Taking a bass on a long car trip..

**TheFantod** · #1 07-14-2011, 01:11 PM

....leaving to go see Ma up in the Great White North. Taking a P-bass with me to help keep sane. (Am taking laptop & audiobox interface for playing goodness).

Car is a 4 door Accord. The dog's going in the back seat. She's about 60 pounds.

I'm thinking that the best place for the bass will be in a gig bag, wedged in along the floor of the back seat. I figure that would the safest place for it, and a gig bag won't cause me trouble at the border like a hardcase could.

It's not going in the trunk, as I don't want it baking for 12 hours in the summer heat.

What do you guys think? Best place for it? The only other option would be in the front passenger seat with the seatbelt on it. But I don't want to "advertise" that I've got an instrument with me at rest stops, gas stations, etc.

refbassist · #2 07-14-2011, 01:14 PM

i don't see in trouble by keeping in in the trunk just secure it so it won't move while you drive!

mpm32 · #3 07-14-2011, 01:22 PM

Make sure it pees before getting on the road. Nothing like having to stop for pee breaks.

viper4000 · #4 07-14-2011, 01:37 PM

I frequently take 7 hour+ trips with mine. I do use the hard case however as I'm not a fan of gig bags. I lay it along the floor board of the backseat. I would rather keep it in the passenger compartment as I can control the temperature, whereas the trunk is at the mercy of the sun beating down on it. I have limited experience crossing the border with our friends up north, but I would suppose that you would have the same issues with a gig bag as you think you would have with a hard case (some gig bags look like soft rifle cases to me).

Enjoy your trip

T-MOST · #5 07-14-2011, 01:52 PM

A electric bass can easily survive a 12 hour road trip in a car without any special preperation. I doubt your car will be +/- 200 degrees F So put it in a case/bag and put it in the back seat...done.

()smoke() · #6 07-14-2011, 06:51 PM

do accords have a hatch that opens to the trunk from back seat? if so, put it in the trunk, open hatch for air circulation

wideload · #7 07-14-2011, 06:54 PM

My bass is OK, but my cab farts...

Joe Nerve · #8 07-14-2011, 07:06 PM

It's not a puppy, kitten, turtle, bird, goldfish, infant, or child. It's a bass. It will be fine. Even in the trunk. I'd say it would even be fine in the trunk without a gigbag or case... although I wouldn't do that cuz it's silly.

Only thing I wouldn't do is wedge it in the trunk between suitcases up against the rear of the car. A minor rear ending could turn a minor fender bender, into a serious Fender bender.