Gibson SG Bass - Strings, Bridge, and Neck Dive

[jmasno5]

I bought my Gibson SG Bass used. The serial number shows it was made in December 2019. I like the flats that came with it but they felt very floppy with lack of tension. The other thing I didn't like was how the silk ball end sat on the saddle post of the 3-point bridge. La Bella 760FL-S Deep Talkin' Flats were perfect replacement for me and the bass. They seem to add a couple ounces to the bass proving there must be more material than the original set making them have more tension. Perfect stiffness and tone. There is no silk on the ball end.

With the LaBella strings the bass weighs 7.5 lb. It has serious neck dive issues. Usually I tuck the shoulder strap in my belt or belt loop. When changing the strings I capo the neck so the 3-point bridge doesn't explode. I took off a couple of tuning machines. The machines weigh 88g or 3.1oz each (minus bushing and screws). The bass is better balanced without 6 plus ounces on the head stock. I didn't see any way I could find replacements that would give me 176g (6.2oz) of relief in weight. The closest I saw was about 51g per machine. Since this bass in not my number one I opted to add 6.5 oz to the control cavity.

Now the bass feels much better balanced. Probably getting those 51g machines and leaving the weight in the cavity would produce the best results but since it is not my number one bass I think this way is best. I used BB's in a mesh bag isolated with a plain paper towel. You can find a YouTube video. Adhesive wheel weights were another option but the BB's allow for quick reversal and they also conform to the space available.

The bass is now 7lb 13oz. But think about it. It is still a light bass. It is my opinion a light bass with a bad case of neck dive is more of a strain on your shoulder than a heavier more balanced bass. The constant pull on you shoulder even when you have a suede backed strap is very annoying. Having to constantly press your right forearm into the body is not preferable either.

Sorry I'm long winded here. Bottom line – La Bella 760FL-S, great tone, no ball end silk, stiffer, heavy string. SG Bass Machines weigh 88g each. Adding weight and making the bass more balanced is better than a lighter weight bass with bad neck dive. I hope this helps someone out.

 

[blacktocomm]

The neck dove doesn’t really bother me, glad you found a solution though. Better balance and still under 8 lbs is a win/win in my book.

You should come say hi at the club sometime. Great bunch of folks and a lot of interest info and talk all things EB/SG.

SG & EB Bass Club

 

[TDR1138]

I’m glad you’re getting the bass sorted out to work best for you, and that you like the strings. But I will throw one thing out there -

For a few years, the SGs came with a Babicz bridge (my 2018 has one). The Babicz is heavier than stock bridge, which adds weight away from the headstock, helping with balance. It also has more space between the saddle and the ball-end anchor point, so the wrap doesn’t become an issue, though the flip side is that the silks at the headstock end get moved back, too, so medium scale strings might be needed. And the cherry on top is that the Babicz is very adjustable, more so than the stock bridge.

Im pretty sure the Hipshot bridge would yield similar benefits.

 

[msb]

I normally rest my arm on the upper body and the slight dive only happens when I lift my right arm off the bass. So it really doesn’t bother me much at all. Unlike Gene Simmons I rarely lift both arms above my head.
I also have a DC Jr , it’s well balanced.

 

[BOOG]

I bought my Gibson SG Bass used. The serial number shows it was made in December 2019. I like the flats that came with it but they felt very floppy with lack of tension. The other thing I didn't like was how the silk ball end sat on the saddle post of the 3-point bridge. La Bella 760FL-S Deep Talkin' Flats were perfect replacement for me and the bass. They seem to add a couple ounces to the bass proving there must be more material than the original set making them have more tension. Perfect stiffness and tone. There is no silk on the ball end.

With the LaBella strings the bass weighs 7.5 lb. It has serious neck dive issues. Usually I tuck the shoulder strap in my belt or belt loop. When changing the strings I capo the neck so the 3-point bridge doesn't explode. I took off a couple of tuning machines. The machines weigh 88g or 3.1oz each (minus bushing and screws). The bass is better balanced without 6 plus ounces on the head stock. I didn't see any way I could find replacements that would give me 176g (6.2oz) of relief in weight. The closest I saw was about 51g per machine. Since this bass in not my number one I opted to add 6.5 oz to the control cavity.

Now the bass feels much better balanced. Probably getting those 51g machines and leaving the weight in the cavity would produce the best results but since it is not my number one bass I think this way is best. I used BB's in a mesh bag isolated with a plain paper towel. You can find a YouTube video. Adhesive wheel weights were another option but the BB's allow for quick reversal and they also conform to the space available.

The bass is now 7lb 13oz. But think about it. It is still a light bass. It is my opinion a light bass with a bad case of neck dive is more of a strain on your shoulder than a heavier more balanced bass. The constant pull on you shoulder even when you have a suede backed strap is very annoying. Having to constantly press your right forearm into the body is not preferable either.

Sorry I'm long winded here. Bottom line – La Bella 760FL-S, great tone, no ball end silk, stiffer, heavy string. SG Bass Machines weigh 88g each. Adding weight and making the bass more balanced is better than a lighter weight bass with bad neck dive. I hope this helps someone out.

Funny for me that you post this and I happen onto it. I’ve been GASing for an SG for no apparent reason in the last 48 hours. There’s no “need” for one, for sure. But, I want one. For the negatives noted in your post, I still see no reason not to get one.
Anyway, nothing really to add of substance.

 

[jmasno5]

Funny for me that you post this and I happen onto it. I’ve been GASing for an SG for no apparent reason in the last 48 hours. There’s no “need” for one, for sure. But, I want one. For the negatives noted in your post, I still see no reason not to get one.
Anyway, nothing really to add of substance.

I hope my post does not deter you from getting an SG style bass. The fun far out weighs any negatives. I have a few long scale basses but this is my only short scale and I picked a winner. I was well aware of the bridge and neck dive issues long before I purchased it.

 

[jmasno5]

I normally rest my arm on the upper body and the slight dive only happens when I lift my right arm off the bass. So it really doesn’t bother me much at all. Unlike Gene Simmons I rarely lift both arms above my head.
I also have a DC Jr , it’s well balanced.

Yes, I do this too but this neck dive was making my right arm fatigue. There is almost a pound of hardware on the head stock of what is probably a relatively lightweight neck and truss rod. The added weight has helped that greatly.

 

[Wambemando]

Worst case of neck dive I've encountered was a Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision.
They picked lightweight alder bodies and matched them with a ebony neck, 70s style tuners, and a Hipshot Xtender. That combination is a perfect recipe for neck dive.
I ended up replacing the original tuners with Gotoh Res-O-Lites and got rid of the Xtender. Sure, I could have added a high mass bridge to balance it out but I was trying to lighten the overall weight.