Transport Wheels for HS Basses

modello · #1 02-07-2008, 04:12 PM

HELP!

I have 6 3/4 Scherl & Roth basses and I recently bought the Upton transport wheels. Unfortunately, I the tuba player I am didn't check if the endpin could easily come out..

It can't.

2 of my Bass players are right at 5ft tall and need the help to take the instrument home to practice. I don't want them hurting themselves. Is my only option a "backpack" bag? It doesn't appear that there is a transport wheel alive that can attach to the end pin.

Thanks in advance for your help. I'm very jealous of this site and am going to search for a similar site for Tubists.

-Mike

Greg Clinkingbeard · #2 02-07-2008, 04:45 PM

Would this work for you?
http://www.kcstrings.com/bass-buggie.html

jimmyduded · #3 02-07-2008, 05:09 PM

if you take the basses to a luthier you can get the endpins shaved down to come out, although in my personal experience(when i bought my bass i got all the bells and whistles including a wheel) you really dont use a wheel that often, it can also damage your instrument which is something most people dont realize, the wheel is not a shock absorber and thus it makes the basses bottom ribs a shock absorber, it is rather nice that you care about the kids though, i wish my high school even set up our basses(they wont let me do it for free)

Brent Nussey · #4 02-07-2008, 05:40 PM

Hi.

Just pull the endpins as far out as they will go, and cut them off with a hacksaw. Then replace them in the socket, and the remaining little bit (which has been pinned or crimped to keep it from coming out) will get pushed inside the bass. Turn the bass upside down and that little bit will fall out. After that you can pull out the pin, put your wheel in and you're good to go.

In contrast to jimmyduded's comments, I've used a wheel for 20 years, some of them VERY heavy use, without having any damage to my 100+ year old bass, as have most other players I know. I don't know about the wheel you bought, but it's my opinion that if it's an air-filled tire type, those are the best, and they do act very much as shock absorbers. Anyone who has ever taken a ride on an old wheeled wagon vs a modern bicycle knows that air filled tires offer significant shock absorption.

Good luck, bless you for taking care of your kids this way.

jimmyduded · #5 02-07-2008, 06:00 PM

it was a meisel wheel, solid chunk of rubber, and ive seen those wheels destroy basses

Bob Branstetter · #6 02-07-2008, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmyduded

if you take the basses to a luthier you can get the endpins shaved down to come out, although in my personal experience(when i bought my bass i got all the bells and whistles including a wheel) you really dont use a wheel that often, it can also damage your instrument which is something most people dont realize, the wheel is not a shock absorber and thus it makes the basses bottom ribs a shock absorber

Like Brent, I have used wheels on my basses for decades and I have never had any damage to any of my instruments as a result of using the wheels. The only damage I've ever seen come to my shop from wheels is the result of not having the proper size shaft to fit the endpin socket hole. Even then, the only damage was some excess wear to the socket hole. If someone is worried that their bass is not healthy enough for a traditional wheel, KC Strings and Kolsteins have alternative wheel mounting methods.

Bass Barrister · #7 02-08-2008, 09:57 AM

I have the Double Bass Buggie from KC Strings and think it's great. It is easy to mount, easy to roll with two wheel stability, and the bass will actually stand by itself, although great caution is advised when doing so. For an extra $10, you can purchase a "shock pad" which attaches to the carriage platform with two-sided tape, but you can probably buy a sheet of heavy foam rubber and cut it to size yourself.

I would not use this on sand, gravel, grass, or in snow. But general street/sidewalk use, it's great.

downneck · #8 02-08-2008, 10:59 AM

my teacher's got something like http://www.geobuilt.com/ez%20wheels.htm that he bungees onto his bass bag

modello · #9 02-08-2008, 05:06 PM

Thank you all for your quick and helpful insights! I am ordering the Bass Buggies instead of cutting off the old pin. I'm too nervous to do something so drastic to new instruments (it seems there is a cotter pin holding the end pin in).

This has been a huge help! Thanks again!
-Mike

toman · #10 02-08-2008, 07:46 PM

I've been using an endpin wheel in several basses for years without a hint of a problem, and I know many others who have, too, even with fragile old basses. The endpin wheel works great and is simple; I have yet to see an alternative that was as simple and easy to use.

And, sawing off an endpin is not radical at all. There's nothing to mess up...

Bass Barrister · #11 02-08-2008, 07:49 PM

Just to repeat my words of caution, given that these will be used by high school kids:

1) exercise care to make sure that the bass is properly set on the buggie, that the straps are not twisted, and that the bungee cord is properly extended and secured. Also, make sure the kids hold on to the end of that cord, with its attached ball, or, to quote some famous movie line: "You'll put your eye out kid!!".
2) As the bass will stand by itself when properly set on the buggie, make sure the little mor---, err, students, don't leave it unattended. It will fall over, especially when pushed.

The buggie can be used with the bass bagged or in the nude.

RCWilliams · #12 02-09-2008, 08:06 AM

Thank you, thank you, thank you to those of you who have purchased my dblBass Buggie, and for so many kind words about it, but...
Please, Please Please.... do not get overconfident of the basses ability to stand un attended. we recently got one in the shop which suffered some damage after being left to its own resources in a wind gust. Bassas have a hard enough life.

Thanks again.

greitzer · #13 02-09-2008, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by modello

Thanks in advance for your help. I'm very jealous of this site and am going to search for a similar site for Tubists.

-Mike

Check out the Tubanews site -- www.tubanews.com

Same sort of setup there, some very helpful folks who have good advice on various tubist and euphonist matters.

Bass Barrister · #14 02-09-2008, 12:22 PM

Tubaman,

Also check out www.chisham.com , home of the famous TubeNet. Plenty of information regarding tubas, euphoniums, players, auditions, and, every so often, a couple of real Pi**ng match thread just like here!

There are a number of "low lifes" from there that hang out here as well.

BCB, err ... what's a treble clef???

King 2341
J. Lidl LBB-701
Conn/Sorkin Eb (early1930s)

and no room left in his condo for any of this stuff.

drurb · #15 02-09-2008, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by modello

HELP!

I have 6 3/4 Scherl & Roth basses and I recently bought the Upton transport wheels. Unfortunately, I the tuba player I am didn't check if the endpin could easily come out..

It can't.

2 of my Bass players are right at 5ft tall and need the help to take the instrument home to practice. I don't want them hurting themselves. Is my only option a "backpack" bag? It doesn't appear that there is a transport wheel alive that can attach to the end pin.

Thanks in advance for your help. I'm very jealous of this site and am going to search for a similar site for Tubists.

-Mike

Some bass bags have wheels attached. You might wish to check that as an alternative as well. It would also seem to provide a solution with little for the students to fuss with.

toman · #16 02-09-2008, 02:42 PM

Man, when I was in high school I lugged either a 7/8 bass or a BG, head and 4/10 cab to school every day, depending on what combination of big band, pep band, wind ensemble, orchestra, chamber group or jazz combo was rehersing or performing that day... And there were no damn wheels of any of it!

Michael Eisenman · #17 02-19-2008, 10:47 PM

And I bet it was uphill both ways.

toman · #18 02-19-2008, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by low.eadg

And I bet it was uphill both ways.

In snow, to be sure! And sometimes, there were wild animals, not to mention the government and the Russians!

MingusAmongUs · #19 02-20-2008, 11:45 AM

in case you want to try a pneumatic (air-filled) wheel:

http://www.gainesbasswheel.com/

I used one for a few years but then when I bought a new bass I had a new shaft WELDED onto the wheel to fit the giant endpin (1in thick). That bass has since imploded so now I'm stuck with a wheel I can't use. No matter, I don't really have a use for it anymore anyway. Maybe one of these days I'll see if I can somehow cut the welded shaft off again.

toman · #20 02-20-2008, 05:01 PM

The bummer with the pneumatic wheel is when you get a flat and you're still across town from the gig. Seems like a good idea, but I've seen no problems with the regular foam R/C airplane type foam-filled wheel. I've run mine over miles and miles of rough sidewalks, cobblestones, grass, gravel, dirt... You name it and no problems with any bass. Even if the worst struck, I'd rather sacrifice an endblock or a little rib damage than more damage to my back over the years...