Transporting the tuba

Hank74 · Post by **Hank74** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 11:33 pm

Here is something I wanted to ask all of you of how do you transport your tuba from home to anyplace that you perform in. Vote in this poll and offer any comments.

Hank74

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 12:25 am

Station wagon. Will hold both a bass and a big tuba, 2 passengers and a few bags of other stuff.

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 12:31 am

I have an old '96 Chevy Cavalier and a '74 MG Midget. I regularly haul anything from a tiny Cousenon Eb to Martin 'mammoth' BBb sousa.

Last weekend I had my big GDR BBb rotary stencil in the backseat of the Chevy, an Eb helicon in the passenger's seat, and a Roland KC550 amp and a bag of sound gear in the trunk. Left the wife at home for three days

She doesn't care for Volkfest, anyway

TexTuba · Post by **TexTuba** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 1:37 am

I transport mine in my '93 Chevy Suburban. I've got plenty of room for other instruments and buddies if need be. But at these gas prices driving around is killer.

Ralph

TubaRay · Post by **TubaRay** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 10:35 am

bloke wrote:I don't have to transport my tubas, because last year I signed up for a government program that pays me not to play.

What a deal! I hope you got a good amount of dough.

MaryAnn · Post by **MaryAnn** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 11:10 am

Oh wow, can I get the governement to pay ME not to play? I mean, I play so many instruments, if they would pay me not to play ANY of them...I could be rich!!!

.... on the transport....eh...I had to click SUV because technically that's what my new vehicle is, although I'd really call it a station wagon. One of the reasons I switched from a pickup was the hassle of getting both the tuba and a passenger in it. I refused to put the tuba in the bed, and the passengers weren't fond of riding there either, so I got something a little more useable from a tuba-transporting POV. I haven't actually had a tuba in there yet, what with its being summer; I eyeballed the back of the cars I test drove and eliminated those that were not tuba-friendly. Amazing how many hatchbacks aren't wide enough for even a small tuba, because of the wheel wells. I mean cross-wise tuba placing, without putting the seat down.

MA

billeuph · Post by **billeuph** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 1:26 pm

My favorite tuba transporter is my Mazda Miata, with the top down whenever possible. No room for a passenger, though.

Bill Anderson

cjk · Post by **cjk** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 1:48 pm

Regular car --> Volvo S60 sedan

4/4 Rudolf Meinl CC has to go in the back seat.

A 17 inch bell can make it into the trunk, 18 just won't go in.
B&S F and Mira 184 fit in the trunk just fine.

I like station wagons. If the Volvo ever dies, I'll buy one.

Daryl Fletcher · Post by **Daryl Fletcher** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 1:48 pm

sinfonian · Post by **sinfonian** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 2:59 pm

I use a Ford Excursion with the diesel engine. I can handle the heavy brass of my Tuba and half of the band if need be.

Tubainsauga · Post by **Tubainsauga** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 3:52 pm

I drive a subaru legacy wagon. I can fit my walt johnson case (Large) in the back withough having to flip down the seats. I haven't really figured out how many horns I can fit in there, but I have traveled with 2 tubas, a euphonium, bass trombone, suitcase, and an oboist.

Brassdad · Post by **Brassdad** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 6:51 pm

Chevy Avalance is the primary hauler. It fits in the back seat with up to 3 riders, in the covered bed if I have 4 or more.
It also fits nicely in our volvo 740 station wagon

tubatooter1940 · Post by **tubatooter1940** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 7:10 pm

I can get tuba,mike and tuba stands in my Bonneville.
My '91 Dodge Minivan will haul the above plus our C.D. sellin' table,P.A. rack box and four of six Eon speakers. When we go on the road,we rent a 4 by 8 trailer from U-Haul for ten bucks a day. We pad the trailer with all our old quilts and even life vests.

finnbogi · Post by **finnbogi** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 8:03 pm

As I don't have a car, I travel either by public transport (in Iceland, that means bus) or hitch a ride with someone (there's usually someone willing to drive me and my horn home, both ways if I'm lucky).

TexTuba wrote:But at these gas prices driving around is killer.

Petrol (95 octane) is now priced at $1.9 per litre in Iceland.

finnbogi · Post by **finnbogi** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 8:08 pm

Tubainsauga wrote:I have traveled with 2 tubas, a euphonium, bass trombone, suitcase, and an oboist.

A few years ago, my brass quintet travelled between gigs in a Fiat Uno. When we needed a drummer, we would fit him in there too and have him bow his head when we passed a police car.

I was thinner then, though.

Tuba-G Bass · Post by **Tuba-G Bass** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 12:41 am

Ford Explorer 4x4 for current Tuba/Sousaphone hauler,

vehicles of the past that have hauled brass,

Saturn SL2
Volvo 240 wagon
VW Karmann Ghia
VW Westfalia Camper

billeuph · Post by **billeuph** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 10:30 am

Jonathantuba wrote:I take my tuba around to ensure it fits in the boot/trunk when I am buying a new car. I will not consider one in which it will not fit!

I'm so glad to hear that someone else does this! I've gotten some really strange looks from car salesmen/women as I walk in carrying my Besson 982 in a gig bag. Bottom line- most of the small sedans that we considered don't have a trunk big enough.

Bill Anderson

oldbandnerd · Post by **oldbandnerd** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 10:40 am

Bloke wrote:

don't have to transport my tubas, because last year I signed up for a government program that pays me not to play.

I don't know what the big deal about that is . People have been paying me for years to NOT play !!!

Tubadork · Post by **Tubadork** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 3:59 pm

the ultimate tuba hauling device!
and if you get tired, you can just put up the tent and camp out!

I can put all 4 tubas in the car with no problem! AND I get pretty good gas mileage.
Bill

BopEuph · Post by **BopEuph** » Sun Aug 14, 2005 11:57 am

When I was in high school, I had a 1978 Ford Thunderbird. The thing was huge; I called it the Beast. In those days, I was playing as many instruments I could: euphonium, trombone, cello, and string bass. I must have looked pretty goofy carrying those around, since I developed a system to be able to carry everything at once. Everything other than the bass, including my backpack, fit in the trunk. The bass went in the backseat and the scroll hung over the dash on the passenger's side. This MUST have been a mob car, with a trunk like that!

Nick

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