gu1t4rzan Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 I purchased a Epiphone G400 about a month ago from Sweetwater and I have noticed that the headstock seems to be heavier than the body as the headstock always lowers to the floor if I am not holding it. I have never experienced this with any other guitar I have played or owned. Am I missing something or Is this normal? I did some searching in the forums but didn't see any post that was related to my problem. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigneil Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 That's just the way SGs are. you can remedy this "neck dive syndrome" as it's called by using a wide leather strap to grip your shoulder instead of a Nylon one for example. more extreme methods include changing the machine heads for lighter ones or using weights attached to either the guitar body or the strap. some people even move the strap button. I manage just fine using the wide leather strap method Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gu1t4rzan Posted February 1, 2012 Author Share Posted February 1, 2012 Thanks for your input, I will look into the wide leather strap remedy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gu1t4rzan Posted February 1, 2012 Author Share Posted February 1, 2012 Lol, That is too funny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweed2 Posted February 1, 2012 Share Posted February 1, 2012 And I always thought.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzoboy Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 Besides the wide strap solution there is a strap available that has removeable counterweights at the end of the strap to balance the guitar.You can find them here: http://www.headsupstrap.com/ they do the trick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blueman335 Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 That's just the way SGs are. you can remedy this "neck dive syndrome" as it's called by using a wide leather strap to grip your shoulder instead of a Nylon one for example. +1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parabar Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 A Bigsby tailpiece also solves it nicely! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweed2 Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 Now that's a win-win solution, there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SketchyEtchy Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 I have never noticed this problem? Guess mine are faulty SG's. I shall burn them and start again. But seriously I havent noticed this out of balance on mine :S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gu1t4rzan Posted February 3, 2012 Author Share Posted February 3, 2012 I have a friend that has a Gibson SG and he says his SG doesn't have neck dive either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnfeeser Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 I have this problem too. It's not the end of the world I guess, but it is annoying. I would think a nice leather strap would work, I'll have to get one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jfine Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 SGs are prone to the dreaded neck dive, some more than others. I bought a Standard new in '67, and it would barely balance, but I've always used thick leather straps and I rest my right forearm on the body, so it wasn't too bad until I had the guitar refinished in about 1970, had the Vibrola replaced with a stop tailpiece and the Kluson tuners replaced with Grovers. The extra weight at the headstock and the loss of the Vibrola at the body end combined to throw the balance off a little. When Gibson described the original Les Paul/SG as being "delicately balanced", they weren't kidding! However, if you use a nice thick strap and try to avoid rock star poses (no clapping your hands over your head!) you should be OK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Epi Rocks Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 I purchased a Epiphone G400 about a month ago from Sweetwater and I have noticed that the headstock seems to be heavier than the body as the headstock always lowers to the floor if I am not holding it. I have never experienced this with any other guitar I have played or owned. Am I missing something or Is this normal? I did some searching in the forums but didn't see any post that was related to my problem. Thanks! Try putting a thin piece of foam robber with double sided tape onto the back. Stops buckle rash and keeps the neck dives from occuring. A wide strap helps too. Cheers Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdiers Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 I hot glued 4 ounces of fishing weights in the pot & electronics compartment. You have to be careful and ensure they don't touch anything but wood. I covered the weights with hot glue, after the initial gluing, to keep them from shorting out if they break loose. I'm thinking about removing them and putting 2 bigger 3 ounce weights in. Though it helped noticeably with the 4 ounces. Even with a wide leather strap, suede on the backside, it still dives some if you let go and move too much. Wide strap doesn't help too much on loose shirts thataren't tucked in. It just pulls your shirt up as it neck dives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RSDx Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 Wide strap doesn't help too much on loose shirts thataren't tucked in. It just pulls your shirt up as it neck dives. Don't wear a shirt ... straps grip sweaty flesh pretty well... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lefty Bill Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 Welcome to the forum Tdiers. I was going to mention the HeadsUp strap, but saw that Bonzo already has in reply #8. A small pouch could be attached to the end of a strap fairly easily, to hold weights.. something made of fabric could be stitched onto the strap, or maybe a small cell phone holster with a belt loop to slide the strap thru. Installation of a Wilkinson Wigsby vibrato requires routing a cavity in the guitar body, but the weight is about 19 ounces (over 530gm), so it would definitely take care of the neck dive problem. I have lots of fond memories of Okinawa.. a wonderful place to see for anyone looking for a travel destination. Bill I hot glued 4 ounces of fishing weights in the pot & electronics compartment. You have to be careful and ensure they don't touch anything but wood. I covered the weights with hot glue, after the initial gluing, to keep them from shorting out if they break loose. I'm thinking about removing them and putting 2 bigger 3 ounce weights in. Though it helped noticeably with the 4 ounces. Even with a wide leather strap, suede on the backside, it still dives some if you let go and move too much. Wide strap doesn't help too much on loose shirts thataren't tucked in. It just pulls your shirt up as it neck dives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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