Double Bass cars for double bass?

[T-34]

Ford Focus Station Wagon = Me + My Wife + My Son (in baby seat) + 1 BG + 1 DB + 1 Roland bass cube 100 + mikes, mic stands, partition holders etc.

Great bassists' car, love it.

And very sober too: 8 l/km = 20 mpg USA or 35 mpg British.

 

[wineaux]

If it's just me and the ax-on-steroids, we take the Prius and do our bit to save the world! But if I'm hauling the amp, PA, groupies and all the rest, I take the X-Terra 4x4 and keep the oil companies happy!

 

[K-Funk]

I drive a Chevrolet S-10 standard cab with a topper (I'm only 19, so I can't really afford anything too fantasic). I can get the DB in the back no problem, but for electric I can more than easily get all the stuff in.

I think the best vehicle-cramming incident happened two years ago with my old band. We filled a 1989 Honda Accord with a massive Tama Swingstar kit, two guitars, a bass, a Fender guitar combo amp, all the stands, cables, pedals, and extras, and a passenger. it was amazing.

 

[MingusAmongUs]

If it's just me and the ax-on-steroids, we take the Prius and do our bit to save the world! But if I'm hauling the amp, PA, groupies and all the rest, I take the X-Terra 4x4 and keep the oil companies happy!

Good for you, Wineaux. Oil companies are people too!

 

[bankerwithabass]

A 1998 Jeep Wrangler works just great. I can put my upright bass, 10" combo amp, a stool, bag of cords with music, a flute player and a flute. And maybe a partridge in a pear tree.

No problem.

 

[Bill McKemy]

I'll throw in my 2 cents for the Honda Element.

I can get the DB and amp + a tuba, luggage and one irratated tenor saxophonist in mine.

 

[M Ramsey]

Kudos again for the Honda Element. I also own a Chevy Astro van (more people plus more gear, plus more gas).

In the Element, I have traveled to Nashville, TN, (350 miles from my home) with an American Standard bass (in a good bag), 2 mandolins, 3 duffles of clothes, a ribbon mic (in heavy case), 2 passengers (I was driving, I made 3).

Talk about room, I'm 6'5", weigh about 260 lbs. My son was riding shotgun, is about 6'2" and weighs about 160 (skinny kid). The other passenger sat behind me and is 6'8" and he had room to spare.

I have hauled a David Gage bass trunk with room to spare as well (no passengers on that trip, though).

I'm satisfied.

 

[DrMWP]

Anyone tried a Ford Escape or a Jeep Liberty???

 

[Roger Harper]

Had an '04 Liberty until I got my Prius. Bass loads easily in both. The scroll will extend onto the center console in each but not intefere with shifting. Makes a nice armrest.

Roger

 

[Dave Whitla]

May as well throw my hat in...

It should go into ANY hatchback. The smallest cars I've ever put the bass into were a Mazda RX7 and a Honda CRX. More recently I put the bass into a Fiat Punto with a cello and cellist. Where there's a will there's a way...

The best bass car ever, though, was a friend's old woody station wagon- he could fit three basses in the back without even putting the seat down!

 

[worldfamousandy]

I drive a Chevy Astro van. No wriggling required, just set the bass in there.

 

[ctcruiser]

I have a PT Cruiser that has plenty of room for my DB.

I have my luthier put 3 double basses in his little Subaru wagon, very impressive.

 

[CPike]

'95 Mitsubishi Expo - 12 yrs old, 210k miles and still runs great - would buy another in a heartbeat if they still made them. I've fit 2 basses, 2 stools, and 2 humans in it. Also, 1 bass and 3 humans.

Chris

 

[chuck1073]

Scion xA. DB, 4-space rack, 2 bergantino single 12 cabs, gig bag full of stands and a steinberger in the back....and my wife in the front seat. 35 mpg. I'm happy.

 

[lowEndRick]

I have a CRV and I like it just fine, but its racking up miles and its time to consider a new vehicle. I have the following criteria and its looking more and more difficult to meet them all:

1-Fits at least one bass and PA system.
2-Four wheel drive
3-Above average gas mileage, preferrably with alternative energy source such as a hybrid or biodiesel.
4-Affordable
5-Cool, funky or anything that makes it feel a little out of the ordinary and fun.
6-Reliable and well-built.

Any suggestions?

Off to the relatives for turkey. Happy Thanksgiving.

 

[ZonGuy]

Its going to be new car time soon and I require a 4 door for work to take customers out. Plus I want something to carry a DB and a combo, or electrics plus two 2x10 cabs. My company kicks in $8500 a year plus mileage.

My friends tell me the Toyota Matrix recommended above is inexpensive but well built. Any

 

[MingusAmongUs]

I have a CRV and I like it just fine, but its racking up miles and its time to consider a new vehicle. I have the following criteria and its looking more and more difficult to meet them all:

1-Fits at least one bass and PA system.
2-Four wheel drive
3-Above average gas mileage, preferrably with alternative energy source such as a hybrid or biodiesel.
4-Affordable
5-Cool, funky or anything that makes it feel a little out of the ordinary and fun.
6-Reliable and well-built.

Any suggestions?

Off to the relatives for turkey. Happy Thanksgiving.

I don't know if you're tired of Hondas but the Element EX fits your requirements (but no alternative fuel options). I can't say enough about mine.

 

[chuck1073]

My duo partner has an Element. That thing holds alot of gear with room to spare. I'm a Toyota guy...but I can't help but be impressed by the design of that vehicle.

 

[laboitenoire]

Don't play double-bass, but my '96 Honda Odyssey is great. I can fit two basses, a pretty large combo amp, effects box, two guitar stands, cables, and four people! Plus, the middle row comes out, so it can haul a set of shower doors. And then there was the time that we hauled six people about 70 miles in one day with various luggage and shopping bags in back... That car can load up, but don't expect to go anywhere. On the interstate, there's a huge hill that at the bottom I can easily do 70, but once I get up the top I'll be lucky if I'm doing 60. And that's only with me and my dad riding shotgun. 130 HP + 6 passenger, 3600 lb. van = severely underpowered.

I have a good friend/teacher who I help run audio at various gigs. Last summer, we fit a really big mixer rack, two 5' speaker stands, six mic stands, the stage snake, a suitcase of cables, a milk crate and another bin full of more cables, a case of mics, a box of adapters, a couple dinners and ourselves into his CR-V. The only thing we couldn't fit was the speaker cabs, which came with the guy who was running the show.

 

[Cathead]

I pile all my sound equipment in the back on my Ford Ranger which has a camper top. Then I gingerly slide my double bass on top of it all. I brought home my new carved bass from Florida last month in the back of our Ford Explorer. I laid down the back seat behind the driver and let the bass ride on it's side in the gig bag.