What is the ideal weight for a Stratocaster body (unfinished) to avoid neck dive?

[kimwr11]

I’m currently looking into a Stratocaster body, and I found one in the stock of Warmoth that I personally like.

It weighs 3.25 lbs. I like the idea of it being lightweight,

but I’m hesitant to purchase it because I’m concerned that neck dive might occur due to imbalance.

To be on the safe side, what minimum weight (in lbs) would you recommend?

I’m planning to install a recessed Floyd Rose bridge.

For the neck, I’m considering a quarter-sawn maple neck, and I plan to use non-locking tuners.

 

[bonesofwrath]

The strat is remarkably immune to neck dive since its strap button is placed in the location God told Leo to place it while on the mountain. Something Gibson never quite figured out. It's pretty much in line with the 12th fret.

 

[Tretgeraet]

I agree, it's very difficult to make a strat neck heavy! Also a Floyd is not exactly a light weight bridge. I don't think you're gonna have any problems there.

 

[Mincer]

With a dense wood neck, and extra light body, they can absolutely neck dive. I built a 3.4 lb chambered body out of swamp ash/maple and a neck of wenge, and it had neck dive. I switched out the tuners for extra light ones and it still was divey.

 

[WrongPickguard]

I have a 3lb strat body with a roasted birdseye neck and a gotoh 510 bridge. Absolutely no neck-dive. I find it hard to believe you'll have any issue with a 3.25lb body and maple neck, especially with a floyd bridge. Those things weigh around 400 grams, right?

 

[kimwr11]

The strat is remarkably immune to neck dive since its strap button is placed in the location God told Leo to place it while on the mountain. Something Gibson never quite figured out. It's pretty much in line with the 12th fret.

Thank you for the advice.

 

[kimwr11]

I agree, it's very difficult to make a strat neck heavy! Also a Floyd is not exactly a light weight bridge. I don't think you're gonna have any problems there.

Thank you. I'm gradually gaining the courage to buy it!

 

[kimwr11]

With a dense wood neck, and extra light body, they can absolutely neck dive. I built a 3.4 lb chambered body out of swamp ash/maple and a neck of wenge, and it had neck dive. I switched out the tuners for extra light ones and it still was divey.

Thank you for the advice.

 

[kimwr11]

I have a 3lb strat body with a roasted birdseye neck and a gotoh 510 bridge. Absolutely no neck-dive. I find it hard to believe you'll have any issue with a 3.25lb body and maple neck, especially with a floyd bridge. Those things weigh around 400 grams, right?

Thank you for the information.

 

[Rick]

Not that it's a bad question, but for some reason this reminds me of weight ratio's ...

 

[MoreSpaceEcho]

Just joining the choir here, I have a couple 3lb strat bodies, no problem with neck dive at all.

 

[supertruper1988]

I have laid hands on a strat that weighed 5.5 pounds unchambered and there was no neck dive. The Strat body geometry with a standard scale neck is very very unlikely to neck dive.

 

[NedRyerson]

Neck dive is more affected by the position of the strap button as a fulcrum than body weight.

ETA: not to say that body weight has zero effect. Just that neck dive can sometimes be affected through simple repositioning of the strap button which can be easier and faster than trying to spec parts out to the milligram degree.