Can this work?

Ben1123 · #1 12-19-2008, 08:09 PM

i dont know how i got this idea but i thought it would be awesome if you could attach a ball bearing to a bass, then attach the other side of the ball bearing to a strap or harness that you wore so you would be able to spin it in a circle just by pushing the neck sideways. I dont know if that made sense but it would be epic to see a bass spinning. Any idea if this idea is good or if i am just typing nonsense?

Atoz · #2 12-19-2008, 08:15 PM

Like ZZ Top?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwbMFlXJyAA&fmt=18

1:48 mark.

Ben1123 · #3 12-19-2008, 08:18 PM

YES Exactly that, Bravo Atoz i say Bravo *clap

Now, any idea if i can do that with ball bearings, a strap, some sort of adhesive, and luck?

**SoComSurfing** · #4 12-19-2008, 08:21 PM

Only if you wear this shirt while attempting it:

But it must be about 15 sizes too small and you must look like this guy:

(I think what saddens me most about this whole thing is that there's a website called "emohairguide.com" That hurts my soul.)

Ben1123 · #5 12-19-2008, 08:27 PM

Why would i want to look like a myspace emo with a stupid looking lip ring?

also i think i could make it into a belt, it looks like what that is in the zztop video

Ben1123 · #6 12-19-2008, 08:47 PM

Does anyone know if there is any glue, tape, sticky substance that will not damage a bass's finish? im not really sure what will work and i dont wanna mess my bass up

Fontaine · #7 12-19-2008, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben1123

Does anyone know if there is any glue, tape, sticky substance that will not damage a bass's finish? im not really sure what will work and i dont wanna mess my bass up

use a cheap (or one u dont use anymore) bass?

Ben1123 · #8 12-19-2008, 09:04 PM

I only have 1 bass so i wont be able to do that.

Jeff Martinez · #9 12-19-2008, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atoz

Like ZZ Top?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNvOPN1LoQ4

1:48 mark.

ZZ Top has ALWAYS been the epitome of cool. They've got it all: the car, the girls, the cool guitars, great videos, a sense of humor... that's who I want to be when I grow up. I've always wanted a spinning bass like that.

Ben1123 · #10 12-19-2008, 10:27 PM

ok i might not need an epoxy, i just found out their was a metal plate right where the ballbearing needs to go for it to spin propery, i might just use a magnet their, if it does work out ill try and provide more details but i need to wait until tomorrow to get the stuff to test it out.

Atoz · #11 12-19-2008, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Martinez

ZZ Top has ALWAYS been the epitome of cool. They've got it all: the car, the girls, the cool guitars, great videos, a sense of humor... that's who I want to be when I grow up. I've always wanted a spinning bass like that.

ZZ Top is great. Dusty Hill is a master of the simple driving bassline.

Atoz · #12 12-19-2008, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben1123

ok i might not need an epoxy, i just found out their was a metal plate right where the ballbearing needs to go for it to spin propery, i might just use a magnet their, if it does work out ill try and provide more details but i need to wait until tomorrow to get the stuff to test it out.

You could always attach the strap end of a Dunlop straplock through a hole in a belt and attach the other piece into the back of your bass. That would be kind of a "quick and dirty" way to do it.

Ben1123 · #13 12-19-2008, 10:54 PM

yeah, but if i did that i would have to attach something to my bass and i dont want to risk damaging the finish, so im going with the magnet idea for now.

Atoz · #14 12-19-2008, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben1123

yeah, but if i did that i would have to attach something to my bass and i dont want to risk damaging the finish, so im going with the magnet idea for now.

Yeah, if you've got a nice bass you wouldn't want to do that. I was thinking more along the lines of a proof-of-concept prototype with a beater bass.

Ben1123 · #15 12-19-2008, 11:00 PM

yeah with a beater it would, but my bass is only about 2 months old so i dont want to damage it. Like i said though ill post more on this tomorrow when i get all the pieces for it, ill try and get a picture if it works out

Atoz · #16 12-22-2008, 04:16 AM

So... have you tried it yet?

T-Bird · #17 12-22-2008, 04:44 AM

Hi.

ZZ-Top was the first thing when i glanced the thread

. Oh, these youngsters.

Atoz, if he went ahead with the magnet idea I think he'll be busy posting to the setup & repair section. There's NO WAY that would work without spending a hefty amount of money to the magnet. Not to mention a securely attached steel plate.

IIRC there's a sealed ball bearing with an attachement plate behind those ZZ-Top instruments, I remember seeing a pic of it back then. They wore weightlifting belts or something like that. But it was a looong time ago, might have been something else too.

Regards
Sam

Ben1123 · #18 12-22-2008, 11:01 AM

Sorry i havent posted in a while ive been busy, T-Bird was right about the magnet, i cant find one strong enough to support the bass, although i did find sealed ball bearings and a belt to hold it up. Im going to be busy for a while so im not sure when i will be able to get a stronger magnet but when i do ill post it to the setup and repair section.

Also my Bass A Peavy Zodiac already has a metal bass on the back of it, so i dont have to worry about that.

IanStephenson · #19 12-22-2008, 04:28 PM

The ZZ Top video actually used a comercial strap system - I got to try one at a guitar show. I think they were called "spin straps" (duh!).

However they were a bit more substantial than you're planning. A HUGE cast metal "X" bolted to the back of the guitar. You then wore a backpack kind of harness that went over both shoulders. Finally you could attatch the center of the "X" to a pivot on the harness. The trick was that the cable was re-routed to go through the pivot point, through the harness and out the back, so you could spin it without it getting tangled.

They assured me the spin feature was a fun side effect - their main design goal was to put the weight of the instrument equally on both shoulders. They were indeed very comfortable.

The requirement to bolt the bracket permanently to the back of your guitar, and re-route the wiring through the back (and high cost!) meant they never took off...