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
