Double Bass Eggpin review

[Adrian Cho]

This sounds really interesting and I'm sure it suits some better than others. For me, my bass balances really well on my hip and I never really feel the weight of the bass on my thumb. The thumb only really helps guide it and stop it from tipping side to side in some cases (most times it is perfectly balanced) and also helps guide the fingers of my left hand. Also, I have my Goetz endpin at the first notch (I'm 5' 6") so I can't imagine the Egg Pin would make a lot of different in my case (and the minimum height might even be too tall).

I remember when I had my first lesson and my teacher showed me how to balance the bass. I was like "you gotta be kidding, you want me to hold the bass with no hands like that". Now it just feels entirely natural. When I play in thumb position the neck does rest on my shoulder but when I move back down the fingerboard again, I use my hip to push the bass back out again. Interestingly this is pretty close to what I see in Rufus Reid's book and of course he now also uses the Laborie pin (I believe).

 

[Johnny L]

The Eggpin (or equivalent) helps lots with bowing too, and not just with the left hand.

 

[Pacman]

Originally posted by Johnny L
The Eggpin (or equivalent) helps lots with bowing too, and not just with the left hand.

I agree - it seems that the weight of the arm falls more naturally into the string.

 

[Adrian Cho]

I've been looking at a cheaper way of trying this out which is the angled endpins sold by Slava Publishing. They sell them in an angle shape and a Z shape for people that don't have the endpin so far out.

 

[Johnny L]

You can go cheaper by buying a rod from a hardware store and bend it yourself, especially if it's only to experiment and not bring to a televised gig or something. But Slava Publishing is a great resource for New Technique tools.

 

[Pacman]

I looked at those, too, adrian. I didn't buy one because you're still fighting torque. If you want to try the bent pin, buy a $3 rod from Home Depot and bend it, then grind a flat spot where the screw for the enpin will contact it (to keep the pin from spinning in the socket). You'll eventually crush the screw with all the torque you put on it, but it will give you an idea of what it's like.

 

[Johnny L]

I drilled a hole about an 8th of an inch into the rod for the screw to go into to keep the rod from twisting. It makes securing the rod a little more annoying, but it keeps mine from twisting.

 

[godoze]

Is this the endpin that Rabbath uses ?

 

[anonymous0726]

If you hold the bass straight up like Christian McBride or Gary Karr, it may not be for you.

The bent-endpin thing is about giving you the advantages of seated playing without the ergonomic disadvantages of sitting.

If it turns out that this is somethign that you're going to stay with you can get the bottom block drilled for a 'real' bent endpin, which work even better. Some time on the EggPin is great as you can figure out where you want to bass positioned -- the 'Rabbath' sort aren't adjustable.

I just cringe at the thought of drilling the bottom block, though....

 

[Chasarms]

The egg pin is adjustable in height as well as the angle, so some degree.

Rabbath advocates a normal 10mm bent to 44 degress. These are adjustable in no way, as the bend is supposed to be exactly where the pin exits the plug. I bent one. I didn't like it all. It was too unstable for me.

George Vance, an American Rabbath guy, pedals the Laborie endpin, which is the one Ray may be talking about. It is adjustable in height, but the angle is fixed. It is basically a chello endpin. The plug is cut out at the 44 degree angle at the back of the end block rather than the center with a conventional pin.