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Double Bass Stahlhammer endpin
- Thread starter LouisF
- Start date
ok, so you posted this six years ago. I have used one for several years. Love it and want to buy 1-2 more for my other basses. It was a google search on Stahlhammer endpins that led me to this post.
Only negatives are these: 1) didn't quite fit into existing taper hole in block, and had to wrap the pin with a layer of duct tape to get it to fit snugly. Don't know if that was due to existing hole being a bit too large diameter or just some standard difference between bass endpin holes and cello, for which the pin is made. 2) I wish it would angle even a few more degrees.
Anyway, still like it a lot, but if you are not used to angled endpins it will require some modification of your playing posture.
Meanwhile, in an unusual coincidence, I haven't really checked in to TalkBass in at least a couple of years, but just this morning, before finding this post on endpins, I happened to get an email informing me that someone (you!) had posted on another thread, the one on Jacques Gagnon, in which I posted at least ten years ago. I own two Gagnon basses, and used to know Jacques fairly well. Is he still around and active?
Only negatives are these: 1) didn't quite fit into existing taper hole in block, and had to wrap the pin with a layer of duct tape to get it to fit snugly. Don't know if that was due to existing hole being a bit too large diameter or just some standard difference between bass endpin holes and cello, for which the pin is made. 2) I wish it would angle even a few more degrees.
Anyway, still like it a lot, but if you are not used to angled endpins it will require some modification of your playing posture.
Meanwhile, in an unusual coincidence, I haven't really checked in to TalkBass in at least a couple of years, but just this morning, before finding this post on endpins, I happened to get an email informing me that someone (you!) had posted on another thread, the one on Jacques Gagnon, in which I posted at least ten years ago. I own two Gagnon basses, and used to know Jacques fairly well. Is he still around and active?
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How funny. The Stalhammer was on a bass I sold a few years ago. I had to get it in London (friends brought it on a visit). I had the same experience with the taper, but other than that was very happy with it. I don't know why it's not more popular in the US - the only option now seems to drill the Rabbath angle into the bass.
As for Jacques - I spoke with him about a year ago. He called from Canada and seemed to be in good form. I had one of his Maggini model basses, which was very good but too big across the shoulders after I had surgery to keep using.
I was looking at some 5-string basses and the Cremonasia website came up. I don't know if it's an old link or if he is back in business or what.
Time flies sometimes!
Louis
As for Jacques - I spoke with him about a year ago. He called from Canada and seemed to be in good form. I had one of his Maggini model basses, which was very good but too big across the shoulders after I had surgery to keep using.
I was looking at some 5-string basses and the Cremonasia website came up. I don't know if it's an old link or if he is back in business or what.
Time flies sometimes!
Louis
The Stalhammer is gaining popularity in the Great White North with cellists, as a few prominent teachers have been using them long enough that their students are now out in the wild acquiring their own students. It seems much more stable than a bent end pin and a no-holes alternative to the Rabbath pin, with the downside being that there is no option to adjust/set the angle and it has to be set at least as high as the first section of the pin. My other concern is that they don't appear to have a bass version, and I would be weary about a cello pin on bass given the weight/size difference.
There are a number of shops that are now making an exterior block for angled pins so you don't have to drill into the end block of the bass. Invalid Link Removed Upton apparently does it exclusively for new commissions, but I don't see why it couldn't be done for existing instruments as well. Other than not drilling into the endblock making it much less invasive if a future owner isn't nuts about the idea, if you decided to switch from a pin that was straight back or slightly angled to the side, it just involves a new exterior block instead of making Swiss cheese out of your end block and potentially having to replace that, which would not be a cheap repair.
There are a number of shops that are now making an exterior block for angled pins so you don't have to drill into the end block of the bass. Invalid Link Removed Upton apparently does it exclusively for new commissions, but I don't see why it couldn't be done for existing instruments as well. Other than not drilling into the endblock making it much less invasive if a future owner isn't nuts about the idea, if you decided to switch from a pin that was straight back or slightly angled to the side, it just involves a new exterior block instead of making Swiss cheese out of your end block and potentially having to replace that, which would not be a cheap repair.
I wonder what happened to the endpin section of the KC Strings site. They used to offer an endpin block similar to the Upton item, as well as numerous wooden endpins.
I have the Upton endpin block on my new Concord; it does add a bit of weight, but is very well designed. Stalhammer does (or at least did) make a bass endpin, but I had friends bring me mine from England. I got mine here but they seem to only carry the cello model now: Invalid Link Removed
I too was looking for the KC Strings page, but when I didn't find it figured I might have remembered the wrong shop. Good to know that Stalhammer does (or did) make a bass version. I don't see why they would stop making them if they went through the trouble of designing one and the required tooling to produce them, but stranger things have happened. It doesn't seem to be a huge segment of the market, which might be part of the reason why they aren't as readily available. I have an N-Pin on my bass that I absolutely love but that company seems to have dropped off the face of the earth so I don't know if I'll have a chance to find another one for my next bass.
Yesterday I talked to a guy from ULSA at Musikmesse Frankfurt. I thought at first they had an bent endpin for bass but it was for cello:
Invalid Link Removed
I explained that several bass players had interest in a bass version since the Stahlhammer version disappeared for bass.
That guy has known the Stahlhammer end pins and explained to me that they were well known for rattling. The ULSA endpins have cork inside to avoid that.
At least I could get him to think over a version for bass. I'm not sure if he will develop one, but maybe if several of you interested in one ask for it at the company, it might rise the chances that one will be available in the future.
Unfortunately I forgot to take a card or any other reference, but since this is a well known company, it should not be too difficult to get in contact with them.
Invalid Link Removed
I explained that several bass players had interest in a bass version since the Stahlhammer version disappeared for bass.
That guy has known the Stahlhammer end pins and explained to me that they were well known for rattling. The ULSA endpins have cork inside to avoid that.
At least I could get him to think over a version for bass. I'm not sure if he will develop one, but maybe if several of you interested in one ask for it at the company, it might rise the chances that one will be available in the future.
Unfortunately I forgot to take a card or any other reference, but since this is a well known company, it should not be too difficult to get in contact with them.
I just wanted to add that I spoke to Mr. Oliver Ullsperger, owner of Ullsperger Musikzubehör (a German company, so easy for me to explain to him) at the Musikmesse Frankfurt. His company developes the ULSA endpins.
Their mail address is [email protected].
If you are interested in a bent bass endpin, tell him. The more who do that, the higher the probability that he might develop bent bass endpin, similar to his bent cello endpin.
Their mail address is [email protected].
If you are interested in a bent bass endpin, tell him. The more who do that, the higher the probability that he might develop bent bass endpin, similar to his bent cello endpin.
RCWilliams
Commercial User
- Apr 23, 2007
- 299
- 82
- Disclosures
- owner RC Williams Co. LLC
I sent these pics out to an inquiry, I still have a few, but have stopped making them essentially as there was not enough demand. they have pretty much only been sold through KCS. the one with the ball end can be drilled at a wide range of angles.
Michael: I contacted them a couple of months ago. They no longer make the endpins they had listed. Sounded like they just did not sell very well.
I have an Upton version of that non drilled Laborie option that works well with either cf or not wood pins. Info is on the Upton site
Louis
Louis
I just ordered one of these to experiment with. John Hay was very easy to work with:
BeginPin Plus – John Hay Enterprises LLC
BeginPin Plus – John Hay Enterprises LLC
Thank you both for the links. I still have an N-pin in my bass that's still as great as when I got it back in 2008-ish? I'm glad to see a fresh website, and have talked to a few makers who use them and like them too.
Never had an issue with it "shrinking" in use where I've had plenty of thumb screw issues with a "traditional" pin including stripping a screw on a concert day. The only time it slipped was when it chipped the stone floor I was playing on while seated on a low stool with a pretty high angle. I blame the marble more than the pin.
Never had an issue with it "shrinking" in use where I've had plenty of thumb screw issues with a "traditional" pin including stripping a screw on a concert day. The only time it slipped was when it chipped the stone floor I was playing on while seated on a low stool with a pretty high angle. I blame the marble more than the pin.
I just wrote this in the "angled endpin" thread:
Short answer is that I don't know, but in the two weeks or so that I've had the Beginpin (in a 1/2" Cameleopard endpin socket) nothing has rotated. My problem is that, sitting on a low stool etc, I'm not sure the whole angled endpin thing is for me -- but this was a relatively inexpensive way to find out.
Short answer is that I don't know, but in the two weeks or so that I've had the Beginpin (in a 1/2" Cameleopard endpin socket) nothing has rotated. My problem is that, sitting on a low stool etc, I'm not sure the whole angled endpin thing is for me -- but this was a relatively inexpensive way to find out.
I ask this question about every pin of this sort: do you get any bounce from the bass as you make big shifts up and down the neck? It tends to come from flex in the system and it's distracting. A lot of these systems (basically with the exception of the RobPin) look like they're relying heavily on the stiffness of a single rod that doesn't look like it's up to the task. To be clear, I don't think things are going to break, but I don't like the feeling of my bass bouncing up and down like it's on a spring.
The Beginpin that John made for me is only an inch long after the bendable (4 angles) elbow. I play seated on a low stool, so there is no bounce
