transporting my bass

lowEndRick · #1 05-28-2006, 07:05 PM

Next weekend I'm headed to the Strawberry Bluegrass Festival in Preston CT.

The minivan will be loaded with my wife and I, our 3 kids, my daughter's friend, our dog, our stuff, and a few instruments. We'll also be towing our pop-up.

How in the world am I going to take my double bass? Its not high end by any stretch, but I do need it to remain in one piece.

Any reasonable ideas?

Thanks

PaulCannon · #2 05-28-2006, 07:34 PM

Easiest thing I can think of would be to rent or borrow one when you get there. Do you know anyone in the area that has a bass?

anonymous0726 · #3 05-29-2006, 12:04 AM

Fold down the back seat. The bass will lay nicely there with the neck over the middle seat. Put the girls, dog, equipment and all in the popup. Take along your CD collection cuz you'll be able to play anything that you want -- and hear it, to boot. Plan on an extra hotel room, or at least a suite with a couch.

mchildree · #4 05-29-2006, 06:38 AM

Been there, done that! The only real option is to stow as much stuff in the camper as possible (while folded down), or get a car-top carrier for the luggage. The only way you'll get a bass on the trip is to carry it in the van somehow. You might also have the wife follow in another vehicle, and the bass can stay in that until you need it.

**Freddels** · #5 05-29-2006, 07:52 AM

Or build a three-sided box out of light plywood to cover the bass. Put the neck b/w the two front seats. Get rid of the middle seat. Place the 3-sided box over the part of the bass that's in the passenger area and then stack stuff around it. It'll keep feet and other undesirables from bumping your bass.

lowEndRick · #6 05-30-2006, 07:25 AM

I like your idea Freddels, but I don't see it happening by Friday.

As far as another vehicle I don't think my better half will go for it, and of course putting the family in the folded down pop-up just might not work out

Basically, I think I'm screwed. The only saving grace is that my friends will have a bass there that I can use occasionally. Sometimes they have a hard time finding someone to play bass at their jams. Other times there are too many. We'll see. I'll probably bring the electric as a backup.

thanks for the ideas

**Freddels** · #7 05-30-2006, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowEndRick

I like your idea Freddels, but I don't see it happening by Friday.

Just get a sheet of thin plywood and some 1 x 1 pieces about 3 ft long to connect the corners. Two cuts, drill some pilot holes and screw it together. Probably about a 1/2 hr project. It'll save your bass!!