How do you carry around your bass (with no cars or very compact cars)

[jude4312]

I ordered a bass and it's being delivered at the freight terminal that's pretty obscured from public transportation. I'd have to take a car but my car is a tiny volkwagen jetta. Any suggestions? or how you do you carry your instrument?

[toman]

I think most basses should fit in a Jetta with no problem, as they do in most sedans. Just recline the passenger seat and try a couple different insertion methods. Other than that... I just use a simple endpin wheel and roll around town. Sometimes if I'm late or sick or too far away or something, I'll just take my bow and borrow somebody else's bass, if that's practical. Likewise, I'm always ready to lend my bass to a friend who needs it.

[MingusAmongUs]

I had a '93 Jetta and the bass fit in without a problem. Recline the front passenger seat (as previously mentioned), open the passenger door, carefully insert the bass, lower bout first, in and back, so that it rests on its back with the scroll on the front seat, or preferably hanging over the edge of it, and the weight is borne under the main body. You might also have to (temporarily) recline the driver seat just so you can fit the bottom end of the bass over it while putting it in. This is just part of being an upright player. Where there's a will there's a way.

I've also taken the bass on plenty of trains. Not sure where you are but if the train has bulkhead seats, take one of those. Or, if there's a special wheelchair-friendly seat that's not being used, there will be extra room there. If you've got a long walk you can use a wheel as also mentioned, but this is probably going to run you about $125 or so (last time I checked), and you have to know your endpin thickness before ordering it.

If your bass has a nice case, you can always use the shoulder strap, but make sure you have a good grip on it somewhere else too in case the strap gives out.

There's a caddy thing you can get too. Or I've seen folks use luggage caddies, with the bass bungeed on.

[jakrees747]

Originally Posted by toman

. Just recline the passenger seat and try a couple different insertion methods.

sigd'!

[toman]

Man... I didn't even catch that.

[jude4312]

thank you so much for the tip. It's relieving to know someone with jetta can carry around bass, I was even thinking about renting a truck but I guess that's too silly? Thanks heaps!

[Martin Beer]

Hang on though, won't the bass be in a big shipping crate if you're picking it up from a freight terminal? I've only seen one double bass shipping box, and it was about the size of a telephone box! You might have to unpack it and dispose of the crate before you can fit it in your car. Just a thought...

[toman]

Good point. Anything that can hold a bass for shipping isn't going to fit in a car. Maybe renting a truck for a few hours isn't such a bad idea after all...

[ElwoodGruff]

I have a 2005 Jetta. Put the rear seats down and put it in through the trunk. The head stock should rest between the two front seats.

I've also been known to out it in the padded gigbag and wear it as a back pack as I ride my mountain bike, not very comfortable, but but good exercise and cheaper than paying for gas.

[toman]

I can not imagine riding a bike with a double bass on my back. Plus, who would get hurt worse in a crash; the bass or me?

[Gearhead43]

Also, make sure that your bass buckles up - for safety!

[ElwoodGruff]

I have a plan if I start to wreck I dive forward so that body cushions the blow for my bass. I'll heal quicker than she will. And I have medical insurance, she doesn't.

I don't do it very often, but occasionally I do it to get to rehearsal and back.

[robobass]

Good topic. aside from getting the bass home from the shipping terminal, transporting it around a city without a car, or when you have a long walk from the car to the gig, is something that deserves more research than most people do. I've used wheels in the past, but don't really like them. Especially in the subway, where you usually have to pull it out and stow it so the bass can stand in the train. Also, the added length and weight makes stairs an added chore. Some bags have good usable shoulder straps and handles, others do not. My Mooradian is decent in this regard, but I really wanted handles on both sides of the front. Solution: I ran a nylon band with the quick clips though the side rings. Now I can grab anywhere along the front of the bag and make changes in my carrying position during a long walk. I can also use the band to tie up the bag for storage, or use it between the stool and endpin when I can't use my point.

Next project? I have a baby on the way this summer. We're planning on getting a bike trailer for the baby. I want to adapt it to carry the bass as well (not at the same time as the baby). Sounds silly, but gas in Germany is now about nine bucks a gallon.
I'll post some pics when I get it built!

Robobass

[ElwoodGruff]

Next project? I have a baby on the way this summer. We're planning on getting a bike trailer for the baby. I want to adapt it to carry the bass as well (not at the same time as the baby).

Funny you should mention this. The guys I jam with and I did this last night. I have a Trek GoBug for my daughter. All we had to do was remove the front cover (which is just a zip on/zip off) and put the bass in the cart. Then we took three bungie cords and secured it. Two probably would've worked, but I wanted to make sure. We were just doing it for fun to see if it would work, but I may actually use it now, instead of carrying it on my back.



As for other modes of transportation. I know a guy who took the hand cart from a golf bag and converted it. He just wheels it around on it, and when he's done it just folds up. Pretty nice when you're at music festivals and are walking around alot from campsite to campsite jamming.

[robobass]

Originally Posted by ElwoodGruff

I know a guy who took the hand cart from a golf bag and converted it.

Excellent idea! I could even maybe rig it so I could pull it with my bike! But what about the amp?
Robobass

[Felessan]

Originally Posted by robobass

Excellent idea! I could even maybe rig it so I could pull it with my bike! But what about the amp?
Robobass

Strangely enough, I don't think that's the most terrible idea in the world.

If there was some way to make a nice little bass buggy for bike attachment, it could save us folks who live just far enough away that it would be crappy to walk with the bass, but just close enough that driving is a stupid waste (even more so with gas prices so high).

The buggy would have to be un-tippable, and provide protection around at least the bottom portion of the instrument... Maybe if the bass loaded in the buggy like into those cloth-lined "bass stand boxes," except at an angle towards the biker with a single strap over the C-bout (in a bass bag, of course), it might be secure and safe...

Now, if there was some way to make the buggy easily converted into a hand-cart, you could just detach it from your bike and roll right onto stage with it all....

-Trevor

[Jake deVilliers]

"I could even maybe rig it so I could pull it with my bike!"

I don't recommend it. The golf carts I've converted are fine for low speed/low impact but the wheels aren't big enough or the 'suspension' soft enough for bike speed on the road.

[robobass]

Originally Posted by Jake deVilliers

"I could even maybe rig it so I could pull it with my bike!"

I don't recommend it. The golf carts I've converted are fine for low speed/low impact but the wheels aren't big enough or the 'suspension' soft enough for bike speed on the road.

Yeah, I'm leaning more toward the baby trailer idea. There are tons of them here. Already rigged to attach to the bike, big wheels, and some are probably as safe as an older Toyota. It's kind of a joke here, what Europeans demand for their children. A thousand Euros is not a lot to pay for a stroller. People aren't necessarily class conscious about what they drive, but damn, you will get looks if your baby buggy isn't the latest in hi-tech!
Robobass

[txstatebass]

I think Wally Kay's Bass Place in New Orleans (if it's still there) was or had developed a buggy attachment for DB bike transport. You could try giving him a call.