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06-03-2011, 01:18 PM
| | | | Washtub Bass Anyone?
I have always wanted to make my own washtub bass. I made one a few months ago and it is a monster to play! My staff isn't attached so I adjust the notes by pulling or releasing the string tension on the staff.
Has anyone made their own washtub bass? How did it turn out? Is playing it a challenge? It'd be cool to know...
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06-03-2011, 04:14 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Eastern US | | | Gateway drug....
Yes, I started with a washtub, and yes they're a bugger to play. It was better than nothing for playing indoors on a hard wood floor, but outside on the grass it had no volume to speak of. Not what you want for summertime bluegrass jams. But you can flip it over and store ice and beer. In fact, a bottle of beer fits perfectly in the bow quiver of an upright bass. |
06-03-2011, 05:30 PM
| | | | Ha ha I agree with you!
I read somewhere that when you play a washtub bass, an audience's ears are basically "finding" the pitch for them, so if you play the washtub with quick pitch changes in a fast manner (quarter notes and higher I assume), then the ears will make the adjustments and "make" the pitch sound right. I'm sure you'd have to be in the right ballpark with the notes and have a band accompaniment. But alone it can sounds like it's all over the place!
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06-03-2011, 05:39 PM
| | | | frank0stein2000 pix |
06-03-2011, 05:49 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Washington State | | Quote:
Originally Posted by bass rocks  frank0stein2000 pix | Yeah, pix, please. You've planted a seed .... 
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06-03-2011, 05:49 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Tallahassee | | | FWIW, I built what looks kinda like a freight pallet, about 4'x4'x4", with a hole slightly smaller than the diameter of the tub I was using.(I think it is a #4 tub)...Think of a cab with a port that extends the width of the cab. Set the tub on the "pallet", and your sound will not die in the grass,or the floor, but will be directed forward to the audience. Got several compliments ...however, it was many years ago...the technology may have improved on washtub basses since then...Cheers... |
06-03-2011, 06:07 PM
| | | | Trying to post a few picks...wonder how to do this...
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06-03-2011, 06:12 PM
| | | Quote:
Originally Posted by frank0stein2000 Ha ha I agree with you!
I read somewhere that when you play a washtub bass, an audience's ears are basically "finding" the pitch for them, so if you play the washtub with quick pitch changes in a fast manner (quarter notes and higher I assume), then the ears will make the adjustments and "make" the pitch sound right. I'm sure you'd have to be in the right ballpark with the notes and have a band accompaniment. But alone it can sounds like it's all over the place! | 
I played washtub bass on a tour once.
What you say is some what true, relative pitch comes into play.
I put a mic. inside the washtub, and played it through a Amped B50R.
It sounded quite good on a wooded floor. |
06-03-2011, 06:22 PM
| | | | These are two angles from my washtub bass.
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06-03-2011, 06:26 PM
| | | | The first pic is a close up of the cast eye bolt and rope tie that I used to tie the string rope to the tub. I secured the cast eye onto the tub with two fender washers and lock nuts.
The second is a close up of the hole I drilled into the staff to fit the string rope through. A simple knot is good enough to keep the string rope secured through the staff.
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06-03-2011, 06:31 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Washington State | | Okay, you got me, I'm building one
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06-03-2011, 06:36 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Four Corners, USA | | I made a Whamola... kind of the same.  |
06-03-2011, 06:39 PM
| | | I wanted to make one for a long time but could never find the proper instructions. I finally found the below video on youtube which explains everything from materials to building.
It is a very informative video that comes in three parts and gave me the desire to do it myself.
Hope it helps for anyone interested in creating your own. The total cost was about $50-$60 depending on the size of washtub, staff, and rope you use. YouTube - ‪How to build a washtub bass pt. 1 - materials‬‏
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