David Gage bass skate

Dave Speranza · #1 03-02-2009, 07:05 PM

Hi

My meisel wheel shaft broke (again) the other so I am thinking maybe I'll try one of these things at gage's website. I searched through here to try to find a review but couldnt find anything.

Anybody used one? I am attracted to this over the gaines wheel because 1) price, and 2) not very interested in the idea of needing a tire pump for my bass wheel

If there's a thread please link me.

Thanks

Kevin Hsieh · #2 03-02-2009, 07:34 PM

two words: bass buggie

drop by cleo's and you can check mine out.

Indybass091 · #3 03-02-2009, 08:35 PM

+1 on the bass buggie. I've had mine for half a year now, and it's awesome.

Problems that I DON'T have since I've bought a buggie:
-Bent Axle
-Deflated wheel
-Wheel that becomes loose from endpin collar

Get one at www.kcstrings.com

Eric Hochberg · #4 03-08-2009, 01:49 PM

The Bass Buggy looks really good. It's basically taken from the Kolstein Stroller idea but is a bit more versatile as it can be used with or without
a case on the bass. It can also easily be used on different basses, bags. (The Kolstein can too, but taking the stroller off and on its velcro attachments frequently would tend to rip them off the bag or the stroller eventually.) The Kolstein stays on the case and there is no setup between moves. The bass won't stand on its own with the Kolstein either, but that is something I'd only use if there was absolutely no one around that could knock into the bass. A bit precarious in my view. If I didn't already have 2 Kolsteins, I'd give this one a try.

salcott · #5 03-08-2009, 02:18 PM

I've used the Gaines wheel since it came out, 25+ years. I've never had:
-Bent Axle
-Deflated wheel
-Wheel that becomes loose from endpin collar

I'd have to do something really drastic to bend the axle or the shaft, for that matter. I check the tire pressure just like I'd do with a bike or car, and have never had a flat in all my miles of NY street travel. I make sure to tighten the endpin screw on the FLAT side of the shaft, and have never had a problem there, either. On the collar attaching the wheel to its shaft, I put a drop of Loctite on the setscrews; no problem with loosening. For maneuverability, the single wheel is better than a two-wheeled device (IMO) as you can steer the bass by leaning rather than having to follow it. As far as damaging the endpin block, a little common sense goes a long way. Don't run off a six inch curb right on to the wheel; pick up the bass to go down stairs and when traversing potholes, big sidewalk cracks, etc. I've never had any issues in this area.

Eric Hochberg · #6 03-08-2009, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by salcott

For maneuverability, the single wheel is better than a two-wheeled device (IMO) as you can steer the bass by leaning rather than having to follow it.

Really, a non-issue at least with the Kolstein. I've never had any problem getting the bass to go anywhere I want. The nice thing about the Kolstein compared to a single wheel is you can stand the bass on its endpin while stopped, waiting to cross a street, for a bus, train, etc.

Marc Piane · #7 03-08-2009, 03:57 PM

Any device is going to have a learning curve to maneuver. When I first got a wheel I thought is was a little awkward. Now I am a die hard wheel user have wheels on both my basses and can run full speed to get across a street or catch a bus or whatever.

There are any number of good products out there.

salcott · #8 03-08-2009, 07:46 PM

I agree about the maneuverability of the Kolstein carrier vs. a two wheel design. It might work for me, but I'm accustomed to wheeling the bass bridge forward rather than side forward (ala "Whims of Chambers"). I can move the bass from in front of me to the over-the-right-hip stair climbing position almost without breaking stride. It's all in what you're used to, and ultimately doesn't matter, as long as you get where you're going. The wheel has enabled me to survive in NYC for almost 30 years without a car.

MDEbass · #9 03-08-2009, 09:22 PM

i've got a bass buggie. Its easy to use, takes no time to strap on and off your bass, and its really helpful. I had an all state orch clinic a few weeks ago where I had to wheel my bass from hotel to a the rehearsal location a few blocks away and it was very easy and convinient. I would really reccomend on over a wheel.

Don Higdon · #10 03-09-2009, 07:33 AM

I just ordered one from KC Strings for my walnut bass. The side-forward approach looks like it's easier to negotiate doorways.

Dave Speranza · #11 11-30-2009, 01:28 PM

UPDATE:

I ended up buying the bass skate. I can't find any reviews on TB, so I'll post mine here.

First off, the people at David Gage have always been great to me. Very helpful, generous with their time, and have been more than lenient on price issues with certain things I have needed done on my bass.

But I cannot endorse the bass skate. Here are my issues with it:

- Not enough shock absorption. The wheel itself is quite hard and I believe transfers quite a bit of bumps of the road to the bass. It has little spring mechanisms that help, but I still feel almost every little bump in the road. Also, the springs get stuck sometimes, forcing you to either stop and unstick them, or continue along until that happens on its own, but in the meanwhile hitting every single bump in the road pretty hard.

- The shaft got bent out of shape very quickly. Within a month or so it was looking pretty funny and just kept getting worse. I don't know my metals, but it seems like a different metal than the shafts I've seen on the gaines or even my old rubber wheel. Aluminum maybe??

- Dimensions of the wheel itself cause it to get stuck in cracks in the sidewalk and other things. I would constantly find myself walking briskly only to hit a bump and find the bass (and my arm) a foot behind me. Very annoying in a city like New York!

- The size and the material of the wheel would allow you to travel quite swiftly on smooth indoor floors. Unfortunately, this is of little practical use in getting a bass around a city, outdoors.

- The only thing I liked about this wheel: I never once had it rotate in the collar and spin in funny directions. It always stayed put.

After about 7 months of solid use, the shaft finally snapped on me, on the way to a gig. I took it in to get it replaced, and was charged $25 (on a $75 wheel). That's more than a replacement shaft for a gaines or any other kind of wheel, and given the time it lasted, means paying almost $50/year to keep using the wheel. No thanks.

I've tried to buggy but I didn't like, so I've now bought a Gaines wheel.