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Double Bass What's it like having a wheel?

#24
I've got a buggy, and am generally happy with it, except...

Steering it requires walking to one side or the other, and you can get in a bind (squeezing between cars) where you have to pick it up to get it heading in the right direction. The result is me walking like a drunk. It actually works a lot better if I'm pulling it behind me. This is also true with anything on wheels, such as those little rolling suitcases.

With a wheel, I imagine that you steer it just by twisting the bass slightly. I'd have to remove the wheel in order to get the bass into my car.
 
#25
Having a wheel is great. It's a real back saver. It's a good conversation starter, too.

Don't go too fast and be gentle on the bumps.

Be careful when removing the endpin and inserting the wheel and vice versa. You'll be doing that 1-300 times per year and you could wear out the sides of the hole.

Whenever I remove the endpin, I don't let it out of my hand until it is in the pocket of the bass case. (I left it at an out-of-town gig site and had to drive back and get it. Lesson learned. Blah!)
 
#27
The only time I forgot my endpin, I was telling my teacher the story and he immediately says "telephone book".
Or some other large tome that you can rest the bottom bout on that will get you to the right height, since not everyone lives in a large metropolis....
 
#28
Ed Fuqua said:
The only time I forgot my endpin, I was telling my teacher the story and he immediately says "telephone book".
Or some other large tome that you can rest the bottom bout on that will get you to the right height, since not everyone lives in a large metropolis....
Click to expand...

I have a horror story involving this method of MacGyver-ing a makeshift endpin and Dennis Irwin's old A.S. bass. Not to say it's not a viable option, just don't be as careless as I was.
 
#30
Don Higdon said:
Had a wheel.
Bought a buggy.
Use a wheel.
Click to expand...

Once again, it's personal preference. Clearly, the best course of action is what many here ended up doing. Buy both and choose the one you like. There's always the classifieds. :)

This sums it up for me re the buggy:
brandau said:
...It takes about half a second to put it on and take off. I added an extra piece of dense foam and can practically hop a curb. I highly recommend it. Another bonus is the bass balances really well even when your not pushing it. With the end pin style wheels your constantly holding the weight of the bass...and it gets heavy. Especially if your standing still.
Click to expand...
 
#32
MikeCanada said:
Finding the right shaft size for your bass isn't that difficult.
Click to expand...

A caliper is best for measuring your endpin. Don't have one? Maybe you have a set of these in your toolbox?

DM_GearwrenchMetricSet.jpg


Just try each wrench until you find one that fits snugly. Try both metric and SAE. Should do the trick!
 
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#33
The wheel doesn't work with every endpin 'holder'. Unless it can grip the shaft strongly the wheel can rotate as you try and wheel it along. I had to give mine back. The bass buggy works fine for me. Stairs though? I think I would try to avoid them. If I had to I would lift it up step by step. Or just refuse to play there.
 
#35
Don, I will take your breaking news one step further: I know bassists that don't like either one, and prefer a nicely padded shoulder strap. :hiding:

Mark Gollihur said:
A caliper is best for measuring your endpin. Don't have one? Just try each wrench until you find one that fits snugly. Try both metric and SAE. Should do the trick!
Click to expand...

I am one of the lucky/weird people who has a caliper at home, but the wrench idea is a great idea. My one word of advice/caution is 9 times out of 10 it is metric. 8 of those 9 times, it's 10mm. A lot of standard pins (Goetz, Onyx, etc.) are 10mm, but there are exceptions.

I know in North America we tend to think "it must be SAE" and if you're using the wrench sizing approach, you can likely get a pretty close fit with SAE. If it isn't exact, your wheel is going to wobble like crazy. There is a chance that you do have an SAE endpin or that you have an 8mm or 12mm pin and the hollow pins are obviously thicker. There is an exception to every rule, but the "rule" leans towards 10mm.
 
#36
I use a double trolley. Invalid Link Removed

Really expensive, but I sit when I play, so it's great to have a buggy + a stool in the same thing. It's very sturdy, too. I take busses to and from other cities a lot, and in the bottom part I can lay the bass on its back without it being damaged because of the large wheels. It can be heavy (and cumbersome), but I take Montreal metros (where we don't have elevators except for 4 stations), go up and down stairs, escalators, etc, and I can handle it. I don't have a small bass either.. I have a big and heavy 7/8 orchestral bass. I'm young, so I guess that makes a difference, plus I cycle a lot so I'm fairly strong.
 
#38
Just a practical question about the double trolley and Montreal/wherever else you are travelling winters/weather. With the seat of the stool being the "seat" for the bass, wouldn't it get covered in slush/other things you wouldn't want to sit on? I just picture Montreal sidewalks in the winter time... Maybe I'm wrong? maybe the bass bag keeps the seat relatively clean?

It seems like a good idea, and I like how the seat height and angle can be adjusted, although my current height of preference is 23" so it doesn't quite get low enough for me. I was going to also complain about the weight, but my current drum throne weighs in at 16 lbs, so it would actually be lighter than what I usually carry around. The price tag does scare me though.

Steve - there has been some talk about how it's difficult to get a bass secured onto a hand truck. Given that the bass is rounded and the trucks tend to have square shaped loads in mind, I can see it being a problem. If you have one/a use for it anyway, then give it a shot. They can usually be picked up pretty inexpensively, and make a world of difference for moving an amp around that doesn't have casters.
 
#39
I have one (a hand truck) but it's pretty heavy duty. I'm thinking about a plastic-y one, and maybe a couple of blocks of stiff foam rubber to help stabilize the bass.

Ugh - wasn't really planning on going down the DIY road, either.

We may conclude that the best solution to this problem is to invite everyone over to your own house for all rehearsals. :)

-S-
 
#40
There was a short period of time that my endpin was all gehfukt so that I couldn't stabilize the wheel shaft. I ended up buying one of those hardware store carts ($19.95) and some bungies. Pros and cons -
PROS
short enough to stand anywhere in the subway car
stable enough that the bass could stand pretty much by itself, didn't have to hold it upright
CONS
I'm MUCH more manueverable with one wheel than with two. I can walk faster, weave in and out of crowds etc. better with the wheel, than with the cart.
Going up and down stairs (like, at EVERY subway station) is MUCH more awkward with that freaking cart in the way. The best way to do it is really slow; going up and down you bump it along every step like Grandma bringing the groceries home. With the wheel it's just slip one of the shoulder straps over one arm and go up or down at about the same speed as if I didn't have the bass.
 

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