Rolling Bass Cannon Tahoe Blasts the South with Soundwaves
Outfitted with 62 speakers rolling on set of 30-inch wheels, 2004 Tahoe keeps its owner connected with his late father.
There are a few ways to make use of the space provided by the Chevrolet Tahoe. Taking the kids to the library or the zoo is one way. Hauling a large painting is another way. And of course, there’s more than enough room for you, your friends and/or family, and a few bags for a week-long road trip.
If you remove the seats, though, you’ll have plenty of space to drop in a massive stereo system, which is what Barcroft Cars learned when they met with Jay “Joka” Jones and his 2004 Tahoe in Atlanta.
“When I play my music, everybody enjoys it,” says Jones. “They get behind my truck, they dance. And I let ’em get in and take pictures. That’s what it’s about, man. It’s about the kids.”
Dubbed “The Infinity Tahoe,” Jones’ Tahoe has door inserts made of infinity mirrors, which contain two rows of speakers per insert, plus LED lights to bring out the infinite sparkle. The front seats are custom, as is the control for the bass speakers, made from a Joker doll.
“I have 62 speakers in this truck,” says Jones. “I have four 18-inch treble makers behind the seat in a flat wall. Then, in the back stunt wall, I have 16 tweeters, I have 16 horns, and I have eight 10s in the back. Then, in the doors, I have two 10s, eight tweeters and one horn, each door. And then, in the A-pillars, it’s speakers. It’s tweeters in the A-pillars.”
The loudest his rolling bass cannon Tahoe has reached is 162.8 dB, which Jones says was “outlawed and sealed.” The audio system took three and a half months to build, while its metallic green paint took a year to finish.
Jones received his Tahoe on his birthday around four years ago, and was originally dark blue before receiving its current green appearance. The rest of the SUV is as flashy as its sound system is loud, from the wheel lights mounted behind the 30-inch rims, to the Joker faces on the hood, tailgate, and steering wheel. The 5.3-liter V8, meanwhile, only has a new high-performance air intake as its mod.
“I’ve had a passion for cars mostly all my life,” said Jones, “because my dad did car shows when I was little. And that was what really made me wanna be in the car scene as I got older.”
The Tahoe is a physical connection to his father, who passed away three and a half years ago. Whenever Jones enters and wins trophies from a given show, he says he feels like his father is watching over him. Thus far, his build has netted him 169 trophies.
“I focus on audio because I like to please the crowd and also I like to get the crowd moving,” said Jones. “I like to see the kids dancing around, even the old people, you know.”
He adds that the Tahoe really comes to life at night “like a big disco ball.” The rolling disco ball has taken some $60,000 to build, which he admits might be “too much.” Jones is willing to part with the Tahoe for the right price, using the sale to build a bigger bass cannon.
