My bass shakes during vibrato

[JupiterAdept]

It really does.

I know why it's happening; I'm very tall and stand when I play, so I have the endpin all the way out (I actually had to extend it a bit, even though it was already a pretty long endpin). The bass doesn't really shake a lot, but it's making my bow bounce a bit (not off the string) when playing piano passages.

My bass is an extremely(!) cheap Chinese hybrid, so the endpin might not be a great one.

Is it a common problem, and is there an easy solution? A tougher endpin perhaps? I don't think my vibrato is that heavy.. I have low action, so I don't have to press that hard, except when I'm in the lowest positions, because I have a very high nut, which I'm getting fixed sometime soon.

All suggestions are welcome!

[Dr Rod]

There is nothing wrong with what you are doing, this is a common problem with tall people.

Andy Stetson in Cincinnati (also at stringbass.com) has an extremely sturdy endpin and I believe he even had one specially built for tall people, it was extra long and extra thick (yeah guys, go ahead and make your little jokes).

If Andy doesn't make that anymore, Ulsa makes a hollow rod endpin that is surprisingly stiff, because the hollow rod is rather thick in diameter. The only problem is that the rod it comes with is not long enough for a tall person. The solution is to take out the rod (it has a rivet or something that prevents it from coming out so you need to break that) and replace it by a custom made one. The new one could be hollow or not. Be careful when you pull out the old rod because right between the tip of the tightening screw and the rod there is a small metal disc that falls out when you pull out the rod. Not to worry, just put it back into position and slide in the new rod.

I hope this helps.

Originally Posted by JupiterAdept

It really does.

I know why it's happening; I'm very tall and stand when I play, so I have the endpin all the way out (I actually had to extend it a bit, even though it was already a pretty long endpin). The bass doesn't really shake a lot, but it's making my bow bounce a bit (not off the string) when playing piano passages.

My bass is an extremely(!) cheap Chinese hybrid, so the endpin might not be a great one.

Is it a common problem, and is there an easy solution? A tougher endpin perhaps? I don't think my vibrato is that heavy.. I have low action, so I don't have to press that hard, except when I'm in the lowest positions, because I have a very high nut, which I'm getting fixed sometime soon.

All suggestions are welcome!

[Matthew Tucker]

yes that's right. The cheap chinese shiny endpins are rubbish in any positions. All the way IN the bass they honk around making all sorts of tones and rattles. Out of the bass they wobble.

I like the hollow rod ones, others like 'em solid. This hollow one from Upton is a pretty good price, and there are many others from other suppliers. You can see the difference straight away.

[Eric Hochberg]

Andy Stetson is at Basscellar.com.

[JupiterAdept]

Thanks guys. I´m glad it´s not just me.

That endpin looks pretty brutal compared to my current one xD.

Is there a noticeable difference in weight between the hollow and solid ones? I'd rather not have my bass become much heavier.

[Dr Rod]

Originally Posted by ehochberg

Andy Stetson is at Basscellar.com.

yes that's true, but strinbass.com bounces you to the other site as well.

[Dr Rod]

Originally Posted by JupiterAdept

Thanks guys. I´m glad it´s not just me.

That endpin looks pretty brutal compared to my current one xD.

Is there a noticeable difference in weight between the hollow and solid ones? I'd rather not have my bass become much heavier.

yes, the hollow ones are noticeably lighter.

[padmavyuha]

Dunno who makes it, but I'm having a hollow one fitted even as we 'speak' that extends to 20". I'm 6'3", and this spike is way too tall, but the advantage of this is that when I use it, it'll be held around 3/4 of the way up, rather than right at the end, so it's less likely to flex. I'll ask who the manufacturer is when I pick it up again. (This is in the UK.)

[JupiterAdept]

Originally Posted by padmavyuha

Dunno who makes it, but I'm having a hollow one fitted even as we 'speak' that extends to 20". I'm 6'3", and this spike is way too tall, but the advantage of this is that when I use it, it'll be held around 3/4 of the way up, rather than right at the end, so it's less likely to flex. I'll ask who the manufacturer is when I pick it up again. (This is in the UK.)

That'd be great.
I'll be seeing a luthier somewhere in the near future, I'll ask him about it too.

Thanks guys!

[David Potts]

Do you mind if I also question your vibrato technique, to see if you can avoid the wobble as well? Check out the height of your elbow in relation to your left hand. There is a small range of elbow height for each position the enables freedom of vibrato. Too high or too low will make vibrato stiff and jerky, perhaps inducing the wobble?

DP

[JupiterAdept]

Originally Posted by David Potts

Do you mind if I also question your vibrato technique, to see if you can avoid the wobble as well? Check out the height of your elbow in relation to your left hand. There is a small range of elbow height for each position the enables freedom of vibrato. Too high or too low will make vibrato stiff and jerky, perhaps inducing the wobble?

DP

I don't mind at all.

I haven't experimented too much with it, but I can see what you mean. Vibrato technique feels easy and natural in higher positions, but awkward in the lower range. I'll try raising my elbow. I noticed cellists often raise their elbow during vibrato.

[David Potts]

What adjusting the elbow height does for me is that it keeps directing the rolling action of the finger pads in the same direction as the string. Too high or too low elbow pulls diagonally across the neck and the action stiffens. Beware the cellists' wrist vibrato that rotates the Radius and Ulna, like turning a round door handle. This action accompanies the very high left elbow;

DP