Will hold a 3/4 double bass in the trunk if the spike is fully retracted. Mostly sits on its back; padding recommended under the neck. You have to place it somewhat diagonally and insert the neck end first, wiggling it into one front corner of the trunk so you can fit the bottom of the belly end just barely into the curved opening of one of the rear corners. I remember it wasn't really symmetric; placing the neck on one side worked better than on the other side, but after 30-odd years I'm afraid I don't recall which side that was.
It will also get about 12 miles to the gallon in the city.
If you can't get it into the trunk of one of those boats, do try the back seat instead. Some pillows can help to pad it into position. Side mirrors probably necessary.
I have a half-size bass, and haven't had to wrestle a 3/4 size since about 1974 when I was still in high school. So I don't know how much use this will be, but for what it's worth, for the half-size ONLY:
My half-size fit in an AMC Gremlin with the back seat folded down (flat on its back with neck extending between the two front seats) and in a Chevette. In fact, the Chevette got totaled while I was driving it, in a front-end side-impact collision; I got several bruises and an amazing look at the whole front of the car flying apart in slow motion; the bass didn't even get a scratch. Bringing the story forward in time a bit, it fits in a 1979 VW Rabbit two ways: with the back seat folded down, and in the front passenger seat with the seat back tilted about 2/3 of the way down. I can belt it in like that. It also fits in the front passenger seat of a 2002 Prius (sedan-style Prius, not the newer hatchback model) in a similar configuration, although one has to first remove the backseat headrest on the passenger side in order to make room for the top of the neck. The front passenger seatbelt extends just far enough to make it all the way around the bottom of the bass. This is a very secure position, although it makes it nearly impossible to open the front console with the bass belted in (I can even do that, though only able to reach the stuff on the very top inside.)
It also fits into a 2000-mumble Corolla, similarly, although there's a little more personal contortion involved in getting it in and out. I play a half-size because I'm 5'2"; it might be harder for a taller person to perform said contortions. Or easier--I really don't know!
With the Rabitt, Prius and Corolla you can also take a passsenger in the driver's side rear seat, at least if they are not a really large person.
I assume that I could get my half-size into a Camry or larger car, using the front passenger seat. I don't know how big the car has to be before this trick will work with a 3/4 size, if indeed it can be made to work.
As I recall, my half-size fits fine in just about any hatchback-type car that has a fold-down back seat.
There is no subsitute for direct experience in figuring this stuff out. There have been times when I've had to have a long-term rental or loaner car while mine was in the shop. I have insisted on taking the car home, figuring out whether or not the bass will fit, and if it doesn't going back and substituting another vehicle, then trying it out with the bass. So far it hasn't taken more than 2 tries to get one that works. I didn't try it in a PT Cruiser. I'm too short to make the controls and visibility work well for me in the PT Cruiser, so when I was offered one as a rental I declined and took a Mazda hatchback instead.
Maybe some of this will help somebody somewhere sometime....
--Marion Kee, formerly of On The Mark, now plunking along contently in a musical UU congregation in Seattle
"1966 Pontiac Star Chief Will hold a 3/4 double bass in the trunk if the spike is fully retracted."
<blink> Wow. That's a hell of a lot of trunk!
"It will also get about 12 miles to the gallon in the city."
%wince% (But 12 really stylin' miles to each gallon, eh? [tries not to get distracted wondering whether the highway mileage is enough better than the city mileage to justify a car where The Bass Fits In The Trunk ... no, no, no, gas is too expensive ... *sigh*]
"I have a half-size bass, and haven't had to wrestle a 3/4 size since about 1974"
I'll go add a set of columns for 1/2 size ... I already had columns for 3/4, 7/8, and 1/1 (but no data regarding 1/1 size basses yet).
The 3/4 will go into most hatchbacks, according to a few different people and eyeballing various cars I pass; the only one I've seen so far that I'm not sure about is the Mini Cooper, which might be too short, but that's based on passing one on the highway, not a close examination ... I'm pretty sure a 7/8 would go into all the hatchbacks the 3/4 does, and a 1/1 into most of them, at least, and yeah it goes in the same way as you described for the 1/2 size, on its back with the scroll over the handbrake between the front seats. So in anniemal's & syntonic_comma's itty bitty Mazda 323 there's room for the bass in the back and me in the passenger seat, but in the Honda Accord I'm trying to replace I could get the bass in but had no place for a passenger.
Wrestling it into and out of the Accord was annoying, but do-able ... getting it into the rented Fusion was more annoying. Before the Accord got totaled, I was wondering whether it was worth trying to find a car easier to get the bass out of (which was actually more effort than getting it in), but it wasn't quite enough of a PITA that I would've gotten around to trying to sell the Honda and buy something else if my hand hadn't been forced by that drunk, unlicensed driver ...
I think I might be able to get the 3/4 into some (later) Camrys, but the older ones look enough smaller than the modern ones that I'd be surprised if it fits in those. I'm not sure just how much smaller a 1/2 is than the 3/4 (I'm pretty sure the fractions aren't literal scaling ratios ... right?) but I could see an instrument a bit smaller than mine going into a middle range Camry the same way the 3/4 went into the Accord. But ...
"There is no subsitute for direct experience in figuring this stuff out."
Ayup, there's the crux of the matter. I'm hoping to be able to substitute other people's experience for my own, but a lot of people can't resist trying to hep out with "____ is large so it looks like a bass ought to fit", so I'm really hoping folks helping to fill in the table can contribute information on what cars they've personally put a bass in or seen someone else do so and give at least an approximate year since car sizes/shapes vary over time. I just want to know "somebody has tried/done this; it's not a guess".
If I have to try each car myself, that'll slow down the already too slow process of searching for a cheap car rather painfully. The other option is to limit myself to what I already know will fit: hatchbacks, wagons, minivans, and Accord sedans circa 1990.
When I got the rental, I asked for a hatchback and explained it was because I had to carry a bass. The one hatchback they had wasn't available until the next day, so I had a Fusion for one night, and was rather surprised to be able to get the bass into it.
Thanks for your info. Even though data on a 1/2 size bass doesn't help me directly, I'm really hoping this database will be useful to other bassists as well, in which case the 1/2 info could wind up being important to someone.
Yes. that's right, a sedan. That Star Cheif weighed over two tons. I think the 1965 model would probably work too.
FWIW, a 1968 Pontiac Bonneville sedan would NOT fit the 3/4 size in the trunk and it took a lot of work to get the 1/2 size into and out of the trunk; not worth it if the back seat was available instead.
I could and did easily carry my 1/2 size in my 1986 Plymouth Voyager (25 mpg hwy, 18 city, 4 cylinders) and it fit into the back seat (the seat directly behind the front seats--think 5-passenger configuration), and could be belted in that way to boot. I didn't have to put it in the wayback. This left the wayback open for my friends' instruments--very handy.
My 1/2 size easily fit into a 1980-mumble Toyota Tercel hatchback belonging to one of said friends.
If I remember, I'll measure the length of my 1/2 bass and post the overall dimension here. As I recall it's maybe 8 inches shorter overall than a 3/4 size. (I had to stand on a crate to play the 3/4 size that I borrowed when I was in high school, before I had my own bass. I guess it was a picturesque bit of stage business but I like being able to reach my 1/2 size from the floor!)
--Marion
P.S. Sorry about the messy blank postings--that was me trying to post from an uncooperative browser configuration on a different machine.
1966 Pontiac Star Chief
It will also get about 12 miles to the gallon in the city.
If you can't get it into the trunk of one of those boats, do try the back seat instead. Some pillows can help to pad it into position. Side mirrors probably necessary.
I have a half-size bass, and haven't had to wrestle a 3/4 size since about 1974 when I was still in high school. So I don't know how much use this will be, but for what it's worth, for the half-size ONLY:
My half-size fit in an AMC Gremlin with the back seat folded down (flat on its back with neck extending between the two front seats) and in a Chevette. In fact, the Chevette got totaled while I was driving it, in a front-end side-impact collision; I got several bruises and an amazing look at the whole front of the car flying apart in slow motion; the bass didn't even get a scratch. Bringing the story forward in time a bit, it fits in a 1979 VW Rabbit two ways: with the back seat folded down, and in the front passenger seat with the seat back tilted about 2/3 of the way down. I can belt it in like that. It also fits in the front passenger seat of a 2002 Prius (sedan-style Prius, not the newer hatchback model) in a similar configuration, although one has to first remove the backseat headrest on the passenger side in order to make room for the top of the neck. The front passenger seatbelt extends just far enough to make it all the way around the bottom of the bass. This is a very secure position, although it makes it nearly impossible to open the front console with the bass belted in (I can even do that, though only able to reach the stuff on the very top inside.)
It also fits into a 2000-mumble Corolla, similarly, although there's a little more personal contortion involved in getting it in and out. I play a half-size because I'm 5'2"; it might be harder for a taller person to perform said contortions. Or easier--I really don't know!
With the Rabitt, Prius and Corolla you can also take a passsenger in the driver's side rear seat, at least if they are not a really large person.
I assume that I could get my half-size into a Camry or larger car, using the front passenger seat. I don't know how big the car has to be before this trick will work with a 3/4 size, if indeed it can be made to work.
As I recall, my half-size fits fine in just about any hatchback-type car that has a fold-down back seat.
There is no subsitute for direct experience in figuring this stuff out. There have been times when I've had to have a long-term rental or loaner car while mine was in the shop. I have insisted on taking the car home, figuring out whether or not the bass will fit, and if it doesn't going back and substituting another vehicle, then trying it out with the bass. So far it hasn't taken more than 2 tries to get one that works. I didn't try it in a PT Cruiser. I'm too short to make the controls and visibility work well for me in the PT Cruiser, so when I was offered one as a rental I declined and took a Mazda hatchback instead.
Maybe some of this will help somebody somewhere sometime....
--Marion Kee, formerly of On The Mark, now plunking along contently in a musical UU congregation in Seattle
Re: 1966 Pontiac Star Chief
<blink> Wow. That's a hell of a lot of trunk!
"It will also get about 12 miles to the gallon in the city."
%wince% (But 12 really stylin' miles to each gallon, eh? [tries not to get distracted wondering whether the highway mileage is enough better than the city mileage to justify a car where The Bass Fits In The Trunk ... no, no, no, gas is too expensive ... *sigh*]
"I have a half-size bass, and haven't had to wrestle a 3/4 size since about 1974"
I'll go add a set of columns for 1/2 size ... I already had columns for 3/4, 7/8, and 1/1 (but no data regarding 1/1 size basses yet).
The 3/4 will go into most hatchbacks, according to a few different people and eyeballing various cars I pass; the only one I've seen so far that I'm not sure about is the Mini Cooper, which might be too short, but that's based on passing one on the highway, not a close examination ... I'm pretty sure a 7/8 would go into all the hatchbacks the 3/4 does, and a 1/1 into most of them, at least, and yeah it goes in the same way as you described for the 1/2 size, on its back with the scroll over the handbrake between the front seats. So in
Wrestling it into and out of the Accord was annoying, but do-able ... getting it into the rented Fusion was more annoying. Before the Accord got totaled, I was wondering whether it was worth trying to find a car easier to get the bass out of (which was actually more effort than getting it in), but it wasn't quite enough of a PITA that I would've gotten around to trying to sell the Honda and buy something else if my hand hadn't been forced by that drunk, unlicensed driver ...
I think I might be able to get the 3/4 into some (later) Camrys, but the older ones look enough smaller than the modern ones that I'd be surprised if it fits in those. I'm not sure just how much smaller a 1/2 is than the 3/4 (I'm pretty sure the fractions aren't literal scaling ratios ... right?) but I could see an instrument a bit smaller than mine going into a middle range Camry the same way the 3/4 went into the Accord. But ...
"There is no subsitute for direct experience in figuring this stuff out."
Ayup, there's the crux of the matter. I'm hoping to be able to substitute other people's experience for my own, but a lot of people can't resist trying to hep out with "____ is large so it looks like a bass ought to fit", so I'm really hoping folks helping to fill in the table can contribute information on what cars they've personally put a bass in or seen someone else do so and give at least an approximate year since car sizes/shapes vary over time. I just want to know "somebody has tried/done this; it's not a guess".
If I have to try each car myself, that'll slow down the already too slow process of searching for a cheap car rather painfully. The other option is to limit myself to what I already know will fit: hatchbacks, wagons, minivans, and Accord sedans circa 1990.
When I got the rental, I asked for a hatchback and explained it was because I had to carry a bass. The one hatchback they had wasn't available until the next day, so I had a Fusion for one night, and was rather surprised to be able to get the bass into it.
Thanks for your info. Even though data on a 1/2 size bass doesn't help me directly, I'm really hoping this database will be useful to other bassists as well, in which case the 1/2 info could wind up being important to someone.
RFor the sake of completeness....
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
Re: RFor the sake of completeness....
Yes. that's right, a sedan. That Star Cheif weighed over two tons. I think the 1965 model would probably work too.
FWIW, a 1968 Pontiac Bonneville sedan would NOT fit the 3/4 size in the trunk and it took a lot of work to get the 1/2 size into and out of the trunk; not worth it if the back seat was available instead.
I could and did easily carry my 1/2 size in my 1986 Plymouth Voyager (25 mpg hwy, 18 city, 4 cylinders) and it fit into the back seat (the seat directly behind the front seats--think 5-passenger configuration), and could be belted in that way to boot. I didn't have to put it in the wayback. This left the wayback open for my friends' instruments--very handy.
My 1/2 size easily fit into a 1980-mumble Toyota Tercel hatchback belonging to one of said friends.
If I remember, I'll measure the length of my 1/2 bass and post the overall dimension here. As I recall it's maybe 8 inches shorter overall than a 3/4 size. (I had to stand on a crate to play the 3/4 size that I borrowed when I was in high school, before I had my own bass. I guess it was a picturesque bit of stage business but I like being able to reach my 1/2 size from the floor!)
--Marion
P.S. Sorry about the messy blank postings--that was me trying to post from an uncooperative browser configuration on a different machine.