I play a Fender parts P-bass. I used a 4 inch wide nylon/neoprene strap. Left to its own devices, my bass likes to hang at about a 33 degree angle. I play at a 45 degree angle or greater. For a short period of time, I can hold the bass at a 45 degree angle using the palm of my plucking hand and thumb on my fretting hand. But this causes discomfort and cramping after about 20 minutes.
I tried relocating the lower strap button up a few inches, and that did not seem to have much effect.
Good old neck dive!
Try using a strap with more “grippy” material such as leather. It seems your nylon strap would be quite slippery
I use a 4 1/2 inch leather strap on my Hofner, which is notorious for neck dive.
You could also try to replace the tuners with something like hipshot lightweights. 3 or 4 ounces difference may not seem like a whole lot, but at the end of the long lever that is the neck it might actually alleviate the problem.
I would definitely try @PamPurrs solution first, though. Not only will you have a better strap, but it’s definitely the cheaper thing to try.
There was a topic not long ago where people gave their suggestions.
Everything from changing to lighter tuners to adding weight(s) at the body end of the Bass.
Try a Suede or Suede backed strap.
It sits comfortably on the shoulder but doesn’t move around like nylon or leather will.
Also play in in short sleeves or roll up the sleeve of your plucking hand so that the skin of your forearm holds the body in place.
Other than that… tie a helium balloon to the headstock?
I appreciate all the responses. But a lot of the answers hear address neck DIVE or the strap slipping. That is not what I have going on. My current set up gives me a consistent 33 degree from the floor angle. But I want it to sit at 45 degree or greater naturally. So I don’t think a different strap is going to fix that because its not a slippage issue.
What I need to do is to change the center of gravity so that it hangs more upright if I am not supporting it with my left hand. That is going to require either moving some buttons, using a headstock strap, or somehow adding weight/ preventing movement of the lower end.
I can’t be the only weirdo that likes a more upright angle
I play with an upright (45degree ish) angle also and just set that way on my strap when I put it on my shoulder… It stays that way and I don’t have to fight it because the leather strap Holds it in place.
You can try the old school headstock strap loop (still used on acoustics).
Most nylon straps still come with one, or use a thin shoelace just to check it.
This keeps the bass pointed up further quite a bit.
Very old basses had a strap button on the back of the headstock, an easy add if you like the idea of tying there.
