Loosening the endpin

[JoeyNaeger]

My teacher ended up replacing the endpin unit on his kolstein travel bass because he got fed up with it. I'm not sure if it's the same unit, but it was pretty massive with a 12 mm rod, and hard to move the endpin. He ended up putting in a Goetz instead and is much happier.

[Michael Case]

My end pin has loosened over time. There is no rattling, but every once in a while if I don't tighten the screw on the center of the notch the pin will shift down while playing. I used to fit really nice and I was able to feel when I got to the notch and tighten and forget it, but now it's not like that. Does this require a new end pin if I want to fix it?

[Flint Buchanan]

Bob-

A little OT, but since I'm thinking of getting a wheel, why would you think a wheel would cause problems with the endpin adjuster?

[Bob Branstetter]

Originally Posted by Flint Buchanan

Bob-

A little OT, but since I'm thinking of getting a wheel, why would you think a wheel would cause problems with the endpin adjuster?

Some of them attach to the endpin and conceivably could have bent the rod.
Some endpins have a piece of metal between the rod and the screw that could have come loose or was damaged. I was trying to think of anything that Patrick could have done that damaged the endpin. At the time, I didn't know that the problem had been there from the beginning rather than being damaged.

I really don't have a problem with bass wheels as long as the shaft is (exactly) the same size as the endpin rod. I've been using one myself for years and only wish that I had started using one earlier in my life. It might have prevented some the lower back problems I have today.

[Bob Branstetter]

Originally Posted by Michael Case

My end pin has loosened over time. There is no rattling, but every once in a while if I don't tighten the screw on the center of the notch the pin will shift down while playing. I used to fit really nice and I was able to feel when I got to the notch and tighten and forget it, but now it's not like that. Does this require a new end pin if I want to fix it?

This is a fairly common problem with Gotz and ULSA endpins. The cork wears or compresses. I remember talking about this with David Wilson at Hammond Ashley a few years ago. He said he had a box full of old endpins that were in good shape except for the cork. As far as I've been able to determine, no one sells replacement cork inserts for the endpins. I've tried making my own from sheet cork and even wine bottle corks. They worked well enough to eliminate rattles, but I could never get back the original feel you are wanting. Unless you can find a source for the cork inserts and have the facilities for installing it, a new endpin may be your only choice available.

[Michael Case]

Cool, thanks for the info.