SG "neck dive" solution with no guitar mod

[Sheepdog1969]

(article originally posted on yahoo by Michael Astley-Brown)

With its lightweight build, speedy neck and devilish good looks, the Gibson SG is one of the all-time great rock guitars (even if Les Paul wasn’t a fan).

Yet one issue has persistently plagued SG players: the affliction commonly known as ‘neck dive’, where the guitar’s headstock drops the second you let go of the neck – especially noticeable when the model is played strapped on while standing.

This occurs due to the distribution of weight across the guitar’s body: when the center of mass is positioned towards the headstock, this causes the neck to start drooping without any support.

Now, the SG isn’t the only electric to be afflicted with this condition – the Explorer and Flying V are also known to dive, as are short-scale basses – but Gibson’s iconic double-horn is the most famous.

Given that the issue is inherent in the guitar’s design, fixing the problem isn’t easy. Guitarists have proposed everything from adding weight to straps, reducing headstock mass by switching out tuners or moving strap buttons.

But now a far more straightforward – and non-invasive – solution has been proposed by Frantone mastermind Fran Blanche, who has devised an ingenious guitar strap, which she outlines in a new video upload.

Essentially, Blanche’s remedy involves affixing a clip to the strap at roughly hip height, which then clips to her belt. This distributes the weight more evenly across the guitar’s body, thus preventing neck dive – and it’s so discreet, audiences won’t even notice.

As Blanche notes, the Frantone Clip Strap is a “very simple, elegant solution” – although showboating guitarists should note that it will prevent the ambitious-yet-very-cool-if-you-pull-it-off ‘throwing the guitar around the body’ move.

It’s such a smart solution, you might wonder why Blanche hasn’t patented the idea. But in the video above, she outlines the obstacles to patenting products in the modern age, noting long waiting times and high costs. Not to mention the fact that the moment a patent is approved, it goes public – which means someone else could get the product manufactured before the inventor is able to do so.

So for now, you’ll just have to make one for yourself by sewing or riveting a belt clip to an existing strap. Although we imagine it’s only a matter of time before some enterprising Etsy seller fabricates their own solution – just cut Blanche in on the profits, yeah?

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/fed-gibson-sg-neck-dive-113516284.html

[Rabs]

Most SG players already know how to stop neck dive..  A wide leather strap which provides enough grip to stop the neck dive..  Much easier.....

[Dub-T-123]

Look up how Steve Albini uses guitar straps

[mihcmac]

Note that not all SG’s are equally effected by neck dive, over the years Gibson modified the shape of the heal from the original 61 style,  which tend to dive the most, creating several versions that use longer heals to possibly make the neck stronger, but also allows the strap button to be moved changing the geometry.

The longer joint does help provide better balance, I still tend to use a comfortable basic leather strap on my SG’s and not worry about dive.

 

Edited June 17, 2023 by mihcmac

[Pinch]

On 6/17/2023 at 1:36 PM, Sheepdog1969 said:

(article originally posted on yahoo by Michael Astley-Brown)

Now, the SG isn’t the only electric to be afflicted with this condition – the Explorer and Flying V are also known to dive

They are? 

Edited June 18, 2023 by Pinch

[mihcmac]

There are other models of Gibsons that have the strap button located behind the neck that at times suffered from neck dive.

[sparquelito]

Whenever I performed with my SG, I tied colorful helium balloons to the top E string tuning peg.
Neck dive instantly solved.

It was both festive and functional.

😃