bass mobility

piiman · #1 03-04-2009, 08:08 PM

I'll be going to camp this year with my bass. Lots of mobility required.
I've seen the bass wheel but it looks a little precarious to me.
I've also seen a lot of converted golf carts.
What do you use?

Peter

Brandon Tuomiko · #2 03-04-2009, 08:16 PM

A good suv and a soft case. Thats all my kay needs. For carrying, I would get either a bass cart or the wheel. But the wheel is a pain in the butt. Its a little thing that is not wobbly but the bass is oversized for it and you have to balance it. It gets annoying.

A hard case with wheels could work, but those are heavy.

Marc Piane · #3 03-04-2009, 08:23 PM

The Wheel.

I always muse on a gig where I have a long schlep if fire or the wheel was humankind's greatest discovery.

Mike Goodbar · #4 03-04-2009, 09:05 PM

A friend of mine ties a piece of dock line to the neck and loops it a around the endpin to make a strap and carries it on his back. Leaves both hands free to carry stool, beer bottle, etc.

Don't use the straps they provide with some bass bags, especially the ones involving D rings and clasps and so forth. I had a close call when that system failed - luckily the drummer was walking right behind me and absorbed the impact.

Phil Rowan · #5 03-04-2009, 09:56 PM

Gaines wheel for me.. 100% satisfied.

A budget alternative is to just get a basic folding cart and a bungee cord or two. I've done that in the past and it was fine. I do prefer the one-wheel system, as it allows me to maneuver around the crowds at Times Sq/Herald Sq/Etc with ease.

JtheJazzMan · #6 03-04-2009, 10:57 PM

heres a creation of mine:

Attachment 120964

Attachment 120965

i like it because in conjunction with a padded bag its very stable and all the bumps are dispersed over a wide area as opposed to a wheel

salcott · #7 03-04-2009, 11:51 PM

Gaines wheel, NYC, no car for 25+ years. No problems. Use common sense, watch where you're going. Shoulder straps? The D ring will eventually break. Backpack straps? Fine for long outdoor walks til you go through a door and forget how much bass is sticking up behind you. Then you either knock the scroll off, break the neck joint, or fall backwards on top of your bass, all of which make a very expensive noise.

Greg Clinkingbeard · #8 03-05-2009, 07:18 AM

http://www.kcstrings.com/bass-buggie.html

bribass · #9 03-05-2009, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clink

http://www.kcstrings.com/bass-buggie.html

The Buggie looks nice. I wonder how it stacks up to the Kolstein stroller that I've used for almost 25 yrs. Only on my 2nd one in all that time.

http://67.99.200.248/mm5/merchant.mv...ory_Code=wheel

Brandon Tuomiko · #10 03-05-2009, 08:47 AM

Yes the buggie would be my 1st choice.

Problem is, when I gig, I use the NS. No need for a cart for my db when in orchestra.

drurb · #11 03-05-2009, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brandon Tuomiko

Yes the buggie would be my 1st choice.

Problem is, when I gig, I use the NS. No need for a cart for my db when in orchestra.

Have you used the buggie or the Kolstein version?

Eric Hochberg · #12 03-05-2009, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bribass

The Buggie looks nice. I wonder how it stacks up to the Kolstein stroller that I've used for almost 25 yrs. Only on my 2nd one in all that time.

Finally, another Kolstein user. Mine's still going strong, purchased in '78 or so. It was overhauled by Barry once and I bought a backup, but have never used it. Great product, never seen anyone else in chitown with one, though.

Gufenov · #13 03-05-2009, 08:55 AM

There's also this: http://www.fretwellbass.com/index.ph...show/wifesaver

I would think the larger, air-filled tires would work better over rough terrain.

salcott · #14 03-05-2009, 09:31 AM

I tried a folding handcart bungeed to the bass before I got an endpin mounted wheel, kind of a poor man's buggie. The problem I have with all the two-wheeled designs is that you have to follow the bass
rather than steering it where you want it to go. The handtruck-based designs are fine unless you have stairs to negotiate. I have no experience with the Kolstein Stroller except to say it would make me a little nervous having all the stress on the rib. The endpin block is (should be) one of the strongest parts of the instrument; in all my years of wheeling, I've never damaged the block. You just have to watch where you're going and use common sense. The biggest danger is hitting an obstacle that brings you to a sudden stop causing you to fall on top of the bass; this usually happens only once.

bribass · #15 03-05-2009, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by salcott

I have no experience with the Kolstein Stroller except to say it would make me a little nervous having all the stress on the rib. The endpin block is (should be) one of the strongest parts of the instrument; in all my years of wheeling, I've never damaged the block. You just have to watch where you're going and use common sense. The biggest danger is hitting an obstacle that brings you to a sudden stop causing you to fall on top of the bass; this usually happens only once.

Nah, there's like zero danger to the rib w/ the Kolstein stroller. 2 wheels mounted on a thick alum plate which is in turn mounted on 3 heavy shock absorbers mounted on the larger (like 8"X10") curved alum plate. This is Velcroed to the lower rib area of your gigbag and they give you more dense rubbery foam to glue to the adjacent area inside the case. Any shock is completely and safely dispersed and absorbed even w/o the additional foam rubber stuff. The replaceable hard rubber wheels work well over any terrain except maybe gravel or sand.

I would have more reservations about sending the shock of a crack or hole in the sidewalk through the endpin block as w/ a Gains type wheel.

Marc Piane · #16 03-05-2009, 02:11 PM

I used to be leery of the damage that a wheel or stroller might cause. Fact is though that if your bass is being loaded in and out of a car, or the bus, or subway, in all kinds of crazy weather conditions, in a soft case, going through tight spaces, dodging waiters in some hotel kitchen, being crammed into a freight elevator, xrayed at the airport, with clumsy drunks around... well you get the point. I think the wheel/stroller is the least of your worries.

Marcus Johnson · #17 03-05-2009, 02:41 PM

One of my students has the KC strings buggy. Works great, and really simple to use. That's the way I'd go, after seeing it in action.

Brandon Tuomiko · #18 03-05-2009, 03:07 PM

I cant see why the wheel is so popular. Not only is it a pain that you have to have a separate endpin. It wobbles when its in. its a little wheel supporting a huge bass. its a pain to pull as you have to balance it.

I have never used the cart, but I bet its great!

Ed Fuqua · #19 03-05-2009, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brandon Tuomiko

I cant see why the wheel is so popular. Not only is it a pain that you have to have a separate endpin. It wobbles when its in. its a little wheel supporting a huge bass. its a pain to pull as you have to balance it.

I have never used the cart, but I bet its great!

Try pushing it...

Marcus Johnson · #20 03-05-2009, 03:34 PM

I've always wondered about the wisdom of sticking a wheel into the tailblock of a bass. Just doesn't feel right to me.