A Strange End Pin

[Cathead]

I went to see Cadillac Sky last night in concert and their bass player had the strangest end pin I have ever seen. It leaves his bass at about a 45 degree angle. I took a picture so I could show it.

[RCWilliams]

It is a laborie endpin it is supposed to be installed at 44 degrees. it is basically a cantaleavered design to take the weight off your thumb. it is used in the rabath method.

[JoeyNaeger]

My bass teacher is the one in cadilac sky! They're a great band with a lot of stage energy. I hope you enjoyed the show.

[Marcus Johnson]

I've played a friend's bass with that pin, and I have to say it felt really great. He offered to swap it for the conventional pin for the evening's gig, but I found it to be very natural right away. I love the feeling of access to the fingerboard and the overall balance of the bass.

When Francois Rabbath was teaching out here, a few of the guys made this conversion. I've been tempted to do so as well.

[Cathead]

Originally Posted by JoeyNaeger

My bass teacher is the one in cadilac sky! They're a great band with a lot of stage energy. I hope you enjoyed the show.

Enjoyed the show is a very mild way to put it. I was blown away!! They are by far my favorite grass band. You sure have an adequate teacher.

[PB+J]

it might have been an eggpin, which clamps onto the endpin socket and lets you adjust the angle of the bass. I use one ad love it, except for the inconveniece of taking it on and off

[quenoil]

No, its not an egg pin. That's something entirely different from what's in the photo.

[M Ramsey]

Originally Posted by RCWilliams

It is a laborie endpin it is supposed to be installed at 44 degrees. it is basically a cantaleavered design to take the weight off your thumb. it is used in the rabath method.

Yep, it's a Laborie endpin. If you ever get to see Cadillac Sky and they have a few minutes to spare (hard to find when you have a bunch of gigs) talk to Andy Moritz. He's the bassist whose bass has this endpin installed on. Super nice guy. He should get an award for that.

BTW, that's about a $25,000-$35,000 fully carved German bass he's carrying around to the heat and humidity laden land of bluegrass festivals. Some folks have been discussing here about the durability of carved basses in the heat. Just ask ol' Andy. He can tell you all about it.

A monstrous bass by the way. He'll let you check it out. Just be sure and ask first.

[thesneakyjesus]

yep rabbath method. check out all the guys at JMU in Virginia. They're studying with Sam and doing the Rabbath method with those end pins. I've seen them like in this picture, where it's drilled into the bass, and another type that does into the regular end pin hole, and is bent to achieve this angle.

[Cathead]

Here's a little different angle with the camera.