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Double Bass Recommend me an endpin

bassfiddlesteve

bassfiddlesteve

Your first second choice™
Supporting Member
Dec 3, 2003
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#1
I plan on replacing the endpin on my carved E.H. Roth bass and I'd like some recommendations. The current endpin is original to the bass (1960) and is kind of flimsy by modern standards. I'm thinking of something stable, smooth and classy looking and I'm not interested in wood or carbon fiber rods. I was considering the Onyx endpins that Lemur Music sells, but I'm open to suggestions.

- Steve
 
#7
martinc said:
Steve: hate to rush you for an answer :D....but how did you like the Onyx?
Click to expand...

Sorry, it's been a busy 3 1/2 years :oops:

To be honest, I don't really like the Lemur Onyx endpin. It's tricky to line up the grooves in the rod with thumbscrew, and once you do you have to tighten it very firmly. The KC Strings endpin on my Wunderlich bass has a ball bearing that catches when the groove and thumbscrew are lined up, making it much easier to get a secure fit. If I'm not careful with the Onyx, the thumbscrew will slip, resulting in "sudden shrinking bass" syndrome which is never fun. I loaned this bass to Tommy Cecil when he was in town and he had a hard time with the endpin. He wound up tightening the thumbscrew with a pair of pliers.

Another feature that I don't like about the Onyx is that the tip is very difficult to unscrew, and I cut myself on the sharp edges once while trying to remove it. The rubber tip is starting to wear out and I know it will be a task getting it unscrewed to replace it.

- Steve
 
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#8
bassfiddlesteve said:
Sorry, it's been a busy 3 1/2 years :oops:

To be honest, I don't really like the Lemur Onyx endpin. It's tricky to line up the grooves in the rod with thumbscrew, and once you do you have to tighten it very firmly. The KC Strings endpin on my Wunderlich bass has a ball bearing that catches when the groove and thumbscrew are lined up, making it much easier to get a secure fit. If I'm not careful with the Onyx, the thumbscrew will slip, resulting in "sudden shrinking bass" syndrome which is never fun. I loaned this bass to Tommy Cecil when he was in town and he had a hard time with the endpin. He wound up tightening the thumbscrew with a pair of pliers.

Another feature that I don't like about the Onyx is that the tip is very difficult to unscrew, and I cut myself on the sharp edges once while trying to remove it. The rubber tip is starting to wear out and I know it will be a task getting it unscrewed to replace it.

- Steve
Click to expand...


Steve: Thanks for the info!
Lemur is out of stock on the Onyx anyway. KC strings stopped making their endpins a while ago...sounded to me in their e mail that they did not sell very well.
I am still trying to find an alternative to the Chinese carbon fibre endpins...but after trying two different ones, I still have serious slippage problems. I now use a steel slip collar on the fibre rod to prevent the bass from slipping down the carbon rod. I can't put the endpin back into the bass or adjust it while I am playing but other than that, it works well.
There is a noticeable difference ( for the better) when I went from a steel rod to a hollow carbon rod so I would like to stay with the carbon rod.
I am now checking around with several online dealers.
 
Last edited:
#12
martinc said:
Bob: Thanks. I saw it earlier today and sent an e mail inquiry re the end pin diameter. They are closed Mondays.
Mark Gollihur gave me some information today too.
Click to expand...


Nick: Thanks for replying. My problem is not the end of the endpin slipping on the floor in the way the Manson is designed to prevent. It's the problem of the bass slipping down the endpin shaft. There are no grooves in a carbon fibre rod so the endpin plug has a collar which tightens around the shaft. Unfortunately the carbon fibre is very smooth and it doesn't take long for the weight of the bass to overcome the tension from the tightening screw.
 

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