/w/b. Dual action truss rods. My own design bone compensated nut. Perfect intonation on each string anywhere on the neck. Fender locking tuners. Each weighs just about 6 pounds.

The one with buckers has GFS Dream 180s (really great clean vintage tone) and your "do it all" wiring. Tone bypass mini toggle.

The one with P-90s has ceramic magnets. Yes, I said ceramic. I usually don't have much good to say about ceramic magnets, but in these P-90s they are perfect. Bright, crisp, and edgy attack with warm mids and a solid bass. THIS is what P-90s are supposed to sound like.


(Well, it seems there is a problem...I can't get my images to upload. I don't know what's going on, I've never had a problem with this in the past. I guess you'll have to wait til I get this figured out).

Well, the descriptions sound great, anyway!

 

[Coma]

Re: SG Neck Dive Fix: $10 and 5 minutes

I thought the neck dive issues on an SG could be easily solved by moving the strap pin to the upper horn, like on a strat. That's what I've heard anyway.

 

[Mincer]

Re: SG Neck Dive Fix: $10 and 5 minutes

I thought the neck dive issues on an SG could be easily solved by moving the strap pin to the upper horn, like on a strat. That's what I've heard anyway.

I think Tony Iommi solved neck dive that way.

 

[Coma]

Re: SG Neck Dive Fix: $10 and 5 minutes

I think Tony Iommi solved neck dive that way.

Yeah, that's how I first came across it.

 

[bigcupholder]

Re: SG Neck Dive Fix: $10 and 5 minutes

I would just use a strap with some grip, like leather or cotton instead of nylon. Replacing the tuner buttons is a cool idea though.

I thought the neck dive issues on an SG could be easily solved by moving the strap pin to the upper horn, like on a strat. That's what I've heard anyway.

I'm not sure how much that actually helps, if at all. Moving it up (towards the bass side) would make it worse, but moving it left (towards the headstock) would help. So the two combined would cancel out somewhat. The horn is pretty short.

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[GuitarDoc]

Re: SG Neck Dive Fix: $10 and 5 minutes

I have an SG that I mounted the strap button to the upper horn hoping to cure the neck dive. It only slightly helped...not much at all. But I like the better stability it offered even though only very slightly helping the dive issue.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: SG Neck Dive Fix: $10 and 5 minutes

The strap button on the back of the body is definitely clunky. My ‘62 LP/SG is pretty light, but no neck dive. It does have the original Kluson tuners, which I’m sure helps. Also has the ebony block and Vibrola tailpiece, which are obviously heavier than an aluminum stop bar.

 

[Mincer]

Re: SG Neck Dive Fix: $10 and 5 minutes

I don't like the strap button on the back. It is on the back of my Eastman, which is like a 335. It makes the guitar want to spin away from me. I think it is just a bad design.