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Double Bass ENDPIN TROUBLE (seeking help!)

T

The Soloist

May 10, 2009
19
0
#1
:help: :help: :help: :help: :help:
Hello good people of TalkBass, i have more problems

my endpin is bending, tilting really. im afraid it will rip something out (mainly itself, damaging my half-month old $1,500 bass). this has happend before and i took it to a repair guy, who put a new endpin in. the first time i played it afterwords it got tilted again. just recently (2-3 days ago) it got worse. ill see if i can attach pictures. ive recently starting sitting while i play (soooo much better) and im even more worried because EVEN MORE weight is being placed on the endpin when the bass is in the tilted sitting position.. send help!

:help: :help: :help: :help: :help:


pictures:

324.jpg


323.jpg


very sorry about the massive size
 
#2
Hey.
Since you've chosen not to give any info on where you might be, can't give you any directions where you could find a bass luthier, rather than a "repair guy".
The wooden shaft of the end-pin housing is too small for the EP hole. Two sensble ways to approach...get a new EP that fits the hole properly or is even a bit too big, since wood is easier to take away than to add on. Or have a luthier plug the hole and re-size it with an EP reamer. This tool is usually only available from a luthier.
A third, but not good an approach, is to try to add some thin wooden strips to build up the sides of the EP shaft. This, usually, is self defeating IME.
You're right though, the pressure should be even all the way around in there.....could crack the block, and uh, oh :eek:.
Good luck.
Ps...After another look at the bottom pic, it looks like the shaft isn't all the way in the hole in the first place. Too big? "Repair guy" didn't want to pound it into the hole with a sledge hammer? Good luck for you though, because it would have cracked the block. The lip of the EP housing has to be flush on the bottom ribs.
 
#3
Take the string tension down quite a bit RIGHT NOW. Not all the way, you still need a little bit there so the soundpost and bridge don't fall over, but take the load off that endpin.

It's going to need fixed properly, and someone who knows how to do that will, I presume, comment on what that might take. Clearly the last work wasn't done right, you need to take it up with whoever did that.
 
#4
looks to me like there is no taper in the hole, I have seen basses where the end pins were simply stuck int a straight hole leading to this kind of problem and worse. if this is not the problem then I expect it a problem with the lower block.

did your "repair guy" simply switch out the end pin, or did he ream the hole to make it fit the bass?
 
#6
:help:

oh gosh.. i don't know what any of you guys are talking about...

i called the man a "repair guy" cause i don't know what a luthier is. the guys makes violins, violas and cellos, and sometimes basses. he took out the old endpin and replaced it (after shoving some tool into it, i think that shaved the hole).

also picture 2 isn't very accurate, there is a shadow covering the 1/4 cm (or so) of extra coming out.

the main thing i want to know is, CAN I STILL PLAY IT??
or do i have to take it IMMEDIETLY to this man to repair (again) the same thing?

he also told me after he repaired it the first time:
it's held in there really good and the it takes A LOT of force to get it out. or something like that, that theres much supporting it.

:help:
 
#7
The Soloist said:
:help:

oh gosh.. i don't know what any of you guys are talking about...

i called the man a "repair guy" cause i don't know what a luthier is. the guys makes violins, violas and cellos, and sometimes basses. he took out the old endpin and replaced it (after shoving some tool into it, i think that shaved the hole).

also picture 2 isn't very accurate, there is a shadow covering the 1/4 cm (or so) of extra coming out.

the main thing i want to know is, CAN I STILL PLAY IT??
or do i have to take it IMMEDIETLY to this man to repair (again) the same thing?

he also told me after he repaired it the first time:
it's held in there really good and the it takes A LOT of force to get it out. or something like that, that theres much supporting it.

:help:
Click to expand...

The thing is, although you may not know what they're talking about, they do know what they're talking about. It's your bass you can do what you want, but if I was you I'd read through all the responses you've already received from professional bass players and luthiers and take them to heart.

Is it worth risking major damage to your bass that will have you out much more time and money to try to keep playing it in this condition? IMHO it's time for you to find a new luthier!
 
#9
Just what the hell do you think you're doing here, Matthew?
Can'tcha see we're doing our typical TBDB thingy here, trying to let each other think we know more than we really do. ....Jeesh. :atoz:
This does SO much for our egos and helps us maintain that "pack mentality".:hyper:

And Soloist..... I know what a "Luthier" is. Matthew is one of 'em. I used to be a Catholic.
 

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