Double Bass Ampeg endpin removal

[quickervicar]

After many years spent only on electric, I am finally going back to my roots. I bought an older laminate bass (reportedly German, 1960s era) that has a surprisingly nice sound and action. This is all very exciting to me.

The problem I have is that is came with a non-functioning Ampeg mic system as the endpin. I would like to remove the whole setup but cannot figure out how. Does anyone have detailed pics on how they were originally installed? I am hoping that would give me an idea on how to disassemble it. Any other tips?

 

[Steven Ayres]

Hope these are helpful. I haven't taken one apart, but judging from how often I see non-functional partial systems inside Kay basses, I expect they're not simple to remove.

 

[quickervicar]

Thanks for the reply. It doesn't look like I have permission to open the files though.

 

[james condino]

Just take a hacksaw or angle grinder and cut the enpin in half. The two halves will then come apart and you can fish the larger one out of the soundhole. Also keep in mind that those ratty old microphones are considered pretty collectible by some of the old gear nerds. I have put them up on ebay and gotten very good cash for them on more than one occasion, but it seems to depend on the day and who is watching. They deliver an instant old acoustic blues vintage guitar sound....

j.
www.kaybassrepair.com
@kaybassrepair

 

[quickervicar]

Thanks for the tip. Just to be clear--you're saying I should:

1) Drop the pin out as far as I can and bisect it
2) Push the inner segment back into the bass cavity and fish it out with the wire lead at the bridge control
3) Reuse the lower (outer) segment as my endpin (it is tight, but otherwise works just fine)
4) Sell the microphone portion of the system on eBay

 

[james condino]

Yes. Sometimes you can just push the entire endpin back through the hole and then pull the complete shaft out of the F hole and separately pull the collar out of the bass in the other direction. More often there is a stop or a mushrooming of the endpin that just causes everything to get stuck worse and not come out. Additionally, the wires sometimes get tangled up or you can have a separate 1/4" jack that the wires go to causing hassles. Do you have a 1/4" jack on the outside or is there a funky screw connection on the outside of the hollow endpin for a cable connection? If needed, you can always get a three foot section of 1" dowel or a similar sized leveraging bar, stuff it in the F hole down to the collar area after the shaft is removed, and give it a couple of gentle hits with a hammer. Be cautious not to side load the outside of the collar or you'll blow out some of the veneer around the endpin hole. Good luck!

 

[quickervicar]

Thanks for the tips. It has the old-style screw-on connection at the base and side of the endpin.