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Gigging with a Miata...

#21
1999 Miata

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The passenger floor is approx. 23"x19.
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But that's probably not the hardest part to imagine so here ya go. Pardon the dirt, haven't clean it since last week's weather festivities. The spare is under the "carpet" and what's probably not obvious is that there's space to the sides of each fender in the rear. Ideal for fitting the headstock end of a gigbag. And yes, I did take a gigbag with me when I first went out to check out a Miata. Always do with small cars.

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A full sized Protech double gigbag with two full sized basses inside.

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Headstocks in...
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Now the butt end...

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All in...

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Markbass Little Mark II in my Euphonic Audio bag for my Iamp350. Holds 10"x12" binder for music, tools, cables, strings, etc.

Still have plenty of room to spare for flat stuff:D

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For perspective, a buddy of mine when I delivered his bass to him. He's around 6'2". I put the hardshell case in the passenger side. The cars really aren't very big but they're very well designed space wise IMO.

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My out of town gig choice...

2000 BMW Z3 Coupe

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#22
guy n. cognito said:
Having owned three Miatas I must say I'm surprised that any bass fits in the trunk lengthwise.

On a related note, I recently lost an audition because I drive a MINI Cooper. I had been referred to a band in need of a bassist. While talking to the drummer, he asked about my car. I told him what it was, he paused, then said "well, how the he'll do you expect to get to the gigs in that little car?". Before I could even respond (or tell him about the SUV also in my driveway) he ended the call by telling me that they needed someone with reliable transport.

Personally, I think I dodged a bullet.
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TRANSLATION: "I'll never be able to fit my drums in there when my girlfriend is too busy to drive me to the gig!"
 
#23
I also drive a Mini Cooper S hardtop. When I got it was using 2x TC Electronic RS210. They fit with room for basses, amp and a bag of junk. Later I went to a Berg AE212 and I've ended up w 2x AE112's. An AE410 will fit again with room for all the other stuff. With seats folded down there is a good amount if space. A Berg 112EX will fit in the back without folding any seats down FWIW.
 
#24
scowboy said:
I also drive a Mini Cooper S hardtop. When I got it was using 2x TC Electronic RS210. They fit with room for basses, amp and a bag of junk. Later I went to a Berg AE212 and I've ended up w 2x AE112's. An AE410 will fit again with room for all the other stuff. With seats folded down there is a good amount if space. A Berg 112EX will fit in the back without folding any seats down FWIW.
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We also have a Mini Cooper S, a 2002. Ridiculous amount of gear room for what seems like a small package. Ton of front seat leg and headroom too. Pretty quick too.
 
#26
If I didn't mind blocking the rearward vision, I could put gigbags on top of the cabs in the rear of the Coupe. I usually have the coax S15 face down. Better yet, a pair of Euphonic Audio VL110 cabs and a rack fit very well. I have black covers for both sets of cabs so they visually disappear from the outside.
 
#27
Brad Johnson said:
The pre-99's have the spare taking up a bunch of space. The post 99's spares goes under the floor. The headstocks can then go into the passenger side fender and the other end drops right down into the trunk. Sweet.
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I don't even keep my spare in my trunk.

as for the length, I'm actually surprised too. Granted, my pedalboard takes up most of the trunk space anyway...

that and my trunk is very "light" without any of the carpeting and such (well, I have a little)

ahh, the 200 M coupe- I always called it the Ace and Gary Ambiguously Gay Duo Car

My "gig" car is usually my 2008 SX4. Can fit everything in that. If that doesn't work, I can always use the mini van
 
#28
Reaper Man said:
I don't even keep my spare in my trunk.

as for the length, I'm actually surprised too. Granted, my pedalboard takes up most of the trunk space anyway...

that and my trunk is very "light" without any of the carpeting and such (well, I have a little)

ahh, the 200 M coupe- I always called it the Ace and Gary Ambiguously Gay Duo Car

My "gig" car is usually my 2008 SX4. Can fit everything in that. If that doesn't work, I can always use the mini van
Click to expand...

I keep a spare Miata in my trunk.
 
#29
Thats impressive! For the record, I can get 2 SWR Goliath 410's in the back of a Pontiac Grand Am 4 door, 2 basses in hard cases in the front seat and everything else in the trunk...tight fir bt possible. Also, a Ampeg 810 cab will fit in the back of a 1991 Camaro. I guess being good a Tetris helps.:D
 
#30
Reaper Man said:
I don't even keep my spare in my trunk.

as for the length, I'm actually surprised too. Granted, my pedalboard takes up most of the trunk space anyway...

that and my trunk is very "light" without any of the carpeting and such (well, I have a little)

ahh, the 200 M coupe- I always called it the Ace and Gary Ambiguously Gay Duo Car

My "gig" car is usually my 2008 SX4. Can fit everything in that. If that doesn't work, I can always use the mini van
Click to expand...

I often call my Coupe that too. Sometimes when I have my adult son in the car we'll look over at another driver and say "What??".


Not really.
:D
 
#32
oldrookie said:
My '91 has a battery right where you put the headstock in your '99. No way to put a bass in there.

I put my Markbass on the seat, slide the bass leaning against it and go where I need to. Works for me.
Click to expand...

Ok, I was thinking the same since we have the same generation. :-)
 
#38
LOL friggen awesome. I have a 04 Mazdaspeed Miata, and I have packed it pretty well. All those hours playing Tetris really payed off. I move the passenger seat forward, and slide the MTD hard shell case behind it, top down of course. My only amp right now is a GK full stack, so that is not happening. Maybe I can tow it, think the casters can handle 70mph? Sweet rides btw!
 
#39
Last Friday, I managed to fit all this my 97 civic

PA system - two 112 monitors, mixer, poweramp
fEARful 15/6
Carvin BX1500 in 2u rack bag
Pedal board - pitchblack, vt bass, 7 band eq pedal
stambaugh bass
mic, mic cable, mic stand
band banner
foldable dolly

All this with a child seat behind the driver's side. I'm not denying it was a tight fit!
 
#40
NICE job of making space work in the Miata and the Mini-Coopers!

I have a 1983 280ZX - I have tent-camped around the Olympic peninsula in Washington with my fiancee (now wife) in that car...it holds a lot of stuff.

I'm confident that it would hold a bass, my Shuttle 6.0, and both my 12T and 210T speaker cabs, as well as my pedal board.

But as remarked earlier, hatchbacks make it a lot easier...so it may be cheating.
 

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