• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Double Bass cars for double bass?

#2
i'm pretty sure you can fit a DB in all those. There is an existing thread on this subject already. Try the search function for "cars".

The trickiest is with a two door or four door. You recline the passengers seat and put the bass in head first. Make sure the head clears the drivers seat and sort of swivel the instrument in there.
 
#7
Approaching this from a different angle ....

While you could get a DB in just about all of those mentioned, my preference on that list would be the Volvo wagon. It's just easier to get a DB into a wagon through the tailgate than to get it into the doors of most sedans (although I have done that, too). I have the older 850 designation built on the same chasis. In addition to the DB, I can get a decent size cabinet and head in, plus a couple of EBG's, mike stands, and my dog.

Many other wagons would have the same advantage. The 940 (V90) is even longer in the cargo hold.
 
#8
adbass said:
You recline the passengers seat and put the bass in head first. Make sure the head clears the drivers seat and sort of swivel the instrument in there.
Click to expand...

This is exactly how I do it in my 2007 Honda Civic. Bizarre to think of, but my bass fits in the front passenger seat that way, and I have 2/3 of the rear seat and the whole trunk free for other gear. Or a passenger can ride in the rear seat, behind the driver's seat. After seeing this work, I pretty much think that if a vehicle has a front seat that reclines, it can probably fit an average sized double bass.

I also have a Ford Ranger pickup with a topper ... but I don't need it for DB.

Cheers
 
#9
liam_g said:
I pretty much think that if a vehicle has a front seat that reclines, it can probably fit an average sized double bass.
Click to expand...

Did this for years with several different cars. Just leased a Honda CRV though which is complete overkill just for the DB, but its nice having all that room and that giant hatch. Of course, last night after a gig, i'm suddenly driving the keyboard player, with all his gear, home as well.:bawl:
 
#10
liam_g said:
After seeing this work, I pretty much think that if a vehicle has a front seat that reclines, it can probably fit an average sized double bass.
/QUOTE]

Pretty much true. I put mine into a Porsche 911 once. It fit but the body of the bass was jammed up against the gear shift. I was limited to first and second gears which meant I wouldn't have been able go over 72 mph (redline in 2nd gear).

mark
Click to expand...
 
#12
Mazda 6 hatchback yes, but so will the Mazda 3 sport (which is cheaper if this is an issue). I fit my full size db, plus amp and gear bag no problem. I drive manual as well, and it does not get in the way of shifting to much if placed up the centre (so I can have a passenger in front), and if no passenger, slide the front seat up and back forward and you are laughing. Previously I had a RAV4, which also works very well for the DB, but I feel cooler in the 3 (black, tinted windows, pimp!)
 
#13
I tried fitting my bass into my dads Volkswagen Passat and just couldn't do it. Had the passenger seat rolled back tried a few different angles of attack and wouldn't go in. On the other hand my mothers much smaller Ford Fiesta and my own Nissan Almera (both hatch backs) take the bass quite well. The bass was in it's bag though maybe that made the difference.

I think the best kind of cars are station wagons and hatchbacks. (I don't know about 4x4 the larger ones would probably better than a hatchback.)
 
#14
<3 My PT Cruiser for a "musicians" car.

One point for a week, I was carrying at one time:

2 Electric Basses
1 4x10 cab
1 1x15 cab
1 2x10 cab
2 heads
Furniture Dolly
Pedal Board
Cable Bag
88-key keyboard
Keyboard amp
Keyboard stand
Orchestra Bells
5 music stands
and a passenger.


and I still had plenty of room, lol. And decent MPG too.
 
#15
Honda Element.

I've owned a Jeep Cherokee, Volkswagen Golf, Jeep Wrangler (bad for DB- too bumpy of a ride, trust me), Ford Taurus sedan & wagon (the wagon was nice and could hold a lot of stuff).

But this Element, if you can get over the boxy looks, is a musicians dream.
Tons of room, easy load with the rear tail gate running flush with the floor of the truck.
Seats fold UP out of the way, great gas mileage for a SUV.
 
#16
I have a Mazda RX-8 and it "works". The rear suicide doors are what make it usable for the DB.

On a recent gig, with the front passenger seat reclined back almost flat I had:
-DB (in bag) on front passenger seat, standing on ribs, scroll up on the rear deck
-Ampeg 15" combo on rear seat behind driver
-Fretted slab (in retangular hard case) beside DB
-Two fold-up guitar stands cramed in around amp
-Frettless slab (in form fitting hard case) in trunk
-Bongos and dumbek on floor in front of passeneger seat
-Milkcrate full of cables, pedals, mics, and stuff in trunk

I think the lesson is most cars with a back seat will work, you might just need to be creative with packing. Heck, back in college I used fit an entire 6-piece drumkit in my '64 Triumph TR-4, it just required removing the passenger seat (which was held in with two bolts and came out in less than a minute) to fit the kickdrum.

Although I still wouldn't recommend an RX-8 for a DB player...

-z.
 
#17
MikeBass said:
Honda Element.
Click to expand...

Hallelujah.
Can't say enough about how good this car is, for EVERYTHING. Gas mileage isn't great but as MikeBass said, for an SUV it's great.
Fold-up seats allows for TWO DBs, and still room for a passenger in the FRONT seat.

It also takes 600 sq ft of wood flooring.
Room for pets to roam.
The roomiest rear passenger seating ever. Seats sit higher than the front so the rear passengers can see over the heads of those in front.
Suicide style doors for easy side loading, in addition to flush flip-down rear gate.

I bought this car specifically for bass (and for driving in snow) and it has served in so many other unexpected ways.

And no, Honda doesn't pay me, but maybe they should.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back