Wood endpins for a Kay bass?

The answer is that replacing a steel endpin with a wooden one can change the instrument's voice in positive ways, given the right setup. The material, its length, how well it fits, its thickness and responsiveness, as well as the material of the receiver, are all small but still influential variables, and then you have floors and floor coverings to factor in as well.

One thing I've wondered about is whether we talk more about wood endpins since we generally stopped using the metal ones in their intended manner, spiked into a wooden stage floor.

 

I don't think it made a lick of difference in the sound, but my wood endpin is great, if for no other reason than it's tall enough for me! Which the stock Kay pin wasn't... I also inadvertently carved a slight angle into mine, which I thought was a mistake, but turns out it's kinda nice since, rotated the right way, the endpin stays a little more vertical when I lean the bass over.

 

I love mine that a friend made out of Osage Orange wood.

 

Are all Kay endpins the same? Mine is not a spike, it's a big fat, flat ended rod. Has it been changed? My Eastman is skinny with a spike, which I honestly hate, because it destroys whatever you put it on, so I have a superball on the end like most. It's easier. I prefer the Kay pin with a crutch tip on it, easier to deal with. I've never tried a wood pin.... Seen um about but generally the only thing I replace if not broken are strings... and I'm pretty bad about that too...lol.

 

The Kay pins I've seen have a spike on one end and are flat on the other.

 

I read about the wooden pins and toyed w/ the idea, but decided that would be more significant for someone playing jazz/classical, or recording, than my BG thumping - especially on my ply bass. I'm sure more practice would improve my bass' sound way more than a wooden pin!

 

Kay supplied two standard endpin sets for basses, in wood and steel. The wood pins were not spiked. The more common steel pins shipped with the business end sharpened. I've seen quite a few that were either modified or turned around for a flat end. This helps prevent it driving through a rubber tip, at least for a while.

 

I've periodically considered having my wife install a nice new endpin to replace my notched rod on my Engle, but I never felt like asking her to ream out a new opening (and, being a cheapass Polack, I shied from the expense.)

Have been impressed at how much nicer it is to adjust my endpin with the replacement thumbscrew from Gollihur.

Seriously, if you have that crappy little oval silver-colored thumbscrew, this is the biggest/cheapest improvement you can make to your bass!