Star Body - Neck Dive?

[FranzKappa]

Hi guys,

asking for your expertise, is a Star shaped body prone for Neck Dive? I have read about it online and it make sense now that I think about the position of the cutouts and ergonomics. Has anyone experience with this shape? Does it really dive that bad?

If I am thinking about a Hardtail Star it would make the problem worse due to the missing counterweight of the Tremolo + Block, I'd guess?


Cheers!

 

[Hodgo]

Probably, that’s a big chunk of tail weight missing. Will depend on the wood and where you mount the strap buttons, as well as the tuner selection. Good luck making any solid maple or walnut guitar dive!

 

[Tretgeraet]

Hi,
I have a Kramer "Gunstar" that is slightly different to the Warmoth Star. It's a little neck heavy, never too much to keep me from playing it, though.

It feels like the body is a bit chambered when tapping it, which might add to the heavy-headedness.

It depends very much on the weight of the body and also where you place the upper strap button: Placing it just behind the neck joint (to the neck plate for example) should be effective against neck dive. At least that's my assumption.

About hardtail vs. trem: A trem itself might be heavier, but in return there's a huge chunk of wood cut out for the spring cavity, so I'm not sure how much difference it really makes.

I think the Star is a cool looking and comfortable shape!

EDIT:
Also: What @Hodgo said!

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

Place the alternate satrap button on the inside of the “V” part of the star, just behind the bridge. This will change the axis point point more weight emphasis on the upper wing.

 

[FranzKappa]

Thanks for the input!

Well I have ordered an **Extra Light** Alder Bodied Star, I might regret that decision now. Extra Light Alder and Hardtail screams for neck dive... I never thought abou this! I really love the looks but I am now afraid of the possible dive, I once had a Neck heavy SG and hated it. What I have learned now that it depends on the configuration.

 

[Tretgeraet]

Thanks for the input!

Well I have ordered an **Extra Light** Alder Bodied Star, I might regret that decision now. Extra Light Alder and Hardtail screams for neck dive... I never thought abou this! I really love the looks but I am now afraid of the possible dive, I once had a Neck heavy SG and hated it. What I have learned now that it depends on the configuration.

Could still work with the aforementioned strap button positioning.

Also neck heavy SGs are different because the body is much smaller. The upper horn, or wing as TonyFlyingSquirrel called it, allows you more to balance/control the neck dive with your forearm.

What neck will you put on it?

 

[supertruper1988]

yeah they can get neck dive-y but you can mitigate that with light weight tuners and strap placement.

 

[rockandroller]

I've seen this simple "strap-over-top-bout" neck dive fix used on a lot of explorers and such - works brilliantly:

( Thats a TEN POUND Aluminum-necked Kramer Vanguard, btw... )

 

[FranzKappa]

What neck will you put on it?

Just a simple Quartersawn Maple Neck.

 

[aarontunes]

Here is a phenomenally well-written article on the Warmoth blog about how to fix a neck heavy guitar.

#6 is what I did to my Nomad, which is basically a Star with a chunk taken out.