<p>Chopsticks
will you be travelling with your S and renting a car in Indiana for the drive to Indiana U/Bloomington? Its about a 40 minute drive to the campus from the airport and while there is a private car service/shuttle or taxi's I don't know how they would feel about transporting a double bass.</p>
<p>That was the plan. I know bass trunks are large so I'd have to get a large SUV. I've read about bass players requesting handicapped-friendly taxis to get from A to B. I'm not sure how a shuttle might react. Could someone recommend a hotel that's within walking distance?</p>
<p>In case SUV's are in short supply, a bass trunk will fit in most large minivans with the third row seat down and one of the two middle row seats taken out, folded up and stashed in the cargo area behind the other. You may or may not have to fold down the front passenger seat to get it to work. You still have the seat behind the driver for one passenger. </p>
<p>It may also fit in some large station wagons with all of the seats on the passenger side laid flat and the passenger sitting in the seat behind the driver.</p>
<p>I never thought back when this thread was active that it would some day apply to me. My daughter auditions at Oberlin this weekend. She plays double bass. We are flying with a flight case. I am so concerned about going from our West Texas 50 degree temperature to Ohios temp. in the low 20’s. We have flown several times before, but never in such cold temperatures.</p>
<p>If BassDad sees this before we leave, we sure could use some pointers on the travel as well as any audition info.</p>
<p>Thanks so much,</p>
<p>Kay</p>
<p>If you have a decent flight case, you should be OK so long as you don’t take a bass that has warmed up to inside room temperature and open the case while you are outside in 20 degree weather. If you are talking about a Kay bass, like your name, they are pretty sturdy beasts. My daughter uses one for her outdoor gigs. A hand-carved instrument would be a bit more sensitive, so try to give it a little time inside the case to acclimate after any big temperature swings.</p>
<p>By the way, good luck to your daughter.</p>
<p>If the bass has flown before it has experienced the cargo hold which is not climate controlled and gets cold at 30000 feet! Just give your bass time just as you would for any environment change. You may want to put a couple of Dampits in to help with low humidity in the cold, too.</p>
<p>Good luck!!</p>
<p>Thank you both so much. We will use the dampits and let “her” adjust to the temperature. My dd currently owns a Wan Bernadel that sounds amazing.</p>
<p>Kay is actually my middle name.</p>
<p>Thanks again,</p>
<p>Kay</p>
<p>Don’t fret about the temperatures! I’m no pro but I play viola in my school orchestra in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, the epitome of inconsistent temperatures in this country even though I know it probably seems like it’s always cold here. It’s pretty normal for it to be 60 one day and 20 the next (well, not normal, but that wouldn’t be weird by any means) and plenty of string players bring their instruments to school every day and I can’t think of any time when the whether had seriously hurt an instrument. Then again, these instruments may be more “used to it” but I don’t know the physics behind it so I can’t say if that even works. Bottom line, don’t worry and good luck!</p>
<p>This probably doesn’t really help bass players much, but this was welcome news: [Mi2N.com</a> - The AFM Applauds The Passage Of The FAA Bill That Sets A Consistent National Policy Allowing Musical Instruments On Airplanes](<a href=“http://www.mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=150996]Mi2N.com”>http://www.mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=150996)</p>
<p>“Congress has passed legislation reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the next four years. Included in the bill are provisions that create a uniform national policy regarding musical instruments on airplanes. Any instrument that can be safely stored in the overhead compartment or underneath the seat may be brought on board as carry-on luggage. Additionally, the bill sets standard weight and size requirements for checked instruments, and permits musicians to purchase a seat for oversized instruments, such as cellos, that are too delicate to be checked. Existing law allowed each airline to set their own policy regarding musical instruments, and size requirements varied widely for both carry-on and checked baggage.”</p>