Neck heavy guitar solutions?

[MDS]

Hey guys,

I'm sure we all run into this from time to time. Some guitars are just really neck heavy and difficult to get balanced. Anyone have some solutions for these guitars?

Mike

 

[Gearjoneser]

Besides changing the position of your strap button from the cutaway horn to the neck heel, the best option is this..

Buy some lead sinkers from a fishing store that are pretty thin,
or find some lead tape. Figure out a good place in the electronic cavity to attach it. I'd bundle up some lead in black electrical tape
and tape it to a cavity wall. It'll add enough ounces to the guitar's back end to even out the weight. Plus, you don't have to alter the guitar in any way.

 

[MDS]

Hmm...that's not a bad idea...my guitar is a semi hollow and doesn't have a control cavity, but I guess I could put some lead in the f-holes som ewhere...I wonder how much I'd need...

 

[Gearjoneser]

Take your guitar to the fishing store and find out! LOL

I'd secure it in that guitar's body real well, so it can't move.

 

[Ez74]

Re: Neck heavy guitar solutions?

try a leather strap also. they seem to grip my shoulder better than nylon or whatever that material is

 

[mongrollo]

Re: Neck heavy guitar solutions?

May be you could modify the guitar strap. Just hanging the lead (or any other haevy thing) at the end of the strap. This way you won't need to tape the lead to the top of your guitar avoiding it to vibrate.

 

[killswitch_19]

Re: Neck heavy guitar solutions?

is it a big deal to move the strap button on a guitar? is it bad for the guitar in any way (tonally)to drill a hole and move it?

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: Neck heavy guitar solutions?

Firebirds are notorious for being unbalanced... falling and breaking. I'ld go with weighting the opposite end.

 

[MattPete]

Re: Neck heavy guitar solutions?

Install a Floyd Rose locking nut. Tune up. Clamp down. Now cut off the headstock.

True, you'll never be able to change the strings again, but your neck will be lighter!

 

[Mr Wolf]

Re: Neck heavy guitar solutions?

I have this little problem with my Kramer Explorer. its only slight though. Im thinking of stitching something heavy onto the strap on the end furthest from the neck. I've been too lazy though and it hasn't happened yet!

 

[Mayhem]

Re: Neck heavy guitar solutions?

A qualety leather strap helped a lot on my Kelly...
Has been thinking about putting som weight on ot for balance to for a while, but there is not realy a problem.

 

[chcjunior]

Re: Neck heavy guitar solutions?

try a leather strap also. they seem to grip my shoulder better than nylon or whatever that material is

This worked real well on my SG.

 

[MDS]

Re: Neck heavy guitar solutions?

Install a Floyd Rose locking nut. Tune up. Clamp down. Now cut off the headstock.

True, you'll never be able to change the strings again, but your neck will be lighter!

That is brilliant!

 

[MDS]

Re: Neck heavy guitar solutions?

is it a big deal to move the strap button on a guitar? is it bad for the guitar in any way (tonally)to drill a hole and move it?

I don't think it effects the tone any. My guitar is a dual cutaway(its like a 336(smaller 335)) so the strap button is on the back of the heal, which I think is ideal for this anyways..maybe if I moved it around to the bottom side of the neck it'd hold it a little better.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Neck heavy guitar solutions?

Besides changing the position of your strap button from the cutaway horn to the neck heel, the best option is this..

Buy some lead sinkers from a fishing store that are pretty thin,
or find some lead tape. Figure out a good place in the electronic cavity to attach it. I'd bundle up some lead in black electrical tape
and tape it to a cavity wall. It'll add enough ounces to the guitar's back end to even out the weight. Plus, you don't have to alter the guitar in any way.

THose seem to be the best solutions, I haven´t found anything better.

BTW, Jonesy, Did you guys manage to solve that Prob on Pat´s axes?

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Neck heavy guitar solutions?

I haven't talked to Pat Lachman from Damageplan since he left for Texas over a year ago. A couple weeks ago, Damageplan was in LA shooting a video. My singer, his brother, went, but I couldn't go. I was pissed, cause that would have meant an afternoon of watching their video being filmed, then a night of hard drinking with Dime,
Vinnie, and a bunch of others. I'll catch up with them when they play here.

As for Pat's guitar, he's bummed that his signature Jackson turned out to be neck heavy due to the SG type shape and 24 fret neck. He's a rich star now, so Jackson will make him anything he wants for free. He'll probably throw the first one's into a closet. I'll Ebay them for him and keep the "Celebrity Owned" profit. LOL