Double Bass Bass + helium balloon assist?

[james condino]

I watched this video of a backpacker who uses helium balloons to take the weight of his pack while hiking and wondered if anyone had tried it with their bass on a gig. There are a couple of local places that I play where there is a very low ceiling and a 2 foot false stage. I'll often extend out my endpin there and mash the scroll into the ceiling. The bass stays in position and I can walk around it while playing, leave it there during the set break, et cetera. It would be very fun on outdoor gigs to support the bass with helium balloons in the upright position and then be able to walk around it and do all sorts of other things. Maybe even let it float above the stage during the set break while secured with an anchor line....or set my ALCOA on fire and let it float above the crowd! Far better than just a bunch of old dudes in cargo shorts lookin' at charts....

 

[Don Kasper]

wondered if anyone had tried it with their bass on a gig.

Yeah, I tried it, but everything I played came out 5 Octaves higher!
Sheesh...

 

[Tom Lane]

If you use it with the Alcoa on fire, I'm thinking it's Hindenberg-time!

 

[eh_train]

... Far better than just a bunch of old dudes in cargo shorts lookin' at charts....

Ouch. I resemble that remark!

 

[Don Kasper]

If you use it with the Alcoa on fire, I'm thinking it's Hindenberg-time!

"Don't forget to tip your bartender! Bass Solo time!"
(Fact: Helium is Non-flammable, except for the purposes of this post.)

 

[GretschWretch]

I'm thinking BG players who complain about neck dive or bass weight might profit more from this approach.

 

[james condino]

If you use it with the Alcoa on fire, I'm thinking it's Hindenberg-time!

That's the whole purpose!!!!

Then afterwards, I get some Mad Max'd post-apocalyptic resurrected bass to gig with!

Within the lore of old ALCOAs, there is a story about a big house fire in Buffalo. Lost in the attic was a stash of the old ALCOA bass parts from when they ceased production and an employee took all of the parts home. I've heard about half fused, dripping aluminum morphed into the timbers from the old house. I've been searching for some of those remains for 25 years....

 

[Tim Skaggs]

There was an old rumor about Billy Gibbons playing a chambered Les Paul that had helium filled bladders in a chamber or two. The helium part is probably urban legend, but there are definitely chambered guitars….

 

[Don Hergert]

Sky hook time...

If you're going to get a balloon going, why not just ride it where you would be hiking to???

Maybe this is also a suggestion for the bicycle thread???

 

[Nomoncello]

There are a couple of local places that I play where I'll often extend out my endpin there and mash the scroll into the ceiling. The bass stays in position and I can walk around it while playing, leave it there during the set break, et cetera.

Excuse me, you do WHAT with the bass and mash it WHERE?

 

[GretschWretch]

Excuse me, you do WHAT with the bass and mash it WHERE?

I think "wedge" the scroll into the ceiling might be the more accurate term. Run the endpin out to the appropriate length, tilt the bass and then bring it to vertical until it makes firm, stable contact with the ceiling such that the bass will stay vertical and not move.

 

[Don Hergert]

@jjsmes Condino , given the softer than modern aluminum and known issues with melting as seen on my Alcoa, how do you manage setting yours afire?

Does it become tempered (NPI)?

 

[james condino]

Everclear on the body burns a fast blue flame like my avatar; Sterno for the scroll.

In no manner am I suggesting that people set their own aluminum bass on fire. It is merely a commentary on something I have seen locally, with a moderate frequency, when the venue allowed, done by a somebody who looked an awful lot like me...

 

[GretschWretch]

Everclear on the body burns a fast blue flame like my avatar; Sterno for the scroll.

In no manner am I suggesting that people set their own aluminum bass on fire. It is merely a commentary on something I have seen locally, with a moderate frequency, when the venue allowed, done by a somebody who looked an awful lot like me...

So the culprit is either you or James Clonedino?

 

[GretschWretch]

Everclear on the body burns a fast blue flame like my avatar; Sterno for the scroll.

In no manner am I suggesting that people set their own aluminum bass on fire. It is merely a commentary on something I have seen locally, with a moderate frequency, when the venue allowed, done by a somebody who looked an awful lot like me...

So the culprit is either you or James Clonedino?