bassist_lewis Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 It's all in the topic. I'm looking at buying a double bass and one thing is holding me back: if you don't have a car how do you get your double bass around town? The bass trolley? The wheel that goes in the end pin hole? A roadie?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 I saw a bloke on a rush hour tube with one of the other day... Now that's dedication... Seemed to have a wheel on the end pin to my eyes, although I am often drunk and mistaken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeEvans Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 I don't fancy the wheel in the pin hole, myself - it feels like you might damage the bass if you hit a bump too hard. I'm tall enough just to wear it backpack-style given the right case, which is ok for a short walk but ultimately I think you'd end up paying for a lot of taxis... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassist_lewis Posted February 14, 2016 Author Share Posted February 14, 2016 We'll I've gone and bought it anyway so I'll just have to find for myself! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 I have a second-hand golf trolley which has been slightly adapted so that a bass will fit on it. Ideal for those festival gigs where the marquee is at the other end of 2 ploughed fields and up a steep hill! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer of the Bass Posted February 14, 2016 Share Posted February 14, 2016 Nowadays I'm living slightly further out of town and we have a car, but living in the city centre with no car I used a combination of an endpin wheel, shoulder strap, buses (outside of the rush hour) and the occasional black cab. While some people worry about damaging the instrument with an endpin wheel, my wheel has done so many miles that the tread is wearing off the tyre yet I have never damaged my 100-year old bass using it. If you choose one with a pneumatic tyre, keep the tyre fairly soft and take care with kerbs then it's not a big issue IMO. A shoulder strap is a very useful thing, especially as the wheel makes the bass too tall to easily get in and out of buses or taxis. Rather than relying on the sewn-on straps on a case, I have one which fastens around the bass neck outside of the case and has a loop for the endpin at the bottom, similar to this one: [url="http://www.bassbags.co.uk/product/double-bass-carrying-strap-black/"]http://www.bassbags.co.uk/product/double-bass-carrying-strap-black/[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herbass Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 Just as Mr. Beer sais, buses -here in Edinburgh at least- are a perfect way to get around! Chose a good bag with reliable shoulder-straps and have some padding where the bass meets your lower back and you'll be able to walk quite a bit without discomfort. I always thought about getting a wheel, but never really needed one... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 The bass buggy (http://www.kcstrings.com/bass-buggie/) was recommended to me by Laurence Dixon and using it for the first time last week I definitely agree with him. I travelled on the tube right across London and back (with lots of changes) & extra couple of hours walking - it made the whole experience a lot easier than I imagined it could be Hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyBass Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 Depends on the bass. Black cabs, buses, trams etc are fine as required, for walking I find I can comfortably carry my Duke bass with a shoulder strap on one shoulder and that arm reaching down to hold the front carry handle. I can probably walk for 20 minutes like that because the weight distributes out nicely. My Strunal, on the other hand, is like carrying a wardrobe, so I either drive straight to the venue or leave it at home...if your bass is more like the latter then maybe a wheel is the way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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