Doubling and Public Transportation

#1 07-28-2008, 07:18 AM

Do any of you doublers-that is, those of you who play bass guitar and double bass on the same gig--use public transit to get to the venue? If so, how do you carry both instruments and an amplifier?

Thanks for your time!

Kevin Hsieh · #2 07-28-2008, 08:03 AM

Amp slung over shoulder. Upright on Wheel. Slab on back.

#3 07-28-2008, 09:27 AM

Thanks for your reply, Kevin. Your profile says that you use the Gallien-Krueger MB150--I have the older version of that amp. What kind of bag do you put it in?

Kevin Hsieh · #4 07-28-2008, 10:02 AM

I'm currently using the GK Bag. I'm sure that if you post in the classifieds, someone has a spare one lying around. But in the future, I'd like to buy a custom Mooradian Bag that will give me both the option of using a shoulder strap or using backpack straps (which would distribute the weight more evenly on my shoulders, rather than killing one shoulder). I got a quote from them about a month ago and a custom one costs about $250.

As for the electric bass with backpack straps, watch out for low entrances!

Rebop · #5 07-28-2008, 10:26 AM

Hah! I tried getting on the city bus with my upright once and the driver had this look on her face like, "no way man" and wouldn't allow me on with it. Luckily I wasn't on my way to a gig (which would have been impossible anyways since buses barely run past 11 or midnight around here).

Kevin Hsieh · #6 07-28-2008, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rebop

Hah! I tried getting on the city bus with my upright once and the driver had this look on her face like, "no way man" and wouldn't allow me on with it. Luckily I wasn't on my way to a gig (which would have been impossible anyways since buses barely run past 11 or midnight around here).

My band had a yacht gig that departed at the Pier (which is at the furthest west of the city and thus there are no trains that are close in proximity). We were so tired out from rushing in the rain to get there and playing the gig that we decided to take the bus to get us back to the subway station.

We fit an upright bass and bass amp, a whole drum set, guitar and 2X10 Fender Amp, and a saxophone on the bus. Talk about dirty looks.

#7 07-28-2008, 11:23 AM

$250? No, thanks. The amp itself didn't cost much more than that. Are there alternatives to the GK and Mooradian bags? Folks have commented on the poor quality of the GK.

cnltb · #8 07-28-2008, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by appler

Do any of you doublers-that is, those of you who play bass guitar and double bass on the same gig--use public transit to get to the venue? If so, how do you carry both instruments and an amplifier?

With great difficulty.

I use am eminence upright, but still ...it's a drag
The worst one was...Glockenklang sould head GK mbx cab, and the instruments...before i had a trolley.
It was painful then and the thought still is.

flyingmarcel · #9 07-28-2008, 02:48 PM

I don't double, but I do play DB seated, so bringing a stool to the gig along with Amp/Bass was always a challenge for me...

The best piece of equipment I own is a two wheel upright dolly that I bought from Home Depot - About $25 I think.

Amp and stool go nicely on the cart - With the use of a couple bungee chords, I'm sure you could get the BG well fixed on top of the amp and against the back of the dolly - Then one hand to carry/wheel the DB (your preference), one hand to pull the dolly behind you -

Bass Train anyone?

fm

thesneakyjesus · #10 07-31-2008, 07:00 PM

to do these things i think you have to invest in good traveling gear.

Good upright case with a wheel.
Good electric bass case http://www.goincase.com/products/det...im-bag-cl56065
good small amp (AI or markbass are popular)
Small speaker (EA whizzy 12)

some good shoulder exercises.

honestly,
you could get by with a good wheel, a good bookbag for the GK, and a small sturdy gig bad for the electric (with a good sling strap)

synaesthesia · #11 08-06-2008, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by appler

Thanks for your reply, Kevin. Your profile says that you use the Gallien-Krueger MB150--I have the older version of that amp. What kind of bag do you put it in?

I use an old Macintosh SE-30 bag... you remember the old all in one macs with the 9" screen? You'd find them cheap on ebay for sure. I actually have two of them. I have 2 MBX112s. The MB150 E is not much taller and would fit.

velvetphil · #12 10-16-2008, 11:27 AM

Man, this is a toughie - one gig I had to bring my upright, amp and two slabs, as well as a separate bag for cables and other things. Horrible. No suggestions, I just feel your pain.

damonsmith · #13 10-16-2008, 12:33 PM

Doubling should pay enough for cab fare.

velvetphil · #14 10-20-2008, 06:58 AM

Yeah, but then (at least in NYC) you're stuck waiting for a minivan or SUV cab, since the car services will gouge the hell out of you. 40 dollars for a minivan to literally go across the Williamsburg Bridge (for which there is NO toll)? No thank you Delancey Car Service.

davidAaronCarte · #15 10-30-2008, 09:09 PM

Thank God I own a car
But yeah, I've been there too
And what's worse is I don't have a wheel
So it went something like...
-doghouse on right shoulder
-thunderstick on back
-amp in arms
-charts/cables/powerbar on left shoulder
Its not bad if its a singer gig - you can usually get them to hold onto something for you.

#16 05-06-2009, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by demonlordofthesith

Doubling should pay enough for cab fare.

I wish, man!

More on this topic - over the past year or so I've been having some doubling gigs in the city. Took NJ Transit and the subway to get to the Alvin Ailey for a couple shows and some dates in the Village, etc.

I've been using bungee cords to attach the plank, guitar stand and GK micro amp to a folding hand truck and carrying the bass with the shoulder strap. I don't recommend this method; it's pretty rough on the back since it's hard to stand up straight while carrying the bass and pushing the cart.

I tried using a wheel but it doesn't work for me. The wheel's metal rod rotates in the endpin shaft because there's nothing locking it in place (probably just my bass's funky endpin setup) so if I hit a rock or a crack in sidewalk the bass veers off course, scattering pedestrians, pets and pigeons!

On the bright side, lots of folks open doors for me.

fdeck · #17 05-08-2009, 06:33 PM

I don't know what styles you play, but would a magnetic pickup on the DB let you leave the UB at home?

tornadobass · #18 05-09-2009, 07:13 AM

I double on EUB and electric bass for blues, but prefer not to.

For awhile, my solution was to with just the EUB using light gauge strings and low action on the EUB so I could cover the EB stuff more easily. But then our music strayed too far from what the EUB could credibly cover.

salcott · #19 05-09-2009, 05:07 PM

My solution to doubling has become to charge enough so that the employer chooses one or the other or pays enough to cover a car service or taxi both ways.

appler, if your wheel rotates in the endpin, you need to file a flat where the endpin screw contacts it.

#20 05-10-2009, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin Hsieh

My band had a yacht gig that departed at the Pier (which is at the furthest west of the city and thus there are no trains that are close in proximity). We were so tired out from rushing in the rain to get there and playing the gig that we decided to take the bus to get us back to the subway station.

We fit an upright bass and bass amp, a whole drum set, guitar and 2X10 Fender Amp, and a saxophone on the bus. Talk about dirty looks.

Haha - that's crazy, man! I had a similar gig recently - boat left from the pier, no trains, etc. - I ended up driving in.

Quote:

Originally Posted by salcott

My solution to doubling has become to charge enough so that the employer chooses one or the other or pays enough to cover a car service or taxi both ways.

appler, if your wheel rotates in the endpin, you need to file a flat where the endpin screw contacts it.

Now we're cooking with gas. One of the sides is actually flat already but it doesn't "catch" if you will. Do you think I should file it down a little more?