Bass Accessories

Accessories that every double bass player needs

Apart from strings for the bass and a bass bow, a double bass player will also need several other accessories that will help in taking care of their instrument, improving its sound, promoting good playing habits, transporting the it around and even preventing injury.

Bass Wheels

Every double bass player knows how difficult it can be to transport their instrument. A reliable bass wheel can assist with moving the instrument by attaching a wheel at the bottom of the instrument making it easy to "wheel" the instrument from on place to another. The bass wheel is normally fits into the endpin socket. As double bass endpins vary in size (diameter), the bass wheel has a shaft which must be matched to the endpin.

Bass Humidifiers

Bass humidifiers can be inserted into bass instrument to assist with the regulation of moisture in the air (or within the instrument). As wood interacts with moisture constantly, if the air inside a double bass is too dry, it may suck out the moisture from the wood of the double bass altering the instrument's playing capabilities. The opposite may happen when too much moisture is present and the wood may absorb the excess moisture, causing swelling. When a bass is exposed to extreme variations for long periods of time, open seams or even cracking may result.

A good humidifier will protect the instrument in cases of both high and low moisture in the air and is a "must" especially in areas where humidity varies greatly.

Bass Mutes

Bass mutes dampen the vibrations of the bridge, reducing the intensity of the sound giving the double bass a smoother, mellower, quieter sound. Practice mutes are used by cellists to avoid disturbing their neighbours when practicing in areas such as apartments or hotels.

Bass Pickups and Preamps

Pickups are used to convert the vibration of the instrument into an electric signal which can then be sent to an amplifier.

A preamp amplifies low level signals to the standard operating level of your recording gear. These are devices are required if playing in venues where the double bass needs to be connected to an amplifier, speakers or a sound system.

Bass Endpin Rests

Unlike violin and viola players, who place their instruments on their shoulders while playing, the a double bass player uses the floor to support the bass through its endpin - the extensible rod at the bottom of the instrument. Endpins have a tendency of sliding, causing the bass to fly out of the players hands. Some endpins tips are very sharp to prevent such slips but may cause damage to the floor they come in contact with. Bass Endpin Rests or stops are essential accessories to prevent such slips and at the same time prevent scratches and other damage to the floor.

Bass Rosin

Bass rosin helps create friction and when applied to bow hair, allows the bow to grip the bass strings and make them vibrate more clearly and with more control.

Bass Tailpieces

Bass Tailpieces are used to connect strings to the end of the bass. The correct tailpiece for an instrument can have a significant effect on the sound and playability of the instrument. The right tailpiece can make the instrument more responsive and resonant, resulting in a fuller or more colourful sound.

Wolf Eliminators

A wolf tone is a warbling, stuttering sound an instrument makes when the vibration of the instrument cancels out the vibration of the string. It is a phenomenon that occurs most frequently with larger string instruments. A Wolf Eliminator can be used to dampen the affected frequencies and eliminate or minimize the wolf tone.