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Taking a bass by wheelchair
- Thread starter themickster
- Start date
The sling is a cool idea, and I can see it working for a relatively light guitar. The thought that immediately comes to mind, if the guitar visible in pic #3 is the usual occupant of the sling, is that its center of gravity would sit lower in that sling versus a bass. With a heavier and longer (taller, in this configuration) bass, the relatively loose looping of the sling straps over the handles could pose a risk of slipping off, as it moves around with the motion of the chair. With that in mind, I might do two things to secure a bass better in that setup:
- Add some slip-on plastic buckles or other means to cinch up the vertical sling straps to spots where they rest just beyond the handgrips, so they'll be less likely to work themselves backward.
- Add a horizontal strap running between the vertical portions of the bars, just above the top edge of the seat back, possibly with a buckle in the center (or off to the side, if you prefer), to keep the bass from tilting backward out of the sling.
Something like this, if you'll forgive my doing a "quick & dirty" drawing on your picture:
You might be able to experiment with leaning the bass to one side so it doesn't bop you in the head as it moves. A gig bag would help to protect the bass, and you. Bag or no, the strap could keep it contained, while still allowing for loading & unloading without having to lift the whole thing up & over the height of the chair.
McMaster Carr is an excellent source for strap webbing and strap buckles. (If my links don't work, just go to McMaster.com and search on those terms to bring up the various department pages). Anything you can conjure up in your mind from the bits & pieces they have on hand, you can make fairly easily.
Hope that helps to at least start shaking some ideas around.
Good luck!
- Add some slip-on plastic buckles or other means to cinch up the vertical sling straps to spots where they rest just beyond the handgrips, so they'll be less likely to work themselves backward.
- Add a horizontal strap running between the vertical portions of the bars, just above the top edge of the seat back, possibly with a buckle in the center (or off to the side, if you prefer), to keep the bass from tilting backward out of the sling.
Something like this, if you'll forgive my doing a "quick & dirty" drawing on your picture:
You might be able to experiment with leaning the bass to one side so it doesn't bop you in the head as it moves. A gig bag would help to protect the bass, and you. Bag or no, the strap could keep it contained, while still allowing for loading & unloading without having to lift the whole thing up & over the height of the chair.
McMaster Carr is an excellent source for strap webbing and strap buckles. (If my links don't work, just go to McMaster.com and search on those terms to bring up the various department pages). Anything you can conjure up in your mind from the bits & pieces they have on hand, you can make fairly easily.
Hope that helps to at least start shaking some ideas around.
Good luck!
Thank you for such a full answer. Looping the straps over the handles twice would hold them on better. A skilled woodworker friend is making a shelf for the bag to rest on, instead of the sling. The wheelchair's seat belt will hold the bag against the backrest. It will stand higher off the ground that in this shot.
Attachments
I've known a few folks who use chairs, but had never discussed the technical aspects of them enough to realize there were seat belts included.
I've seen special bags on Amazon made to hang on the back of wheelchairs, just search for wheelchair bag.
This may be just plain dense on my part but can you sling the bass over your shoulder(s) and let it hang over the back of the chair? I just tried it with one of my basses and a camp chair. Seemed to allow enough mobility to use a wheelchair but I don't know how easy it would be to put on/take off.
BBB
BBB
I did try that, so it's fair of you to say it. The shoulder straps on my gig bag aren't right for the backrest height. I want the weight to be as low down as I can get it, so that I don’t risk tipping backwards on slopes.
Does the additional weight on the back of your wheelchair pose any balance issues for you when or if you need to get over an object? I took a look at NotAWheelchair and noted that they have a manual wheelchair. If you enter the configurator and do a 360 view, their model has a cross back bar that looks great as a "back rack". Not sure if this is out of your budget but the design seemed a bit unique. I wonder if you could rig something to the back riser bars of your current chair, maybe a couple of them that would provide a stable platform to strap the bass on it. Maker pipe has some cool fittings for building pipe based frames and I imagine you could find a similar product to clamp onto your chair.
notawheelchair.com
FWIW I am not recommending the electric wheel chair just the manual one and the visual idea of the back cross bar or two.
makerpipe.com
Not A Wheelchair
We’d like to introduce ‘Not-a-Wheelchair’ a company revolutionizing mobility - from custom rigid wheelchairs (made in weeks not months) to a fully electric, super quiet, accessible bike - all of it built specifically for people with mobility impairments.
notawheelchair.com
FWIW I am not recommending the electric wheel chair just the manual one and the visual idea of the back cross bar or two.
Maker Pipe | Structural Pipe Fittings for DIY Builders
We empower you to make something you love. Whether you're a beginner or DIY pro, our products are a great fit for your project. Learn why.
makerpipe.com
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At the risk of stating the obvious, a full depth pocket sewn onto the back would seem to be the solution. This would come in handy for carrying other items as well, but you might want to reserve it just for bass work to make it last longer and stay taught.
You're right about maybe tipping backwards. I went out with the bass on the wheelchair as a test run, with a friend behind me for safety. I didn’t feel safe going up kerbs. He's making a shelf to rest the bag on, as shown above. He took me to our nearest music shop, where I bought an Ibanez AEGB30E acoustic bass. A gig bag for is coming tomorrow. It was a lot less than a Not a Wheelchair. The electrics look fun.Does the additional weight on the back of your wheelchair pose any balance issues for you when or if you need to get over an object? I took a look at NotAWheelchair and noted that they have a manual wheelchair. If you enter the configurator and do a 360 view, their model has a cross back bar that looks great as a "back rack". Not sure if this is out of your budget but the design seemed a bit unique. I wonder if you could rig something to the back riser bars of your current chair, maybe a couple of them that would provide a stable platform to strap the bass on it. Maker pipe has some cool fittings for building pipe based frames and I imagine you could find a similar product to clamp onto your chair.
Not A Wheelchair
We’d like to introduce ‘Not-a-Wheelchair’ a company revolutionizing mobility - from custom rigid wheelchairs (made in weeks not months) to a fully electric, super quiet, accessible bike - all of it built specifically for people with mobility impairments.
FWIW I am not recommending the electric wheel chair just the manual one and the visual idea of the back cross bar or two.
Maker Pipe | Structural Pipe Fittings for DIY Builders
We empower you to make something you love. Whether you're a beginner or DIY pro, our products are a great fit for your project. Learn why.
I understand. Well this is really cool to see and I am glad you brought this to the forum. I hope you find a manageable solution. Curious if you have tried any other forums, certainly other's play large instruments who also use a wheelchair.
I think the solution of hanging it off the back is probably the best. But because I want to think outside the box in the chance it leads to something better…
Have you considered resting the bass on one footrest and angling it back, possibly supported by a Y mount on the armrest on the same side? Perhaps it would require a plank across the footrests to create enough space to still rest your feet. If the angle is right it wouldn’t block your arms. Though it might create a blind spot. Just a thought.
Drawing not to scale nor accurate.
Have you considered resting the bass on one footrest and angling it back, possibly supported by a Y mount on the armrest on the same side? Perhaps it would require a plank across the footrests to create enough space to still rest your feet. If the angle is right it wouldn’t block your arms. Though it might create a blind spot. Just a thought.
Drawing not to scale nor accurate.
An extension for broken legs and putting both feet on the one footrest would get us some of the way there.
The shelf works. It takes the weight and the seatbelt holds my gig bag against the backrest.
I’m a part time wheelchair user but mine is electric and substantially different than the original posters. The method that you suggested is what I’ve found to be the most effective. Perhaps bungee cord the gig bag to one of the armrests if you have a long commute.
It's done. I had to think again, after getting the shelf. The black gig bag isn't padded enough for my liking, so I bought a TGI Extreme. It's too wide to clear the spokes, when it's on the shelf. I found a way to hang the guitar sling better. Also better is how I can keep the sling on, when I fold my wheelchair.
