• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Double Bass Amplifier Tilt / kick back legs

How about making a triangular tube from three strips of thin wood or thick cardboard. Connect two sides with duct tape and then complete the triangle using velcro (that way you can make it flat for easy storage and transport). The strips could be about 12 inches long and 2 or 3 inches wide (depending on how high you want it to lift).
 
A spring loaded tilt back handle screwed to the bottom of the cab works great (toward the front with the handle pulling outward to the front of the cab. This comes standard on EA's cabs... no extra piece to carry around, and as long as you also install small rubber feet on the bottom of the combo (a good idea anyway), you can use the combo normal or tilt back with no problem.

Low Down Sound has them in stock.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jazzdogg
Just another idea here. I have a somewhat bigger speaker that I'd like to tilt back. While ordering one or two other things, I got a couple of those plastic sockets for pole-mounting PA speakers. My idea is to put one of those on my speaker, and make a stubby leg out of PVC pipe. What I don't know yet is whether to put the leg on the bottom front, or the back of the speaker. It depends on the center of gravity and how far back I want the box tilted, I suppose. Meanwhile, I thought that I would at least share the idea.

Of course the real deal is still a kitchen chair to put the speaker on.
 
fdeck said:
Of course the real deal is still a kitchen chair to put the speaker on.
I've tried lots of kitchen chairs, but I found that I prefer the tonal qualities of a barstool.

Besides getting the amp up a little closer to my ears, the barstool tonewood just adds a certain sonority to the sound that works great in bars ... that have lots of barstools lying around.
 
mikkejohansson said:
I use exactly the one in mje:s post for my GK MB150s. Works fine, and is very small and easy in transport.
I think with a tilt-back set up, you still get floor coupling. With an amp stand, you don't. Just a difference that is worth pointing out, methinks.

FWIW, I like using an amp stand nowadays, just to get the speaker that much closer to my ears. An amp stand (if it's high enough) can also in some cases help project the sound from your amp out over top of your DB (and reduce feedback some), up and over the drum kit, etc.

On the other hand, sometimes having the amp on the floor is just the trick. Nice and thick. I guess it kinda depends on the room, size of the stage, your bandmates, your tastes, etc.

[ There are plenty of other posts on the floor v. raised topic, if this piques anyone's interest. ]

In a pinch, I guess I could just borrow a few of my 5-year old's bright colored building blocks, and shove 'em under the front of my amp to tilt it back. Plus I could build a toy castle with them when I'm on break.
 
I went to a kayak store and bought a small block of closed-cell foam, which people use to cut knee and hip braces to customize boat fit. I just cut it diagonally to make a wedge that I slip under the cab.

Oh, and that's for when I end up using my GK microbass speaker cab or my little Polytone combo ... my main rig is Wizzy cabs, which have the springloaded handle for tilting back.

Just about anything will work, though. I've rolled up a towel, used a folded up pair of gloves, or stuck an extra cable under the front edge of the cab.

Good luck,
 
Okay, no more lame attempts at humor this time.

Man, there are some good ideas in this thread.

If DIY ain't your bag, check these out from MarkBass:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I think they stole the idea from Freddels.
 
bolo said:
I've tried lots of kitchen chairs, but I found that I prefer the tonal qualities of a barstool.

Besides getting the amp up a little closer to my ears, the barstool tonewood just adds a certain sonority to the sound that works great in bars ... that have lots of barstools lying around.

Yeah, but are you using slab sawn barstoolwood, or quartersawn? And what kind of varnish? You know, the Venetians used a special varnish on their barstools. I happen to have discovered the secret of their formulation, but I'll post that in a more appropriate forum.

I like fdeck's idea. You could also steal AI's idea, and install a large T-nut (or two) in the bottom of your cab, in which you'd screw a short piece of threaded rod, or maybe a stove bolt, with the head dipped in PVC.
 
Hey, I like the tee-nut idea. Much more discreet, less cutting, and I could attach two. One on the bottom near the front for small angle, one on the back for big angle. And with the tee-nut on the back, I could literally screw the speaker to my little cart with some kind of knurled bolt for greater stability when wheeling it around.

But you need to put something over the hole when not in use, to avoid whistling. Unless you cap the hole on the inside.
 
mje said:
Yeah, but are you using slab sawn barstoolwood, or quartersawn? And what kind of varnish? You know, the Venetians used a special varnish on their barstools. I happen to have discovered the secret of their formulation, but I'll post that in a more appropriate forum.

I like fdeck's idea. You could also steal AI's idea, and install a large T-nut (or two) in the bottom of your cab, in which you'd screw a short piece of threaded rod, or maybe a stove bolt, with the head dipped in PVC.

Man, the spring loaded handle thing will do the same thing and is easier and less obtrusive.. I don't quite get why you would want to go through all of the above? Is it that the spring loaded handle (the 'EA tilt back that they use) doesn't provide enough tilt?

All these other ideas involve either carrying more stuff, or screwing in PVC pipe, etc. into a beautifully made cabinet:confused:

Just curious... I'm confused:)
 
on my LDS cab I have both the tilt back handle (that I use mostly and works wonderfully) and a pole mount attachmant (when it is too boomy and I need more monitor) Both work great. If I could find (or find someone to modify) a PA stand so it was not 4 feet off the ground but 1 or 2 feet that would be ideal. Anyone know of a really short PA stand?