What do you think about a bamboo bass?

[ps6000]

I have been thinking about building an easy and inexpensive EUB. I hope some builders can share their thoughts about a Bass made of Bamboo. I was thinking something in the fashion of the Ergo EUB, or this "tube bass" http://www.otheroom.com/namm2000/Inst.htm I saw on the Namm oddities site. I was thinking bamboo due to its strength and because it is hollow (maybe it will improve the tone).

I think bamboo will be strong enough to take the pressure of the strings, but I am not sure. Does anyone know how many lbs of pressure 4 strings would add?

Do you think 4 strings is too much? What do you think about 2 or 3 strings?

Bamboo tapers a bit, but the whole instrument will have to stay pretty much round. I believe I can sand the bamboo to get any of the knots smooth. If you were putting something like this together what would you have as the diameter?


This instrument is mainly for fun not meant to be a "Pro" by any means. Any thoughts you have would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Silversorcerer]

Bamboo is pretty brittle when it dries out but it can be strong enough in the large dimensions to be used as construction scaffolding, so it really depends a lot on how big you can get the bamboo and how carefully you dry it (it cracks real easy).

I'm sure your idea is a novel one and will require many novel approaches to overcome design and material parameters. I think you might be on your own for answers to the R&D questions. Normal string tension at normal lengths can be upwards of 50-70 lbs. per string. You might try some kind of alternative material like braided nylon that would need less tension. Good luck. If it works it will be an interesting novelty.

[toman]

Bamboo is a pretty amazing material, and has been used to make just about everything under the sun. I'm sure many have seen bike frames of it; I hear that combined with carbon fiber it makes quite a strong frame with a nice ride. Stands to reason (to me) that it could be a great material for a musical instrument if properly used.

[ps6000]

I have seen the bamboo bicycle frames.

50-70 lbs, is a lot of pressure.

Thanks for the info.

[Silversorcerer]

Originally Posted by ps6000

I have seen the bamboo bicycle frames.

50-70 lbs, is a lot of pressure.

Thanks for the info.

Tension and pressure, (please excuse me for the possibly misleading post) aren't the same thing. I gave the tension (longitudinal) which will be constant relatively while the pressure (perpendicular to the tube) will depend on the bridge height, break angle at the bridge, etc. It will be a trigonometric function of the tension and be a lot less than the total tension on the strings. For a practical way of judging that just stretch a string to pitch and push it off center and you can feel the pressure increase dramatically as you add deflection. (Of course the tension is also increasing in this exercise).

Any kind of cylindrical tube has a lot of strength because of how the cylinder shape distributes forces. With some good R&D, I think this is an idea worth pursuing. Keep us posted if you go ahead.

[StyleOverShow]

Just a few thoughts about the project:

1. Dense woods form the (weighty) bass body to counterbalance the long neck, so probably a lighter neck maybe required, or stuffing/filling the bamboo tube or ??.
2. Many Japanese garden fountains use bamboo, some to scare birds away and others just to mark time. The tone is amazing. I think Kill Bill 2 final fight scene has one.
3. Check out the flooring bamboo for clues.

Good luck.

[uprightben]

If you do a search for a pvc eub on this site you might get some good design ideas. I think you are on to a good idea here, I would suggest testing the bridge height/pressure equation in the real world before you refine your design into something playable.