Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Double Bass What's it like having a wheel?
- Thread starter Steve Freides
- Start date
- Dec 13, 1999
- 11,736
- 8,941
- 70
- Disclosures
- Chuck Sher publishes my book, WALKING BASSICS:The Fundamentals of Jazz Bass Playing.
I love my wheel. I used it twice a day during the Edinburgh fringe festival (24 gigs in 26 days, no space to store bass).
Bonus: It reminds me of that Paul Chambers album where he's wheeling his bass on the cover.
Bonus: It reminds me of that Paul Chambers album where he's wheeling his bass on the cover.
We made more poorly informed decisions, or maybe we had more money and didn't care as much, or both.
-S-
As a relatively young guy who's not that tall, I find that the wheel is sort of a hassle, and unless I'm going a very long distance over very flat ground, it's easier and safer to just carry the bass with a padded strap. If I need to hoist my bass over any obstacles or (even worse) stairs, the wheel is prone to knocking on the ground, which makes me worry about the stress that those bumps are putting on the end block. Also, the rigamarole of putting the wheel on and off takes long enough that if I just started walking, I'd be there and ready to play faster.
I might change my tune in ten or twenty years, but for now no wheeled products that I've seen or used have really been worth the trouble.
I might change my tune in ten or twenty years, but for now no wheeled products that I've seen or used have really been worth the trouble.
mjt0229, you have a standing invitation to join me on one of my regular schleps: 207th A to 42nd #7 to downtown #6. It has it all; stairs, escalators, corridors, broken elevators. If i didn't use a wheel, I couldn't do it, play a 3 hour rehearsal, and do it all over in reverse.
- Aug 1, 2005
- 3,546
- 1,421
- Disclosures
- Private Inventor - Bass Capos
Ha! Do they still print telephone books in NYC? What a waste of trees. The last time I opened one was when I was looking for as vet to treat a stomach virus in my pet triceratops! point taken, though.
- Aug 1, 2005
- 3,546
- 1,421
- Disclosures
- Private Inventor - Bass Capos
I've said this many times before. I used a wheel for a long time gigging in NYC. In the end though, I decided that I'd rather carry my bass, and the only reason I didn't was because the straps on the standard cases were poorly positioned. With the help of a rivet tool I was able to alter the positions of the strap mounts and add handles on my Moo. Afterwards I was more comfortable just carrying the bass on my shoulder that I'd ever been pushing it on a wheel.
We lived at 165 Seaman Ave (between 207 and Isham, across the street from the park) from the early '80s to the early '90s - sounds like you must be in that neighborhood.
-S-
Greg Clinkingbeard
Commercial User
I've been on the couch since Monday recovering from hernia surgery and just thinking about carrying a bass hurts. 
For the last several years I've used a bass buggie and wouldn't be without it. Most of us know older players with knee, back or hernia problems. Take care or your bodies!
For the last several years I've used a bass buggie and wouldn't be without it. Most of us know older players with knee, back or hernia problems. Take care or your bodies!
Yup-Park Terrace East. I have a choice of two steep hills or a 110 step stairway.
All I can say is, without my Kolstein, I would have gone back to being a bass guitarist exclusively a long time ago to each his own.
You wouldn't believe it. I still get phone books delivered to my house. Today, they are not exclusively printed by the phone company. Instead, anybody can print a phone book and distribute it. They are a way to sell advertising. They go straight into the recycling bin.
And yes, what a waste.
Hope your triceratops got better.
Yeah, I'm 5'10" and I find that a wheel hurts my neck and makes the task of wheeling a bass uncomfortable and awkward. I'm used to carrying big heavy packs while backpacking and fine that using backpack straps works better for me. Likely an outlier here too.
As a backpack, I keep my back straight and all the weight is borne by my legs. Far more efficient and faster getting up stairs and hills. It leaves my hands free so I can carry an amp/cab and what not. Single trips to/from the car most of the time.
- Aug 1, 2005
- 3,546
- 1,421
- Disclosures
- Private Inventor - Bass Capos
My first flat in NY ('89) was on 184th just west of Broadway. Illegal rent controlled sublet, it was $400 for a pre-war one bdrm., about 100 yards to the "A". My wife of the time made us give it up though and move to Astoria so we could have more room. Dumb dumb dumb!
- Aug 1, 2005
- 3,546
- 1,421
- Disclosures
- Private Inventor - Bass Capos
You wouldn't believe it. I still get phone books delivered to my house. Today, they are not exclusively printed by the phone company. Instead, anybody can print a phone book and distribute it. They are a way to sell advertising. They go straight into the recycling bin.
And yes, what a waste.
Hope your triceratops got better.
Yeah. They do that over here too, and likewise, all go straight to the bin. Unfortunately "Lucky" went extinct. I have to say, he wasn't the greatest pet though. I never could get him fully "cave-broken".
Having a wheel (actually a Bass Buggie) is perfect, couldn't be better. I bet Sao Paulo (Brazil) streets are the worst in the world, totally irregulars, holes, poor sidewalks, and the Bass Buggie has been handling well for almost 3 years. I take the subway and some short/medium walks, from 5 to 40 minutes.
i was a music major at a college i commuted to for 3 without a wheel. the last year with a wheel made me feel like an idiot for not buying one way sooner.
absolutely not worth it. get a wheel.
absolutely not worth it. get a wheel.
