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Accessories for Upright Bass:
Bass Wheels
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Gaines Upright Bass Transport Wheel |
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Manufactured by:
Gaines
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Choices starting at $136.00
(click on arrow next to Add To Cart button)
Shipping Cost: Starting at $11.00*
* Shipping cost assumes shipment to the Eastern Continental USA. You can temporarily add the product to your shopping cart to view actual shipping charges, or
Log in or create an account with a shipping address to automatically see shipping charges on each product page. We usually combine shipping costs for multiple item orders.
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Gaines Heavy Duty Double Bass Wheel
Clearly superior with its fully pneumatic, adjustable, and replaceable tubed tire
 The Gaines Heavy Duty Bass Wheel is at the top of the heap when you analyze the bass wheels available. This is a true eight inch tire, fully pneumatic with an innertube - the best way to absorb the shock of the road rather than transmit them to your valuable instrument.
A plated steel yoke has a receiver for the shaft size perfect for your bass' endpin, and they can be easily changed, so it is possible to economically own one wheel for use with multiple instruments, or obtain a new pin to fit your new bass or upgraded endpin.
 NO SWIVEL WHEEL
Wheel direction can be adjusted to your preferred orientation. The shaft has a flat side; using the allen set screw (wrench supplied), you align the shaft's position so it is against the tightening set screw in your endpin receiver, preventing it from rotating. Why is this good? If it rotated, you would have no control while rolling the bass!
The innertube has a conventional fitting for adding air using a common hand pump. This also allows for custom wheel cushioning, lower pressure if bumps are the order of the day, or higher pressure if you're running on the street! The wheel itself has heavy duty ball bearings, and the whole assembly is made of top quality hardware. Spare parts are readily available, and Cluster Research, the Gaines manufacturer, offers a lifetime warranty on all the metal parts. They are tops in customer service and can usually offer a loaner wheel if necessary.
FYI, I also carry an inexpensive "solid" bass wheel; it is not pneumatic, but is made of a soft rubber compound and is suitable for laminated basses. However, it is also a smaller wheel and certainly no competition to the Gaines shown here, but fine for most laminated basses like my old Kay.
Choose the endpin shaft size carefully! — A caliper or similar precision measure should be taken to ensure the proper size endpin shaft. Just for your information, 10mm is by far the most common size, for most endpins- be cautious when specifying 3/8" as it is only slightly smaller than 10mm, and it is important to use the correct size. The next most common size is 8mm, then 16mm (5/8"), 1/2" and 3/8".
IMPORTANT TIPS:
 Does your endpin collar have the most common set screw configuration? Our own endpins shown here are the usual type, using a set screw tightened into the side of the collar. If yours is one of the new "wrap-around" style endpin collar, the standard Gaines shafts are not compatible. See below*
- The endpin shaft MUST be measured accurately! It's important to have the correct size to avoid damaging your endpin receiver - that's a costly replacement!
 Okay then, how do I measure? The best way is with a caliper (see example at right), which allows you to accurately measure the diameter of your existing shaft. If you don't have one, a handful of standard and metric open-end wrenches can act as a gauge - use the wrenches in the various available shaft sizes to determine which one exactly fits the pin diameter. Don't have those, either? Get a piece of stiff cardstock or cardboard, and cut a notch in it. Continue to slightly widen that slot until the endpin fits perfectly - then measure the gap. Do the measurement with both inches and millimeters; as you can see, shafts are available in both metric and SAE (inches) sizes, and some of the sizes are very close.
- I don't have a metric (or SAE) ruler - now what? Check out this page for some printable rulers that might help.
- What if my endpin shaft won't come out?? Many endpins have a pin stop that prevents the shaft from being removed from the bass. In most cases you can shove the pin into the bass, retrieve it through the f-hole, and remove the crossbar or other piece that is preventing removal.
 * There are some new style endpin collars that use a round metal insert with a knob attached to it, which is then inserted into a large hole in the collar. This photo shows the endpin plug style (which is like our Carbon Fiber Endpin Assembly) and a custom-machined Gaines shaft designed specifically for use with it. A hole is drilled into the insert to mate with the dimple on the shaft. If your endpin collar works like this, the standard Gaines Wheel shafts are not compatible - they often "slip" and the wheel can spin, making it difficult to maintain control while rolling your bass. If you require a custom unit for our carbon fiber endpin assemblies please let us know.
Finally, a quick and off-the-wall note... I was once asked about the stability of playing with the wheel still in the bass. The player said he went to jams in a campground where he would wheel his bass from bluegrass circle to circle. My suggestion was that he buy an appropriately sized plastic dog water bowl and toss that on the ground, to hold the wheel in place, when he got where he was going. So far three people I've told this have gone out and done so, successfully, so I thought I'd pass the tip on.
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Choices starting at $136.00
(click on arrow next to Add To Cart button)
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FAQs Associated With This Product
WHEELS: Upright Bass Wheels
Here is what some of our customers think about this product:
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Thanks for your quick call back Tuesday regarding the Bass Max, rosin, and Bass Wheel. Your knowledge about the problem I was having with another pickup helped me decide that the Bass Max should work better with my GK MB 150 S combo amp, and fine without an external pre-amp. Thanks for your expanded "editorials" on your site regarding all your products, string changing tips, etc. This is much more helpful than the average "catalog," which typically reproduces only minimal product information from the manufacturer or distributor.
—Robert
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