RobPin

Chris, I promise to get you photos (eventually) In the meanwhile might also be of interest:

Titanium: the perfect material for instrument fittings?

 

This (attached) is interesting. Wouldn't there be a market for something like this (from the article above) for bass??

 

In a way, yes, but then on the other hand one more thing that can rattle on brutally loud basses.

 

Stahlhammer had something like this for basses at one point. Anyway, just a thought

 

I use a 24" stool as well and keep my end pin all the way in. I use a Xeros endpin stop to assure the same angle all of the time.

 

I basically do the same, just trying to get a slightly better angle to take some of the weight of the scroll (with Stenholm extension) off the shoulder

 

Have you tried adjusting the length of the endpin stop?

 

constantly!

Actually, I just something from Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Endpin-Holder-AEH-011-ASH-white/dp/B01D2EV5AO


My problem with both the Xeos anchor and the Rocstop is that, at the ideal angle, the back bottom of the bass is on the ground - hence the constant futzing with the pin length. I saw the above, and got in touch with the maker, and decided to give it a try. Not cheap (and I'm not sure the tone theory with the wood does anything) but the raised brass cup for the endpin seems to solve a lot of problems for me.

 

I wanted to post a short review of the Robpin that I just got in the mail from Rob. It is an excellent design. Rob was kind enough to include an extra long solid (and I mean solid) endpin so that I could fit the device on my Contrabassetto. It requires an extra extension. I own an eggpin (which I have on a biigger bass at the moment)
The Robpin is solid where the Eggpin is not. That extra support under the block (where there would be a hole for a Laborie) prevents slips, and turns (that plague the Eggpin) the device is totally adjustable (I condensed all the settings to fit my smaller bass) It can adjust where the balance point is too so that if you do not want the bass to lean back as far as say Rabbath (like me) you can accomplish that.
I was thinking that i would buy this before drilling for the Laborie to get it just right, but I really like the way it works and will not drill. Bravo Rob.

 

Yes having the ability to adjust the kickback is great (and for my small bass I can both bring the endpin attachment back a space AND move the angled piece IN a notch.) i like having the bass cantilevered just enough to take the weight off my hands (which is a giddy almost perversely un upright bass feeling...to have things made easier) but not so much that my pizz right hand looses the verticality of the angle I play at. i can get it just right and then clamp down the settings so that I can just take the pin out and when I put it back in it is perfect.

 

I find the angled endpin uses different back muscles while standing, which takes a while to get used to. These days I’m sitting while practicing, normal for me. I always stand while gigging or rehearsing. Sitting the angled endpin is an easy adjustment from straight endpin.

Now if I play while standing with a straight endpin it just feels wrong!

I went with the Ergonpin on my classical bass and my luthier drilled the jazz bass. The Robpin looks good. If I get a 3rd bass I’ll try it lol.

 

Thanks Flatback Your needs for your contrabassetto are well outside of the parameters I considered when designing this thing, so I'm very happy that it works!

 

@flatback pics would be nice!

 

Did my first gig with the Robpin and I love it great device. Right now I am using it in a way that is not ideal (but it works fine) Right now I don't have a long enough angled pin so that I have the other two pins (the one in the endpin and the supporting pin) pulled out pretty far. Ideal aesthetically would be to have the endpin and supporting pin as close to the bass as possible and the the angled pin long. Rob is sending me a longer pin. I'll photograph both when I get it.

 

Pete Lampe in Portland did mine, & and the best I can tell, he hit it perfect.

 

been super pleased with the Robpin and Rob himself who goes to some length to make sure you are happy and getting what you need to make his pin work. Right now I have a shorter pin that i use when sitting (Long hours of arco practice) and a long pin that just arrived for standing (what I do at gigs) The long pin works great with the Contrabassetto does not bounce despite the long length. The brilliant extra support that Rob has designed into the system that supports weight under the block makes the whole thing very solid and secure.
Here is a picture of the instrument with the long pin. With it I can have the bass (in the pic it is fully laid back) at different angles which balance well. Totally pleased with this solution. I know a lot of players and shops buy Robpins in order that their Laborie customers can choose the exact placement for their drilled pin but i don't see any need to drill myprecious bass and be limited to one angle.

 

ok it can be a little bouncy. I may have to have it reinforced at that long length. The shorter one for sitting is so great, no slip or anchor and the perfect angle.

 

Thanks Mr. Flatback! Just a note. To minimize bounce I recommend that the pin going to the floor be as vertical as possible. You might try using the middle angled slot and the first slot for the socket. You would have the crutch tip in roughly the same place but the rod would be less angled.

 

I really like this pin. Today I received a socket pin that fits my original ( came with bass) new harmony socket. The Robpin fits even better with it, the whole thing is super secure and stable. Love it.
I am a big fan of titanium and it’s sonic qualities and so I sent Rob an email asking what diameter the pins are so I could see if I could get them in titanium. Rob immediately responded “ you want me to make some up for you?” Boom. I love this guy.
With the Contrabassetto having the bass kicked out on the Robpin is just so comfortable. I can stand upright and drape my arms rather then hug the bass. My wife is a Master Pilates and posture teacher and she immediately saw the implications in terms of posture and freed tension lines.

 

After 30 years of playing (standing) with a straight end pin, just 2 hours of using the Robpin left me wondering how I ever played with a straight pin in the first place. Others have described better than I can but there’s zero weight on the left thumb now and playing the entire length of the fingerboard (and beyond) is physically effortless - light as a feather. Virtually no need to alter my stance or anything at all to get in and out of the upper octave positions. Just amazing, for me at least. @CaseyVancouver is right, there are some different muscles working that take a little getting used to - if anything, I have to remind myself not to lean back sometimes, and that alleviates any new tensions. And someone else mentioned a different pizz tone when playing angled like this - that’s true too, there’s a difference at first but I’m figuring that out with more hours on it.

I could never get comfortable playing seated, so this is the perfect solution for me. My teacher plays seated and would always advise to let gravity do the work - with the left hand in thumb position, and of course with the bow in the right hand. It never really clicked for me until i started angling the bass back more, but then that added new weight and balance challenges - so many compromises! Now it all just works… because of Robpin. There are many ways to configure it and I’ve got more experimenting to do to find the best angle/height. You can’t do that if you’re drilling holes in your bass! Also important because my 2 basses are pretty different, so it’s great to have flexibility to dial in the setup for each.

Rob has done an amazing job with this and equally so as a business person. Thanks @robobass !