Kay basses and others giving the 1/2" shaft

[Bob Gollihur]

I've been feeding my old Kay with a steady diet of crutch tips for the last 35 years - it eats through them rather quickly- tried adding a washer, a glob of silicone caulk, other things, but I still end up seeing metal through the rubber pretty promptly.

Emptied my last 3-pack of crutch tips and can't find any more, fergit CVS, etc., and even two med/surg shops. Seems crutches have gotten fat since my last supply trip. But I found a new way to tip ye olde endpin and wanted to share my discovery:

Pick up a pack of 1/2" Vinyl Tips (Ace hardware ACE 5015623 or equivalent) - they are not heavy rubber, instead just relatively thin but tall vinyl jobbies like on table legs -- slip it over the endpin.

Pick up a pack of 5/8" Rubber Tips (Ace hardware ACE 51239), and force that sucker over the vinyl tip. It's a much heavier/thicker rubber mutha and a more rounded than the old cane tips. Has ridges inside and won't slip off easily. Better contact and so far I've bypassed the mileage I've gotten from any past crutch tip. And they're cheap in the 4-pack, likely a lifetime supply if I don't lose them first.

You have to take the small victories in life and cherish them.

[Don Higdon]

Best idea I've heard, now that I've sold my Kay to get my UGLY American Standard.

So you never invert the shaft to use the spike end?

[Bob Gollihur]

Originally posted by Don Higdon
Best idea I've heard, now that I've sold my Kay to get my UGLY American Standard.

So you never invert the shaft to use the spike end?

I've done it a few times but seldom really find the need - my Kay (especially now since I spent a little time installing a new adjustable bridge and some time with the sound post position) has always had a big sound. Right now it is heavenly, as it has been in the past. I don't recall if you heard it when you were at the house, but right now both my basses are kicking, actually all three, the Bulgarian, too. Finally took the time to give them the attention required.