You could add a strap to anchor the endpin in to avoid slipping accidents. As it is now the cradle could be kicked out from under the bass by accident.
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Double Bass Sideways Bass Stands?
- Thread starter Flattitude
- Start date
Thanks for the suggestion.
Yes a strap with a cup for the end pin could easily be added for risky venues. A bit more security and a bit less convenience. .
The Cradle is designed to have the center of mass of the reclining bass fall in the center of the triangle/quadrangle made by the supporting feet. Those feet have been carefully located both for stability and to place them so that a person walking near the bass would naturally avoid the feet. In showing my teacher an early prototype he raised the question of what would happen if someone kicked a foot. So I had him place one of his basses on the Cradle. Then I proceeded to kick the foot, dragging his bass across the room. A violent kick might well dislodge the bass, but an inadvertent kick or trip won't.
I will set up a test and try to kick leg hard enough to cause the C-bout to jump out of the arms. The neck probably will drop into the padded arms.
Yes a strap with a cup for the end pin could easily be added for risky venues. A bit more security and a bit less convenience. .
The Cradle is designed to have the center of mass of the reclining bass fall in the center of the triangle/quadrangle made by the supporting feet. Those feet have been carefully located both for stability and to place them so that a person walking near the bass would naturally avoid the feet. In showing my teacher an early prototype he raised the question of what would happen if someone kicked a foot. So I had him place one of his basses on the Cradle. Then I proceeded to kick the foot, dragging his bass across the room. A violent kick might well dislodge the bass, but an inadvertent kick or trip won't.
I will set up a test and try to kick leg hard enough to cause the C-bout to jump out of the arms. The neck probably will drop into the padded arms.
- Aug 1, 2005
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- Private Inventor - Bass Capos
I don't see how a strap and cup would be helpful, except maybe to protect the floor from getting scratched if you've got a sharp point in play. And, it would certainly be less convenient. I'd leave it out.
Based on having used the Bass Cradle over nearly a year, both I an my teacher don't believe the strap and cup is needed.
I am in process of building some additional Cradles so I can put them in various users hands for feedback. A high school musical director wants some for his students. He plays in a concert band with me has seen both versions of my Bass Cradles in action. That should be a pretty good test!
I am in process of building some additional Cradles so I can put them in various users hands for feedback. A high school musical director wants some for his students. He plays in a concert band with me has seen both versions of my Bass Cradles in action. That should be a pretty good test!
The Bass Cradles were licensed to GEWA Music, a major German company. They are manufacturing and distributing the Cradles worldwide. When the first factory shipments of the Gigger's Model were distributed in Europe and the U.S. they sold out quickly. More Cradles are expected in a few days in the U.S. and may already be available in Europe. For availability updates see my website:
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The Gigger's Model is made of tubular aluminum. Weighing approximately 2.5 pounds it folds up into a shoulder carry bag. The Luxury Model is not yet available.
Happy bassin'!
.The Gigger's Model is made of tubular aluminum. Weighing approximately 2.5 pounds it folds up into a shoulder carry bag. The Luxury Model is not yet available.
Happy bassin'!
John Goldsby
Supporting Member
- Mar 4, 2003
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- Bassist @ WDR Big Band Cologne, Discover Double Bass, Conservatorium Maastricht, NL
All of these stands look good . . . they should hold the bass with no accidents. Here's the one I use. I've got a couple of these and have never had an accident. They use them for the orchestra players here at the WDR in Germany. It's pretty compact, but they don't fold up, so that might be an issue. The construction is simple but sturdy.
- Aug 1, 2005
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- Private Inventor - Bass Capos
John Goldsby
Supporting Member
- Mar 4, 2003
- 1,172
- 2,160
- Disclosures
- Bassist @ WDR Big Band Cologne, Discover Double Bass, Conservatorium Maastricht, NL
I never liked the chair option either . . . I'd rather put the bass on the floor. In a lot of orchestras with the large bass stools, they prop the top of the neck over the top of the seat. I also don't like that—it seems to also rest on the tuning keys, which I don't like.
The problem with the bass on the floor is that there's always some klutzy other musician or tech-person who will then try and step over the instrument.
robobass: Maybe you could invent the bass holder ?!?
The problem with the bass on the floor is that there's always some klutzy other musician or tech-person who will then try and step over the instrument.
robobass: Maybe you could invent the bass holder ?!?
That construction could easily be made more transportable by screwing the horizontal tubes to the vertical tubes (through holes in them). But the you have four parts and two of them still large.
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John Goldsby
Supporting Member
- Mar 4, 2003
- 1,172
- 2,160
- Disclosures
- Bassist @ WDR Big Band Cologne, Discover Double Bass, Conservatorium Maastricht, NL
- Aug 1, 2005
- 3,546
- 1,421
- Disclosures
- Private Inventor - Bass Capos
Yes to all. If you lay the back of your scroll on the stool, then it will at least be high enough to be visible to the stage hands and cellists who may have had at least one beer during the break. So I endorse this over laying the bass on its side on the floor. At the same time, this is not what any luthier or machinist would advocate, considering the force on the neck or the tuners. As far as inventing my own stand, I will work on it. Although it seems some pretty effective solutions already exist. There's the big question of the adoption of new ideas too. Just 'cause you can build a better mousetrap doesn't mean you can sell it
At performances and rehearsals I worry about the "one-beer stage hands and cellists." If there is a small gap between the bass and the music stand someone will surely try to walk trough it, usually with a large instrument case swinging wildly behind them.
So if I leave my bass on my Cradle for a break I quickly create a type of protective wall around it. I push my stool up under the neck and pull my music stand up next to the endpin. This causes itinerant wobbly musicians to detour safely around the bass.
Works wonders.
I'm been using my Bass Cradle now for about 3 months and I'm a fan. Recently, I've been auditioning basses to upgrade and the first thing I do is swap out the Spiros for my current string preference, and the Cradle comes in handy for holding the bass while I'm changing strings; much more convenient than a bed or table.
Jumping on the old thread to share another option.
If I had to buy a stand for this purpose, I would definitely go for the McNutt bass cradle. But, I had a Pearl tom stand base left over from an abandoned EUB project. Normally, these cost as much as a finished bass cradle, but I grabbed this one cheap off of eBay.
I converted it to a bass stand and it is very sturdy!
I would enjoy reading independent reviews comparing the Bassbar with the McNutt Bass Cradle. Safety stability, weight, price, convenience, portability, looks, etc.
