Double Bass Crafting a bent endpin

[RobbieBass]

Hey Everyone,

Has anyone ever made their own bent endpin? I'm not sure what the diameter of my straight one is. It is less than 3/8''. I almost looks like 8 or 9mm. Anyways, I can't find any hardware store to bend and cut a section of smooth steel rod for me. I've read the Rabbath instructions, but maybe there is an easier way for someone without a workshop?

 

[skychief]

I made one a long time ago. If i recall, i simply clamped the endpin in a vise, and used a 2 foot breaker bar (a length of pipe to fit over the endpin shaft) to do the bending. I was gonna use a torch to heat up the bend spot, but the endpin was made of soft steel, so the torch part wasnt necessary.

 

[powerbass]

You can get 3/8" aluminum rod from the hardware store, that would bend pretty easy. Using a vise is critical for success

 

[RobbieBass]

cool. So how does the 44 degree angle help to "force" the weight of the bass into my stomach area? I always sit (almost cello style) while bowing, but recently this has been hurting my back. I'm hoping this new technique will help. I just don't understand the torque forces at work. Will there be any weight on my thumb?

 

[TonyD]

Just trie it out. I went to a smith to help me craft a bent end pin. If your bass wiggles too much, you can try a construction like this:

 

[RCWilliams]

cool. So how does the 44 degree angle help to "force" the weight of the bass into my stomach area? I always sit (almost cello style) while bowing, but recently this has been hurting my back. I'm hoping this new technique will help. I just don't understand the torque forces at work. Will there be any weight on my thumb?

the 44 deg. angle will actually reduce the weight on the left hand, and tend to make the bass a bit less stable until you get used to it. due to the angle it will be inclined to twist in the socket, it may require you to create a flat on the area where the thumb screw clamps the pin.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

cool. So how does the 44 degree angle help to "force" the weight of the bass into my stomach area? I always sit (almost cello style) while bowing, but recently this has been hurting my back. I'm hoping this new technique will help. I just don't understand the torque forces at work. Will there be any weight on my thumb?

Remember, the 44º, a la Rabbath, is from the insertion point 1" or so from the back of the bass. The balance will be different if inserted in a normal endpin socket midway between the top and back.

Before I had my bass drilled for the Laborie pin, I used a bent aluminum pin and it was kind of nice in getting the bass to fall into my body, but in a more typical sideways position than the Rabbath method.

 

[RobbieBass]

Okay, thanks for all the help everyone. I play sitting almost cello style, but my back has been hurting lately. It's not the style of sitting, I just hurt it in a car accident, and I hope that standing might help relieve some strain. However, I find standing with the bass at a side angle impossible because of the weight on my thumb. Also, catching the bass with my leg is just as bad as sitting.