mik4 Posted March 18, 2019 Share Posted March 18, 2019 (edited) What are your current recommendations for a car that will cope with a Gator hard case that's 1120 x 440mm? Now that I have a Gator case for my Junior Jet shortscale it doesn't fit in my boot! I don't want to have to leave it on the back seat. All ideas welcome Edited March 18, 2019 by mik4 omission Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudpup Posted March 18, 2019 Share Posted March 18, 2019 1 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deedee Posted March 19, 2019 Share Posted March 19, 2019 (edited) I think buying a different case would be cheaper than changing your car! In all seriousness, there aren’t too many car boots that you can fit a bass hard case in without putting the backseats down, unless it’s a shaped case. I have hard cases for all my basses but I always use gig bags when out and about as they’re far easier to handle. Edited March 19, 2019 by Deedee 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassTractor Posted March 19, 2019 Share Posted March 19, 2019 4 hours ago, Mudpup said: I'll never be able again to pull out my picture of a Daimler DS420 hearse when questions like this are asked. You won! 😊 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoham Posted March 19, 2019 Share Posted March 19, 2019 My 2012 Ford Mondeo and 2007 Vectra Estate both did the job with a Thomann rectangular hard case. I doubt my current Qashqai would take it though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skybone Posted March 19, 2019 Share Posted March 19, 2019 2 hours ago, BassTractor said: I'll never be able again to pull out my picture of a Daimler DS420 hearse when questions like this are asked. You won! 😊 But it still warrants you sharing the picture. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzyvee Posted March 19, 2019 Share Posted March 19, 2019 8 hours ago, Deedee said: I think buying a different case would be cheaper than changing your car! In all seriousness, there aren’t too many car boots that you can fit a bass hard case in without putting the backseats down, unless it’s a shaped case. I have hard cases for all my basses but I always use gig bags when out and about as they’re far easier to handle. I too have hard cases for my basses though i use a good quality gig bag mostly and stand the bass up in the front or back foot well with the seatbelt on it to keep it in position. I tend not to put instruments in the boot as that part of modern cars are designed as crumple zones to absorb impact. To the OP wouldnt recommend leaving a bass unattended in a car whether it is in the boot or back seat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmccombe7 Posted March 19, 2019 Share Posted March 19, 2019 Any decent estate car you might be able to fit a hard case in. The Mondeo mentioned above would be a good bet tho as i had the saloon and the boot was bloomin huge so i'm guessing the estate version must be bigger. I also use gig bags for rehearsals but always a hard case at gigs as there's more risk of damage at the gig itself. I also never leave my bass in the car no matter where i am. I have a Toyota pick up mainly because of where i live but i tend to put my bass on the back seat rather than in the covered rear cabin. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Dare Posted March 19, 2019 Share Posted March 19, 2019 Get one of the better gig bags - Fusion, Reunion Blues, Gator, etc. They provide plenty of protection against anything short of jumping up and down on them and will fit in the boot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martthebass Posted March 19, 2019 Share Posted March 19, 2019 9 hours ago, Deedee said: I think buying a different case would be cheaper than changing your car! In all seriousness, there aren’t too many car boots that you can fit a bass hard case in without putting the backseats down, unless it’s a shaped case. I have hard cases for all my basses but I always use gig bags when out and about as they’re far easier to handle. This, If using my own car (VW Polo or Tiggy) on a gig I use gig bags and wedge them behind the front and back seats. I only use the hard cases when we all use the gig van. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unknown_User Posted March 19, 2019 Share Posted March 19, 2019 I always lie my bass case along the footwell of the back seat. It's just about wide enough in there even though it doesn't fit in the boot. I also wouldn't leave it there unless I was driving with it. Apart from the security issue wouldn't the fluctuations in temperature with it essentially being outside (although sheltered) rather than in an environment with a more controlled temperature be problematic for the neck? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted March 19, 2019 Share Posted March 19, 2019 I use a shaped / rigid gig bag for everything these days. Fits in my car (Astra Estate) but protects virtually as well as a bulkier oblong hard case. Mine is one of these - https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Bass-Guitar-Foam-Case-by-Gear4music/C87 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmccombe7 Posted March 19, 2019 Share Posted March 19, 2019 44 minutes ago, casapete said: I use a shaped / rigid gig bag for everything these days. Fits in my car (Astra Estate) but protects virtually as well as a bulkier oblong hard case. Mine is one of these - https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Bass-Guitar-Foam-Case-by-Gear4music/C87 Quite liking that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted March 19, 2019 Share Posted March 19, 2019 Kia C’eed Estate - my Hiscox Case fits In widthways due the cutouts behind the lights. Which is nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted March 19, 2019 Share Posted March 19, 2019 32 minutes ago, dmccombe7 said: Quite liking that. Had mine for 3 or 4 years now Dave, and it still looks new! Chuck it into my car and our bus, and always take it into hotels when we are staying over. Good protection and lightweight for older players such as myself....👴 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmccombe7 Posted March 19, 2019 Share Posted March 19, 2019 16 minutes ago, casapete said: lightweight for older players such as myself....👴 and me 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbayne Posted March 19, 2019 Share Posted March 19, 2019 I only use gig bags when gigging these days.I ruined the seats on my old focus with hard cases and heavy amps. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted March 19, 2019 Share Posted March 19, 2019 You may find you have more boot width available if you put your bass on top of a cab or similar. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger2611 Posted March 19, 2019 Share Posted March 19, 2019 The Skoda Octavia hatchback will fit a smaller bass hard case width ways at the very rear of the boot, when I say smaller hard case I am thinking Precision light / Bass Collection type size, a full size Precision / Jazz case won't fit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mik4 Posted March 24, 2019 Author Share Posted March 24, 2019 Thanks to y' All. Roger thank you that is exactly what I needed to know, so I've been out to try a couple. Yes the hard case fits width ways at the very back of the Octavia (both hatch and estate) boot where it doesn't fit in most other cars. That's down to a bit of overhang behind the rear wheels and little/no obstruction of the pockets behind the wheel arches. Anybody got any other candidates please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12stringbassist Posted March 25, 2019 Share Posted March 25, 2019 Vauxhall Zafira. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicko Posted March 25, 2019 Share Posted March 25, 2019 When shopping for my current car I actually took my bass with me to check it would fit in the cars I looked at. A VW golf estate accomodates a precision bass in a soft case - I think a hard case might be too big to go widthways. Strangely the audi A3 estate which shares a floorpan does not accomodate the bass because of the design which incorporates cubby holes between the rear wheels and light clusters. The design is common to all audis so it wouldn't fit in the A4 either. The car I was gtting rid of was a Merc SLK which also accomodated the bass easily, with the roof up. Sadly it wouldn't cope with the bass plus a speaker cab and it had to go. I suspect a Merc SL woud fit a hard case, and the AMG version would be a lovely way to arrive at reheasral. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gottastopbuyinggear Posted March 25, 2019 Share Posted March 25, 2019 A possible alternative if you’re not expecting to leave the bass in the car for too long would be one with split folding rear seats and privacy glass in the back. It won’t stop someone looking in if they’re determined, but it’s surprising how difficult it is to see anything in the back in most circumstances. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted March 26, 2019 Share Posted March 26, 2019 On 19/03/2019 at 09:36, Unknown_User said: I always lie my bass case along the footwell of the back seat. It's just about wide enough in there even though it doesn't fit in the boot. I also wouldn't leave it there unless I was driving with it. Apart from the security issue wouldn't the fluctuations in temperature with it essentially being outside (although sheltered) rather than in an environment with a more controlled temperature be problematic for the neck? All of this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redbandit599 Posted March 26, 2019 Share Posted March 26, 2019 Toyota Avensis estate will swallow a hard case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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