Armandearl
The other day I started to wonder whats the best motor vehicle for n muso who gigs alot. Whats the things to look out for in a car when you transport your precious instruments.
Manfred-Klose
the bantam works fine for me, can take all my amps and guitars (if i pack it and drive the vehicle, then nothing gets damaged)
or even something cute like the renault kangoo or vw caddy could do.
What type of stuff do you transport and how many gigs a week do you play ?
flatfourfan
Ideally must have a HUGE boot, with a bakkie everything out back tends to be on display with a canopy.
A polo sedan has a simply HUGE boot and is also not high on the *to steal* list. All obviously depends on how much gear you want to lug around.
Armandearl
Well, including practises I have to transport up to three times a week. I transport a guitar, amp head, cabinet and a rather big pedal case. Everything atleast goes into my boot, but if i decide to rather take my Fender deluxe amp along, the guitar then has to go onto the back seat.
A bakkie or a panel van is the obvious best options, but with the crime as it is i would be scared to show the world what I am transporting. I feel my instruments shouldnt be visible from the outside. The other problem is, normally a car gets stolen or hijacked for the car, so your beloved fender ext. is also gone with the car. So car security and desirabillity of the vehicle is also very important.
I have heard of stories of cars being stolen with the gear inside and I believe we dont always think of the dangers. My gear is my children at this stage, so transporting them is really important.
AlanRatcliffe
If a bakkie is out of the question, a hatchback usually gives you more loading space than a sedan, especially with the rear seats down flat.
We get everything we need for most gigs into our Meriva with space to spare: small PA (desk & powered speakers, 12" monitor); two guitars; a keyboard; 8U rack; my floor setup (G-Sys, GR-55, two drum pedals and triggers); mic, speaker, keyboard and guitar stands; and a big cable/accessory bag (about the size of a cricketer's bag).
Keira-WitherKay
We own 2 toyota's both hatchbacks , a tazz and a yaris and the yaris is better to drive but has sustantially less usable packing space than the tazz,
also along with space look at reliability ....
Anyway something else to consider is that pro music gear has become smaller / compact and lighter and more effecient than ever before ... So no need for the minivan anymore ...
So if you an active pro , performing and travelling with gear a lot ... Bear that in mind when buying gear ...so buy the compact bose pa's , mark bass gear and ZT guitar amps with electronic drum kits and a 4 piece can travel to a gig in a large hatch or 2 ? and still sonically deliver in power and quality what about 10 yrs ago took a 3 ton truck of gear to achieve
Nitebob
Alan....you must tell me when you're gigging again. Would love to see the pedal/trigger set up. ?
Manfred-Klose
My canopy widows is tinted by the way, but i wont ever leave my gear in the car, when i am done with a gig, i unload everything when i get home.
especially with the rear seats down flat.
thats also very handy
Cleric
My Focus has served me pretty well. I get a cab and head in the boot, and axes on the back seat. And if I need to transport multiple amps, I can drop the seats easily.
AlanRatcliffe
Nitebob wrote:
Alan....you must tell me when you're gigging again. Would love to see the pedal/trigger set up. ?
Will do. I've been thinking I might do a mini "tour" of my odd mix of original stuff into CT later in the year...
I'll be honest, I haven't quite got the hang of it to my satisfaction yet. The independence required to play kick and snare with your feet at the same time as bass and guitar parts with your hands is different to normal drumming or guitar independence (not helped by the fact that I habitually play guitar against the beat). Still, even keeping it down to simpler, on-the-beat stuff, it adds another dimension. It especially comes in handy for the cover stuff, where the punters want a beat... any beat... ?
MIKA-the-better-one
I am going through buying a van right now for us to go on another tour....
Truthfully I am looking ta 15 seater vans. Ford Ecolines.
I have to fit
610 ampeg cab
svt4 ampeg head
x2 bass guitars.
Fender Deluxe Reverb in Roadcase
x2 guitars
x2 pedalboards (bass and guitar)
88 key Nord
Roland JC120
Oh and a 5 peice 70's sonor kit with a 26 inch kick.
Some merch, some cables.
a Backpack each
5 people (4 band members and one sound guy)
StefStoep
I need a bakkie, i currently have a Ford Bantam and it serves me quite well, but i need a bit more space than the average guitarist since my wife is also a drummer! And to transport a drum kit around you kinda need more space than a sedan/hatchback can give.
P.s. If you marry a drummer you end up being a roadie! And then still have to setup your own gear ☹
vic
MIKA the better one wrote:
I am going through buying a van right now for us to go on another tour....
Truthfully I am looking ta 15 seater vans. Ford Ecolines.
I have to fit
610 ampeg cab
svt4 ampeg head
x2 bass guitars.
Fender Deluxe Reverb in Roadcase
x2 guitars
x2 pedalboards (bass and guitar)
88 key Nord
Roland JC120
Oh and a 5 peice 70's sonor kit with a 26 inch kick.
Some merch, some cables.
a Backpack each
5 people (4 band members and one sound guy)
nothing for the road ? ??? ?
The ol' VW combi was perfect and very cheap second hand....but alas that's no more.
Keira-WitherKay
Vic wrote:
MIKA the better one wrote:
I am going through buying a van right now for us to go on another tour....
Truthfully I am looking ta 15 seater vans. Ford Ecolines.
I have to fit
610 ampeg cab
svt4 ampeg head
x2 bass guitars.
Fender Deluxe Reverb in Roadcase
x2 guitars
x2 pedalboards (bass and guitar)
88 key Nord
Roland JC120
Oh and a 5 peice 70's sonor kit with a 26 inch kick.
Some merch, some cables.
a Backpack each
5 people (4 band members and one sound guy)
nothing for the road ? ??? ?
The ol' VW combi was perfect and very cheap second hand....but alas that's no more.
yeah a "tour bus" would be the answer ... but a sleeper "tour bus would be insane for tours .....those busses you see willie nelson touring around in .... but yeah living in SA it's not worth it ..... we not a huge country like the USA to warrant a 'REAL TOUR BUS" ....... in my travels i have met muso's from USA who spend 9 months a year on the "road" and never go back to the same venue till the next year
on the down side imagine the insurance quote ..... when you tell the insurer you taking hundred of thousands of rands worth of gear in a bus with 4/5 yound people who are all musicians and would be perpetual "party mode" the rates would be astronomical ?
MIKA-the-better-one
I should mention this is the reduced setup.... we usually have a larger one by a great degree.
A bus would be great, but way out of budget.
But its a hell of fun
singemonkey
From everything you guys are saying, the panel van is the obvious choice. Why?
* It doesn't have windows at back - you can't see in.
* The interior storage space is huge
* It potentially has access both from the back and from a sliding door as well - no trying to climb into the back of a bakkie canopy to drag that amp out from right at the back
* It's not a theft-worthy as some options (and because of its utilitarian looks, there's no problem with marking it clearly and obviously to make it look much more quickly identifiable to would-be thieves). Hmm, and while you're at it, you could advertise your band, or your musical services on it
I think the only reason to consider something else is if you don't want a dedicated gear vehicle. A panel van isn't the most fun for commuting. However, if you're buying a vehicle solely to ferry gear about, what could possibly be better? A bus or something may have more space. But you really better need it, because parking it is going to be a PITA.
Ray
What sort of tone are you after?
stu
singemonkey wrote:
From everything you guys are saying, the panel van is the obvious choice. Why?
* It doesn't have windows at back - you can't see in.
* The interior storage space is huge
* It potentially has access both from the back and from a sliding door as well - no trying to climb into the back of a bakkie canopy to drag that amp out from right at the back
* It's not a theft-worthy as some options (and because of its utilitarian looks, there's no problem with marking it clearly and obviously to make it look much more quickly identifiable to would-be thieves). Hmm, and while you're at it, you could advertise your band, or your musical services on it
I think the only reason to consider something else is if you don't want a dedicated gear vehicle. A panel van isn't the most fun for commuting. However, if you're buying a vehicle solely to ferry gear about, what could possibly be better? A bus or something may have more space. But you really better need it, because parking it is going to be a PITA.
+1
However, if youre looking for something fun to drive I have an mgb gt which works pretty well for me. I can fit a my whole drum kit into it.
strataxe
Or soemthing like a Toyota Condor, Honda Jazz or like...or toyota Aventus...otherwise get a biggish trailer.
