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Double Bass a car for my double bass

#42
Ed Fuqua said:
Sparky needs to decide why he's not a "5 door" person, personally I like the ease of sliding the bass in flat. I can fit the bass in almost anything, but the hatch (and especially wagon type cars) is my friend. I probably end up ZipCar-ing either the Prius or Matrix the most often. If I'm hauling the drummer and tenor player as well, I like the Ford Escape more than the Mazda (5 or 7?)minivan/crossover thing. The Escape hybrid gets pretty good mileage too. And drives nice.
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Ed, what (if anything) did you dislike about the Mazda5? I'm in the early stages of car shopping and that's one of the cars that is currently on my list to test drive. I'll probably test drive the Ford Escape as well, but I've generally not had good experiences with Fords and I'm not very inclined towards them.

Other cars on my list are the Scion xB, Toyota Rav4, Honda Element, and Honda CRV. A friend has a Scion so I'm already pretty familiar with how the bass will fit in it. I have a CRV but it's a 2001 and the newer models seems significantly different, so if anyone has any direct experiences with the Honda or Toyota models, I'd love to hear them.
 
#44
IMO, a big bang for a bass player's dollar is what I drive. A Hyundai Elantra. Four door hatch with all the bells and whistles......leather, sun roof, air, power everything, and five speeds on the floor. About 30 mpg. The interior design is cool because the bass really can't be seen unless you're right on top of the car as you walk past. Handy for that late night snack when you can see your car from inside the restaurant.
 
#47
That would be extremely useful, maybe even as a sticky. Honestly though the best thing to do is to go the a car dealership with your double bass and try to fit it into a car that you want.

Before I drove I use to have all of these ideas about how when I get a car it would become this big ordeal about whether or not my basses and gear would fit. Now I know it's more of an exception to find something that doesn't fit than a rule. The only real problems might come up if a car's seats can't recline all the way.

It's surprisingly easy to slide a DB into a car. You just need to be careful when you are first figuring it out. Once you get a feel for how to rotate it while pushing(no innuendo here) it becomes easy. Also, summer months are a good time to find a car because of the wood expansion.
 
#48
peterpalmieri said:
These threads would be much easier if people would just list the very few cars that a DB will not fit into....
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Very true, but that would negate the fact (as in most TB Threads) that any one of us knows more, plays more and is smarter than anyone else around here.
Besides, I can get my uncollapsible bar stool, my amp and my amp stand and, with the back seat split, a third person in my car! How ya like them apples? :hiding:
 
#50
I'
Febs said:
Ed, what (if anything) did you dislike about the Mazda5?
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It didn't handle very well but didn't come with the surfeit of room that most cars that don't handle well come with. It handles like a mini van without being a mini van if that makes any sense? I like the 5 door Mazda 3 MUCH better.

And yeah, I've done the Mini Cooper a couple of times.
 
#51
Andrew McGregor said:
Forget basses in a sedan... it's so awkward loading, you are bound to damage your instrument sooner or later, not to mention you usually can't park with enough space beside the vehicle. Convertibles are very poor for security; it's trivial to steal stuff from one, and usually does very expensive damage to the vehicle. 5 doors is where it is at, and you want a wagon not a hatch, because the space behind the seats helps get the bass in; in many wagons, you can keep 3 or 4 seats usable.

My choice: Audi A4 Avant. Mine's 10 years old, though, and new ones are very expensive. Subaru, VW, Saab and Volvo make very good wagons too.
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I have no problem getting a 3/4 into a Toyota Camry (sedan). The only constraint is that you have to be able to open the passenger-side door fully to load. The front seat back tilts back, and the neck rests next to the rear headrest. The body of bass sits far enough back in the front passenger seat that the passenger-side mirror is unobstructed.

The lesson is: sedans are fine, as long as it is the right sedan (enough tilt in the passenger seat back, etc.)
 
#55
moopants said:
I love my Scion xB. Fits my bass very well with both back seats folded down, and I can also fit my bass and two passengers if needed. Also, it's a very comfy car when I don't have my bass in it. You also have to consider how often you'll actually have your bass and/or equipment with you. I don't have it every day, so a Scion was a good choice for me. If you bring your bass back and forth places every day, along with tons of equipment, you might want to consider something bigger.
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That's what I have, too. Have to prop up the upper bout to get the neck above the stick shift and it comes just about even with the dash. I don't think it's the greatest for toting a bass, but, it works, and, I do like the car.
On another tangent, what's this talk of a convertible? Is Manhattan In a desert that never rains? Or, are playing jobs cancelled on days that it rains?
 
#56
I know you said you're not a fan of Japanese cars, but Toyota actually used to run an add for the Matrix showing a double bass in the back. FWIW... I'm a Honda guy, myself.

Maybe check out Subaru, either the Outback or the Forrester should fit a bass.
 
#57
Ed Fuqua said:
I'
It didn't handle very well but didn't come with the surfeit of room that most cars that don't handle well come with. It handles like a mini van without being a mini van if that makes any sense? I like the 5 door Mazda 3 MUCH better.

And yeah, I've done the Mini Cooper a couple of times.
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I have a Mazda3 and I routinely travel with a bass, stool a cello in a hard case and other gig bags and two people. I love it but you do have to watch that the "d" tuning key doesn't drag on the console and bend. The 5 door VWs are good but the boot is a little more difficult to deal with.
I think I will go to the mini dealership for fun on the weekend!
 
#58
sricks3 said:
I know you said you're not a fan of Japanese cars, but Toyota actually used to run an add for the Matrix showing a double bass in the back. FWIW... I'm a Honda guy, myself.
.
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I get my DB in the back of my Toyota Corolla very easily, plus the pianist's keyboard and both our amps for gigs! :)

EDIT and the pianist as well!! ;)
 

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