Double Bass Cars for bass (DB forum thread)

[SecondBass]

Honda Odyssey van here (which we call The Oddity). We used it to take daughter to school (with her upright and electric basses and a couple of milk-crates crammed full of sheet music in addition to the standard college stuff) and still had enough room left over for the other three family members to continue on vacation for a week. (Alright, we used a large rooftop carrier on that trip.)

We have also used it to transport an entire contradance band, all their instruments (including an upright and a full sized electric piano) and a pretty big sound system.

 

[M Ramsey]

Honda Element here...
IMO, the ultimate musicians vehicle
Can easily fit my electric rig, DB rig or both.

Ditto. I'll tell this story again. Went to Nashville in 2003. I drove. With the seat all the way back and I'm 6'5", about 250lbs. My son rode shotgun, he's skinny, about 6'2" and 150-160 lbs. My bass was on it's side (in a good bag) behind the passenger seat with the peghead between the front seats. In the seat behind me (with my seat all the way back) was a 6'8" buddy about 200lbs. He rode comfortable all the way to Nashville (350 miles from my hometown). We also had 3 soft duffles with clothes and 2 mandolins in flight cases.

I could have carried a bit more if I wanted to stuff it. Had NO visibility problems.

Questions?

 

[JonnyY]

i have a honda accord and i fits fine with the passenger seat reclined all the way. i put my amp and other gear in the trunk and i can fit 1 extra person comfortably and 2 extra people uncomfortably, but i don't care...i'm driving.

 

[robthorsen]

A 3/4 upright fits like a glove in the "new" (2002 on)mini cooper. Just slide the scroll/neck between the 2 front seats and you are there. I have a 7/8 bass which was about 2" too long so I removed the rear window wiper motor to get the extra space. Great fit, great mileage, great fun!

 

[mcnaire2004]

I used to have a crappy 93 ford escort wagon. But for Christmass (about a month before) I got my 2001 Toyota 4runner. Though the way the back seats let down it doesn't fit as good as predicted but it still works trouble free.

 

[christ andronis]

Kia Rio5 SX....

 

[mburd]

http://www.vsaab.com/Thor/thor_index.html

PT = Physical Therapy
(maybe it's the scoliosis..)

 

[Steve Swan]

In the Toyota Sienna van I can easily get 9 basses in with breathing room on top for 6-8 bass covers folded in their plastic bags.

 

[rdwhit]

This is fun, I started this same topic back in Sept. I wound up w/ a hyundi accent hatchback. basses can fit in many sub-compact cars. I went for the cheapest economy car with decent reviews I could find. I was tempted by the PTC, love ther retro look. Can I borrow Yours to show up to a gig with class? lol

Guess what ? The Accent wound up being too small. It's still a good little car & it will hold a bass. But my 46 year old body told me to get something a little less spartan. I traded it in for an 02 Mazda5 hatchback. I think it's a keeper.

 

[hemhaw]

I drove a 90 Acura integra hachback (similar to a civic) for 8 years until it was stolen last summer. It fit a 7/8 with room.
I believe the Acura RSX would work also.

 

[MonetBass]

Toyota Highlander. Have to fold down one of the back seats to get the double bass in, but it works great.

 

[mojoluthier]

Ever since the time I rode across Prague in a Skoda with a bass and four adults (3 gypsies and me), I have been of the opinion that all cars work as bass caddies. As you might imagine, I could use more time for the full story. A lot more!

 

[rodell]

THe Ford Expedition has worked well for us. Bass with Wheel slides right in with the center seat in the middle row down. Can seat 4 people and 1 bass or 2 people with 2 basses

 

[Marcus Johnson]

There's a Checker Marathon cab on Ebay.... starting bid 40k... and it needs to be towed.

Buy that, and even Ed Fuqua will give you the time of day.

 

[7string]

To my relief, I found that I can get my db in our '05 Renault Megane. Back seats down and the scroll between the front seats. Lots of room either side as well....

When I read that Robthorsen could get a db in the new Mini it reminded me of this.

I used to drive the original Mini and I bought a Mesa/Boogie road ready 1x15 cab. When I collected it the only way to get it in the car was to put it on the passenger seat. The seat belt just stretched all the way around it but it was very tight changing gear. Add to that I couldn't see an awful lot to my left as the cab nearly touched the roof !!

A truly great car though !!

 

[war_n_peace]

Who Needs a Car?

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[Basicbassist]

I drive a honda CRV and I can fit 2 basses and two people in the car quite comfortably. I've managed to stuff three basses in there before but at that point, visibility is really bad.

I just bit the bullet on a CR-V after logging a quarter million miles on an '88 Camrey wagon and 80k on a Subaru Outback (which crapped out on me WAY to soon). I padded the cargo beds of each with a 4' x 6' piece of 2" thick acoustic foam. The first two cars had relatively flat cargo beds, and obvious bass-loading options. The CR-V has a different bed - I'm curious as to your best loading configurations for one or two basses with the CR-V? Of course, it has a roof rack, too. Hmmm...

 

[Kam]

Anybody have a Saturn Vue? I think that is my next bassmobile.

 

[KentuckyJim]

you know it's funny, I just bought a PT cruiser a few weeks ago and tonight is my first gig since I bought the car. I'm taking my Palentinio V-500 Electric instead of my King.

I've fit my upright into the front seat of a VW jetta, Cadillac, Honda Element is the Best for bass. In the summer I would just leave all my gear in that car so if I played a big outdoor show my extra cabs were there already.

 

[joel kelsey]

Suburu Forester. It has close to 200,000 miles on it. I am lord of the soccer moms.