Travel Bass - Van and Boat!

[roblpm]

7 hours ago, HeadlessBassist said:

I'm was going to go for the obvious used options, ie. Hohner Jack / B2A are usually very reasonable, but instead I'm going to go for one of your other suggestions - I've been using a Cort Artisan Space 4 for the last couple of years (started with a Space 5 first) and they're a great, compact bass. Very light, too. I keep mine permanently in the boot of the car as a backup, or teaching bass. Highly recommended!

 

 

Yes the most obvious option really! How do you find it? I don't really like the colours!!!!!! 

 

[Stub Mandrel]

9 minutes ago, roblpm said:

 

Yes the most obvious option really! How do you find it? I don't really like the colours!!!!!! 

 

 

It like it. Taste is so personal.

[HeadlessBassist]

49 minutes ago, roblpm said:

 

Yes the most obvious option really! How do you find it? I don't really like the colours!!!!!! 

 

 

It's a very clean sounding bass. Very light. Very fast for slappage, and pretty punchy. There's not much to like. At this money the colours really don't matter. It's a great playing and sounding bass for significantly less money than a Fender Player II. 

[machinehead]

I've been taking my Steinberger Spirit away in my campervan for years.  Cheap to buy, especially used, solidly built, stay in tune for months.

 

They pack away in a small gig bag (supplied with the bass) and I've actually gigged mine and it's excellent.  The extension on the bottom of the body makes it easy to play sitting down too.  I take mine to gigs as a backup - fortunately, I've never needed it.

 

There's some useful information on them in this old thread.

 

Frank.

 

 

 

[Jolltax]

Was watching some YT and happened upon this Anderton video where they are playing HILS basses (never heard of them). About 15 minutes in they are playing a short scale, passive, headless bass with a humbucker and they cost £499.  Would have though it would be perfect for travel :

 

 

 

[HeadlessBassist]

I took one of those HILS Next Bass 5-strings as a part exchange a few weeks ago. Mine had a non standard preamp, but it definitely had a serious punch. Another highly recommended bass for the money. Not quite as compact and svelte as the Space 4/5, though.

[lemmywinks]

Can't believe nobody has mentioned this yet:

https://www.cashconverters.co.uk/shop/music-tv--video/musical-instruments/guitars--string-instruments/bass-guitar/054400261222

 

 

Worth sending a cheeky offer.

[tauzero]

On 02/08/2025 at 17:30, roblpm said:

Aha I did see that! Thanks. Any experiences of whether that is a satisfactory experience? Or is a small body a better solution?!

 

I think I can probably test the modern Steinberger and Cort Space 4 quite easily in London to compare.

 

It's not bad, though there's nothing to rest your right forearm against. The flip-out leg rest works well. On a strap, it tilts forward because the neck end strap button is behind the body. I keep meaning to look at moving it to the shoulder instead.

[tauzero]

Another headless bass you can find second-hand is the Westone Quantum.

 

 

No flip-out leg rest but it does have a notch for your leg.

[Aalin]

On 10/08/2025 at 15:22, MacDaddy said:

https://snap-dragon-guitars.com/products/snap-dragon-e-bass

HI MacDaddy

Does the spaces between the frets are the same as a regular bass (34") ?

meaning it's a long scale but the fingerboard is short.

Thank's for your answer

Edited 3 hours ago by Aalin

[Rosie C]

On 02/08/2025 at 17:15, roblpm said:

 

I have read a lot of threads on travel basses but I have a slight twist! I am a very average bassist but soon will be spending part of the year first in a campervan and then a boat! Airplanes are not a problem.
 

...

 

Need small and light though! I’m abroad at the moment so haven’t tried any! Need to go to a shop in uk and try modern Steinberger and Cort?

 

 

Have you considered a bass ukulele? They're very portable and have a great tone. Before I bought mine I was told it had a "double bass sound" and I didn't believe that, and arranged to meet up with an old band mate to try his - and I was amazed at the tone. 

[MacDaddy]

2 hours ago, Aalin said:

HI MacDaddy

Does the spaces between the frets are the same as a regular bass (34") ?

meaning it's a long scale but the fingerboard is short.

Thank's for your answer

 

Not quite, it's short scale 29" but the difference isn't too noticeable.