Neck dive

[philippe]

I'm since two weeks the proud owner of a Stanley Clarke Signature'89 Alembic! It's such a great bass. But I would like to know do they often have this neckdive problem. Has anybody a good solution/information for my problem?

[mica]

The Small Standard body balances at about 2:30 usually, and this is why it's only available in short scale - can you image with a longer neck?
 
Using a wide strap with a suede underside can help keep the bass in position (we have these available in our online store. Holding it higher on your body can help too.  
 
Dela recommends holding the bass higher with your right upperarm bracing the upper body half. He uses a medium scale with this body shape.

[jazzyvee]

Yep I can vouch for the neck dive. It used to bug me at first, now I hardly worry about it. I have got used to the right arm bracing on the upper body.
 
I sometimes have the lower curve bass sitting kind of on my right hip/waist similar to the way that a mother sits her young infant.
 
So the bass is more at an angle to my body rather than across the front of me.  It also makes the neck seem a bit shorter too :-)
 
 
You do get used to it and now and i love it.
Don't give up on it.
 
All the best
Jazzyvee

[bsee]

I wear mine high and use a wide Alembic strap.  I have no neck dive problem.  The small standard is a player's instrument, definitely not a rocker's hang-below-the-navel bass.
 
A previous owner had tried to relocate the bottom strap peg in order to rebalance the bass for a lower playing position.  I put it back to the original position for a better fit all around and don't recommend trying this modification.
 
At least start with a wide strap that grips your shoulder.  From there, you can adjust your playing height until you feel comfortable.

[bob]

No relevant experience to offer (favoring extra long), but that sure is a beauty of a bass. Hope you get better acquainted.
-Bob

[philippe]

Thanks you all! I'll try all the advices you all gave!
 
-philippe

[acordes_verdes]

I own a Stanley Clarke model, and I'm proud of it. I had the bass delivered to me on 11/25/1995 and it is a bass that has been used on stage only once, and few times playing at home, I considered to be brand new, sometimes I open all my basses cases, clean them, kill my friends of jealousy every time they see them, in special the Alembic, this bass is my baby, but I encountered the same problem. When I ordered my bass I chose 32 cause I found the original size too short, and a 34? or 35? to long, and I have to this day the neck dive problem, of course I?m ok with this problem, I survive, but I believe this problem could be fixed by doing 3 things: using the wide strap, relocating the bottom strap peg maybe 1 inch to the left and Alembic making available lightweight tuning pegs for replacement with their logo on it, to maintain originality. If Alembic makes these kinds of lightweight pegs, please let me know and I?ll buy it.
Thanks
Joe

[bracheen]

I'm not sure this thread is still relevant since Philippe last logged on about a year ago but here's my 2 cents. My Epic balances perfectly but I did have the neck dive problem with my Thumb Bass.  I was griping about it to another bass player and he told me about Comfort Strapp.  I put one on and it works like a charm, www.comfortstrapp.com.
 
Joe welcome to the group.  It's always nice to have another Floridian around.
 
Sam

[georgie_boy]

It may have been me you spoke to re the strapp Sam!
I use one with my Series 1 bass, and I don't have a problem-------except the bass weighs about 12 pounds!!
The STRAPP keeps her sitting pretty about the 2 o' clock position, and for a guy that's only 5 ft 6 it allows me to handle her real well.
G