The following is a short excerpt from the E-Bass Line Newsletter from the International Society of Bassists. Receiving this newsletter each month is one of the many benefits for ISB members, including special rates on instrument insurance, the excellent journal Bass World, the paper edition of the Bass Line, and much more! Check out the International Society of Bassists website for more information on joining if you’re not a member–I’ve been a member since I was a teenager, and I highly recommend it for bassist of all ages.
Also, doublebassblog.org will be doing live coverage of next summers ISB convention at Penn State (June 8-13, 2009). That’s only 9 months away, and it will be a real blast, so be sure to join up with the ISB and check out this fabulous event!
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Jeffrey Koczela, professor of double bass at George Washington University in Washington, DC, says the Honda Fit works great. It’s a 4-door, offers good mileage and can fit bass, driver and three other people (two people in the back seat, at least one of them should be small!) Says Jeffrey, “I can fit my bass on the 40% side of the 60/40 split back seat. The Toyota Yaris can do the same, but it’s only a 2-door, and it’s not easy to slide the bass in the 40% side due to the ceiling-mounted seat belt holder. Same issue with Toyota Matrix. One of my students got a ride with bass to his lesson yesterday in a Mini Cooper – now I want to see someone show up in a SmartCar!”
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I have the dreaded ’94 Saturn SW1 station wagon. On one occasion I did fit my bass, my wife, my two kids and myself in the car. That was a bit tight. Under normal situations it’s fine. It gets 36 MPG highway, which is nice, but mileage reportedly drops considerably if it catches fire.
Well… a friend of mine does have a Smart!! It fits him, his bag with books and normal day-to-day-use stuff, a small stool and the bass! Another friend of ours once made a small film with his cell phone testifying the entrance and storage of the bass in the car! I’ll try to find it and send it to Jason, if I can find it again, it’s hilarious!
Either a 1972-1992 Volvo 245 wagon with split rear seat, or VW Westfalia Vanagon. I can fit a bass, a violone, and a bass gamba all at the same time in either. They fit in approximately the same size parking spots, and get similar gas mileage (low 20’s, ehhh), even if the stock Vanagon engine’s top speed is only 65 mph. The Vanagon is large enough to bring all the instruments all the ensemble players plus a soloist, and all their gear and clothes, too.
The advantage of the VW Westfalia, with the pop-top up, is one can also practice the bass and gamba inside it!
I need to warn about the Honda Fit. I was in an accident with my Fit last year – a big truck ran into the back of me. I’m fine and very luckily I did not have my bass in the car at the time. If I had had my bass in the car it would have been smashed to smithereens, Its a great little zippy car but it doesn’t offer any protection against impacts. I now drive a Matrix instead – a little sturdier.
I’ve had numerous Saab hatchbacks. Currently have a ’96 9000 Aero which can fit two full-sized basses, other gear, and another passenger. I’m unfortunately selling the Aero since I’m playing less music out these days. Give me a call if you’re interested – 847-217-7343
Did Marcio Domingues ever get that video of a bass going into a Smart car? I would love to see it. That was from 2008 and it’s 2012 now, but I tried to find it online with no success. Thanks!