Double Bass Stoppable wheel?

[El Thumpo]

I'm wondering if anyone has encountered a bass wheel that can be stopped in its rolling with a minimum of fuss. Think it would be fun to busk--or play in a parade--with the wheel in place, stopping in one location then rolling on to the next. Using a conventional wheel would probably have the bass slipping out from under you.

 

[RSBBass]

I have been thinking about something like that. Maybe you could attack the wheel at an angle to the side of a cheap end pin. Then when you had it on a bit of an angle it would roll but you could still stand the bass on its end pin.

 

[bejoyous]

I was just thinking recently that it would be nice if the wheel only rolled one way so that once I arrived at a gig, the bass could be stood in a corner while I take off my coat, etc.

Maybe some engineering-minded bass player will come up with one. Hint hint.

 

[Turxile]

How about a wheel and brake (more like a wheel lock) like they use in prams?

 

[Anonymatt]

Oh, like a ratcheting bass wheel?

Doesn't your girlfriend have a foot??

 

[dperrott]

Just get the kolstein stroller or that KC strings thing. I have used the Kolstein for years. Lower center of gravity, still have the end pin there, can stand it up, can fit on the subway. So much better than a single wheel. You will never go back to the single wheel.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

Or the bass buggie with the rubber foam bumper. Works fine without the bag.
(I think the Stroller only attaches to the bag well.)

 

[El Thumpo]

Or the bass buggie with the rubber foam bumper. Works fine without the bag.
(I think the Stroller only attaches to the bag well.)

Yes. I have a Stroller and it's for a bag, not a bass. A Bass Buggy would be ungainly and distract from the performance. There are nice lockable wheels out there, that could be married to an endpin. I'm thinking something like this would be interesting:

Welding skills, anyone?

 

[DoubleMIDI]

I build a bass buggie clone with smaller wheels (10cm, not 15cm) which might be less distracting than the normal one.
(But I won't take my carved bass on a parade. Normally...)

For the single wheel, it might be nice to have something spring loaded for a normally locked wheel and a cord to unlock the wheel when pulled for walking with the instrument.
I'm still afraid that using the wheel as a rubber stop will ruin the wheel rubber in a rather short time.

For me getting a sousaphone for playing in a parade situation would be the better option. You are not so dependant on the weather. But you need to learn a totally different kind of instrument concept. (Not so much a problem for me, since I played valve trombone for some time.)

 

[BudD]

This idea copied and pasted from Bob Gollihur's website:

"I was once asked about the stability of playing with the wheel still in the bass. The player said he went to jams in a campground where he would wheel his bass from bluegrass circle to circle. My suggestion was that he buy an appropriately sized plastic dog water bowl and toss that on the ground, to hold the wheel in place, when he got where he was going. So far three people I've told this have gone out and done so, successfully, so I thought I'd pass the tip on."

 

[tornadobass]

Maybe the problem was solved long ago?

The Amazing BassMobile

 

[robobass]

If you've got a spoked wheel you could maybe just stick a drumstick through a space in the spokes? If the rim is solid then you could drill a hole in it and stick a piece of rod in there. Easier than reinventing the thing

 

[bassist14]

ok guys, look at this ;-) :

 

[bassist14]

one more:
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[jebmd]

ok guys, look at this ;-) :

Very cool!

 

[bassist14]

offtopic:

unstoppable bass:
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[jebmd]

one more:
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I like this one because you can lock it with your foot.

 

[cultrvultr]

I like this one because you can lock it with your foot.

That looks perfect! I busk a bit in San Francisco and would love to have that wheel. I'll need to find a US distributor

 

[El Thumpo]

That looks perfect! I busk a bit in San Francisco and would love to have that wheel. I'll need to find a US distributor

Here's one:

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Folks, this is perfect! Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks to bassist14 for tracking it down. I'll get one and post a review ASAP.

cultrvultr, busking is just a vague idea for me right now, but when I do it'll be in the streets of SF as well. I'll keep an eye (and ear) out for you.

 

[homersbassfarm]

now, that's really getting into the bass!

go B14 GO!