Traveling with a double bass?

fourdogs · #1 01-31-2007, 12:16 PM

Hi again, I am going to pick up my new (well new to me) double bass out in New Jersey, in two weekends. My question is, will it be alright to transport it in the back of a pick up truck? I have an Olds 98 (1999) that I could drive But I am not sure if it will fit in it. Any ideas?

G-force · #2 01-31-2007, 12:29 PM

Hey fourdogs, well , how is the bass packaged when you get it ?
I mean, in a box? cardboard crate, will it be in a soft bag or just plain naked in the bed of your truck ?

The most important is
1 make sure it is not exposed to the elements, that means, wind ,rain or weather under 33 degrees .
2 make sure it is padded and not prone to being thrown around the back of your truck.
Good Luck

theshadow2001 · #3 01-31-2007, 02:28 PM

I dunno what way your fixed for bass/string shops in your local area. But you might be able to rent a hard shell case to put the bass into. If you had one of those babies secured in the back it would certainly last the run. For example a quick google search revealed this guy in chicago that does rentals he might have one. There could be someone a bit closer to you though. That said there's probably cheaper alternatives. As for if it will fit. Get the guy your buying it off to run a measuring tape on your bass and then you do the same on your truck and after that its simple math whether it will fit or not

Ed Fuqua · #4 01-31-2007, 02:48 PM

I had to drive from Daytona Beach FL to Augusta GA with my bass in the back of a pickup, here's what I did.

WRAP THAT RASCAL - with the bass in its soft case, I used a bunch of heavy duty lawn bags, I split'em up the seams and MADE SURE that it was taped up tight so NO WATER could get in. You want to cover EVERY seam between bags with another bag.

PAD THAT SUCKER - I ended up making a rigging with cord, so that the bass was actually suspended OVER the bed of the truck (didn't touch at all), in kind of a "web". The sides were secured to the sides of the truck (using the tie off areas) through all of the straps on the case, so there was no lateral movement, no front to back/back to front movement and little up and down movement. The neck kind of floated free.

damonsmith · #5 01-31-2007, 02:51 PM

A bass will ft in any car. Just lay the passenger seat back.

Sippy · #6 01-31-2007, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by damonsmith

A bass will ft in any car. Just lay the passenger seat back.

not true.. I have a Jeep liberty.. and it barely fits in with the passenger seats down... and I consider the Jeep Liberty a fairly large vehicle... so it if barely fits in my jeep I don't see how it could fit in most cars.

theshadow2001 · #7 01-31-2007, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sippy

not true.. I have a Jeep liberty.. and it barely fits in with the passenger seats down... and I consider the Jeep Liberty a fairly large vehicle... so it if barely fits in my jeep I don't see how it could fit in most cars.

HELP! Bass won't fit in new car :(

If this is true then I believe anything is possible

fourdogs · #8 01-31-2007, 06:07 PM

Hey, thanks for all of the ideas! I guess I did not ask what it was that I specificly wanted to know. I was wondering about the temperatures. G-force touched on it, when he said under 33. If this is the case I am screwed for awhile as the weather will probably be colder than that for the next month or so. Does everyone else concur that the bass should not ride in the back of my pick up (regardless of how well it is packed) if it is below 33 degrees?

damonsmith · #9 01-31-2007, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sippy

not true.. I have a Jeep liberty.. and it barely fits in with the passenger seats down... and I consider the Jeep Liberty a fairly large vehicle... so it if barely fits in my jeep I don't see how it could fit in most cars.

-I have gotten it in VW bugs, and I mean the old ones, my girlfriend has a mini cooper we can get the bass and 3 people in there.
You are just not trying hard enough. A two seater could be tough, but could probably be figured out.
Anyway, take the car if you have one. Back of the truck is not worth it if you have another option.

RHayton · #10 01-31-2007, 07:14 PM

Can't see why it would not fit in the Olds--I have a 97 Pontiac Bonneville that I carry mine in from time to time when the wife has the SUV somewhere else. I move the front passenger seat all the way forward, then recline the seatback all the way back, and put the bass (in a soft case) into the car from the back door on the passenger side, neck first. The scroll end lays near the dash, and there is adequate room for the body to lie across the flattened passenger seat into the back seat. good luck.

fourdogs · #11 01-31-2007, 08:55 PM

thanks again for the replies, I was hoping to be able to have a passenger along for the ride, as it is 13 to 14 hours one way. But that may not be possible if the temperature is going to be an issue.

damonsmith · #12 02-01-2007, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fourdogs

thanks again for the replies, I was hoping to be able to have a passenger along for the ride, as it is 13 to 14 hours one way. But that may not be possible if the temperature is going to be an issue.

-They can sit behind you, I have done San Francisco to Seattle that way.

relacey · #13 02-01-2007, 10:21 AM

I put my bass in the front of of my F150 extended cab. I put the passenger seat back a bit and the body of the bass in the seat with the neck up and slightly behind the driver's seat. Rides real well there and I still have decent visibility. If you do this you may want to turn off the passenger side air bag.

Sippy · #14 02-01-2007, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by damonsmith

-I have gotten it in VW bugs, and I mean the old ones, my girlfriend has a mini cooper we can get the bass and 3 people in there.
You are just not trying hard enough. A two seater could be tough, but could probably be figured out.
Anyway, take the car if you have one. Back of the truck is not worth it if you have another option.

I'll keep trying since I'm going to have to transport it today anyway... but I've tried many many times and different ways. and I can only get it in there so the scroll is in between the seats and sitting on top of the center console... it will also fit catty corner from the rear of the drivers side to in between the passenger seat and door... but that is SO dangerous.

GW in Ohio · #15 02-02-2007, 03:40 PM

I have an '06 Honda Accord 4-door sedan.

The only way my double bass fits is diagonally from left rear to right front.

I put the front passenger seat all the way back and slide the bass in through the left rear door.

It just fits.

Silversorcerer · #16 02-06-2007, 01:56 PM

I think you can get it in the car.

I'm assuming it is a 4 door vehicle. Try putting the passenger front seat all the way back and reclined all the way if it is not attached to the driver side seat. Then put the bass in bottom bout first through the driver side back door. Slide it into the passenger front seat and then you can straighten if up a bit so that there is now room for a passenger in the driver side rear seat. If the neck is resting on the back seat, raise the front seat up enough so that there is no pressure on the neck should you hit a bump or pot hole. That is how I transported my 4/4 size DB in a 1990 Nissan Maxima and 2000 Toyota Camry. Currently I drive a Volvo wagon so it a lot easier loading.

The truck idea will work in a pinch. But the temperature is definitely an issue. If you are not going very far and don't travel at highway speeds and adequately protect your prize, it could work. Take all of the precautions Ed recommends and put some padding / insulation / plastic around it to keep the chilly wind from drying it out. Keep in mind that these instruments are pretty routinely loaded on boats, trucks and airplanes in cardboard boxes so they are reasonably durable. The worst thing is cold dry air for a long period of time or really high heat. Danny Thompson (don't try this at home) used to trundle his 200+ year old French Gans around London tied to the top of a car without a case in all kinds of weather. He still plays that bass and when I saw it, it didn't look any worse or sound any worse for the wear. Still, that would not be the recommended practice.