Too Tight Endpin ?

dusteroo · #1 02-24-2009, 03:22 PM

My recently aquired upright bass has the endpin with the notches in it. It is VERY tight as I am trying to extend it. I have tried gun oil but it is impossible to turn. And yes,I loosened the wing nut.

Any suggestions on how to loosen it and why is it so tight? The bass is about 5 years old. Thanks

thewhale · #2 02-24-2009, 08:57 PM

is the plug metal? I have an old bass with a metal plug that can get rusty inside. Wipe the endpin off with wd-40 or some steel wool if that's the problem.

Bass Barrister · #3 02-24-2009, 11:02 PM

Your endpin might be bent. That happened to a friend's bass. He eventually took it to a luthier who was able to get the shaft off and then trued it up. The trick is to get the shaft off w/o causing more harm.

This thread might be better off on the Setup/repair subforum.

dchan · #4 02-25-2009, 01:29 AM

My school's Christopher plywood had this problem occasionally. I'm not sure what the problem was, but I suspect it may have had something to do with the temperature and shrinking/expanding wood and metal parts. During cold weather, it was impossible to get it out without using pliers for help; in warmer weather, it didn't pull out exactly smoothly, but you only needed your hands to pull it out.

kurt ratering · #5 02-25-2009, 04:02 AM

if your endpin is straight it might be your plug. i know its the winter, but whats the humidity in arkansas? maybe your plug needs to be drilled a little bit to open it up.

Brandon Tuomiko · #6 02-25-2009, 07:10 AM

My old school had this really really really crapy laminated 100% low end student bass from around 1970. Beat to hell.

The bottom was concave in. And the endpin was at a 45 degree angle. ANd it looked like it was going to break off the bass. It was impossible to pull out. My teacher put it in a vice and tried to pull it. Did not move.

And still..... never ever got it out.

dusteroo · #7 02-25-2009, 08:17 AM

Thanks for the replies. I don't know how to move my post to setup repair. Maybe when the warm weather gets here I'll be able to budge it and then oil it.

drurb · #8 02-25-2009, 08:53 AM

I have heard of this happening when the bass is not properly humidified and the endpin collar is wooden.

dusteroo · #9 02-25-2009, 09:18 AM

Yes my endpin collar is wooden. I just purchased the bass on Saturday and I don't believe it was properly humidified in its former home. Luckily,no cracks. I have it in a room now with a humidifier and am using a dampit also. Maybe it will loosen up later on. Thanks

drurb · #10 02-25-2009, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dusteroo

Yes my endpin collar is wooden. I just purchased the bass on Saturday and I don't believe it was properly humidified in its former home. Luckily,no cracks. I have it in a room now with a humidifier and am using a dampit also. Maybe it will loosen up later on. Thanks

Throw away the damp-it! It'll likely do more harm than good (dripping) and is useless anyway of the bass is not enclosed in the case because you'd effectively be trying to humidify the room with the damp-it. Check the threads regarding damp-its. Danger, danger, danger!

marvin spangles · #11 02-25-2009, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dusteroo

n. I just purchased the bass on Saturday and

HI
Did you notice this when you purchased the bass. If you are not happy then I would take it back to whoever you purchased it from. Otherwise be patient.

dusteroo · #12 02-25-2009, 11:38 AM

Threw away the dampits ! No I didn't notice the endpin being tight when I purchased. I don't believe the seller would accept a return,plus I am happy with the bass. I don't really want to return it.Thanks

GerardSamija · #13 02-25-2009, 12:57 PM

Another occasional problem with endpins sticking is when the plug is made of a softer wood, such as maple (rather than ebony or rosewood etc.), and the turning in which the cable/wire is held is too small in diameter. The resulting very thin and compressible wood left between endwire and the hole for the endpin itself is squashed by string tension, resulting in a pinched endpin. Drilling this out might 'solve' the problem for a little while, but for obvious reasons this actually accelerates the issue, causing even more compression. The solution is to replace the endpin cone with something better, and preferably slightly larger to avoid a repeat of the same problem. While replacing, if that's the way you go, I'd suggest avoiding any endpin steel less than 3/8" (9.5mm - 10mm) diameter, as the 5/16" type tend to bend rather easily at the notches. Even 3/8" in some steels can be fragile, and worse if the notches or grooves are too deep. A stiffer endpin is a good idea, both for durability and for a more solid anchor to the floor.