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Double Bass Toting your bass in a Prius?

Phil Redman

Phil Redman

Mar 14, 2005
136
1
63
Madison, Wisconsin
www.bathtubmothers.com
#1
Anyone using a Toyota Prius to haul your ax? Wondering if the Prius can comfortably accomodate a 3/4 bass. Seems like there should be plenty of room with the back seats folded down. I'd love to know the distance between the back of the driver seat and tailgate. Does the neck sitting between the front seats block any critical controls or create any issues?

Cheers,
Phil
 
#4
I haven't driven the new set of Priii, but the older hatchback (not the first sedan) is more than fine. I've gotten the bass and keyboard/stand/amp and Dave in that one for some small road time (New Joisey, Lawn Guyland) with no problems. If you keep stuff in the center well/box it's hard to get to, but that's it.
 
#7
I drive a 2007 Prius to carry my 3/4 Shen. As notabene says, the bass has to rest on its back, but the scroll overhangs the deck of the lowered right rear seat back so there is no weight on the scroll. My bass fits diagonally behind the front seat back, so the neck does not have to go between the front seats, and I can still carry a second passenger in the left rear seat.

Thanks,
Pete
 
#9
petesenkowski said:
I drive a 2006 Prius to carry my 3/4 Shen. As notabene says, the bass has to rest on its back, but the scroll overhangs the deck of the lowered right rear seat back so there is no weight on the scroll. My bass fits diagonally behind the front seat back, so the neck does not have to go between the front seats, and I can still carry a second passenger in the left rear seat.

Thanks,
Pete
Click to expand...

I'm going to have to try that. My bass might be a little too big for that to work.
 
#10
Never had a problem getting my bass, amp, and various PA equipment in my Prius. It was actually the first time I downsized vehicles since making the switch to DB 13 years ago.

The only time I have had a problem was when my wife was supposed to be home to bring our two year old to the gig and she instead called to say she was running late and could I please bring Harriet with me. The addition of the carseat made it a bit tight to say the least. :)
 
#11
I lay both front driver and passenger seats all the way back, and put the bass in end first and bridge facing up. Scroll rests in front right passenger's seat and plenty of room to lay bass down on the pushed back seat. Plus I can use the entire back hatch for two Accugroove Tri112L's, my amp bag/cart/pedalboard, and can still fit my 4 year old in the car seat directly behind the driver seat. And get 50MPG! Love it.
 
#12
I cart my Epiphone all over the greater LA area in one. You just fold the seats down, and stick the scroll onto the center console. I prop the body up on a couple of pillows so no excess weight is bearing on the neck. Still plenty of room for my GK MB112, a banjo, stool, etc. I can't see ever driving anything else.
 
#13
Honda's Insight is very similar to the Prius. I love mine. My bass fits comfortably on her back and rests on a pillow or two. Plenty of room for her and my small amp and a gig bag and passenger if necessary. I did a doubling gig a few weeks ago and my slab rode in the back with my DB and my big GK combo was in the front passenger seat.
 
#14
I don't drive a Prius, but the mandolin player in my band does and we're planning on carpooling to an out-of-town gig this weekend.

I had originally planned on driving my Jeep Grand Cherokee, but the mando player suggested we try taking his Prius to save on gas. It sounds like if we lower the back seats and put my upright bass (3/4 size Engelhardt) in the trunk/back seats, then the front passenger seat will still be usable?

Is that right?
 
#16
J. Montgomery said:
I don't drive a Prius, but the mandolin player in my band does and we're planning on carpooling to an out-of-town gig this weekend.

I had originally planned on driving my Jeep Grand Cherokee, but the mando player suggested we try taking his Prius to save on gas. It sounds like if we lower the back seats and put my upright bass (3/4 size Engelhardt) in the trunk/back seats, then the front passenger seat will still be usable?

Is that right?
Click to expand...

Yup. It's also possible to lower only the wider back seat, run the bass through the same way but at a slight angle (so it's not totally flat on its back) and have the narrower back seat available for a third passenger. This is how I was able to fit a trio along with drums, two amps and one of those Nord keyboards in my folk's Prius.
 

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