Thursday, October 25, 2012

Bass-Buggie





Bass-Buggie

Anyone who’s carried an upright bass down a city sidewalk knows that its almost impossible go one block without some wise-guy asking, “Don’t you wished you chose the piccolo?” or “That’s a big violin you got there buddy” or some other highly unoriginal remark.
Yes, I’m an upright bass player and it happens to me all the time. I just politely smile, nod, force a half-hearted chuckle and continue on to whatever gig or recording session I’m usually headed. You see it’s almost impossible to put into words the one thing that every upright bass player knows. The sheer joy of making music on these beautiful instruments outweighs the drawbacks of schlepping them around. It’s something you’ll never understand unless your fingers have coaxed deep earthy tones from those thick strings and you’ve felt their vibrations resonate through that wooden body and fill the room. That said, okay yes, lugging around an upright bass is generally a literal pain in the neck…and back…and shoulders. Perhaps that’s why harmless comments from strangers on the street can be so annoying. The problem isn’t that upright basses are that heavy really, after all, they’re hollow and mostly air. The problem is upright basses are big, bulky and awkward instruments to transport. Anything that makes getting one from point A to point B easier is welcome news.

I rarely do endorsements but when a product comes along that changes your life, it’s hard not to spread the word. That’s why I’m telling every Upright Bass player I know about the Bass-Buggie. This ingenious product takes the majority of effort out of traveling with your upright bass, attaches in about five seconds and allows you to easily walk down the street with no strain on you back, neck or shoulders. Contraptions using a single wheel attached to a rod that slides into the end block at the bottom of upright basses have been around for years but they are hazardous because they transfer all the energy of the bumps and bounces of the street directly to the body of the instrument. The Bass-Buggie instead is a two-wheeled cradle that quickly attaches to the upright bass using nylon straps and a bungee cord and never comes in contact with the body of the upright bass directly. The foam padding of your case plus optional additional foam padding cushions any bumps along the route. Not only that, the Bass-Buggie is totally adjustable so depending on your height you can find the perfect angle to wheel your upright bass comfortably as you walk. Thanks to the two-wheel design, your upright bass balances perfectly, allowing you to maneuver with one arm, leaving your other hand free.

I live just outside Manhattan and am frequently in town for session work.
Whereas I use to load my upright bass in the car, drive into town and hope to find a parking place close to my destination, I now find it easier to take the train into town and wheel my way to gigs. Trust me, if you’re an upright bass player and you don’t have a Bass-Buggie, buy one now. You’ll know why I’m so insanely enthusiastic about this product. http://www.kcstrings.com/bass-buggie