This first part may be boring, just scroll down if you only want to see pics.
I feel a bit crazy putting up this build among so many amazing true luthiers and craftsmen here. I am no luthier in any way.
My idea for the trashcan bass started growing when I watched some of these videos on Youtube.
2 string electric washtub bass
2 String Washtub Bass Video
gas can 5 string banjo (there are tons from this guy)
Gas Can Banjo Video
I was also planning to build a 2x4 bass similar to these plans, but 4 string and using some old pickups, and my disaster area 'workshop'.
Popular Science 2x4 Bass plans (.pdf)
My only power tools are a circular saw, jigsaw, drill, and small hand sander.
Sadly I don't have pics of some of the early builds I did with a washtub.
I also lost track of the neck build pics. But long story short, I glued a paneling piece to a 2x4 and cut and shaped it from that.
-EDIT- My guitar player found a pic he snapped before practice that shows the raw neck after shaping.
I had intended for this 'neck' to be my electric 2x4 bass all one piece. But after deciding to use a trashcan instead of a washtub, for more resonance and height of the instrument, it became the neck of the trashcan bass.
You may notice from the parts list below that I 'inherited' a disassembled piano in the house I moved into.
The parts list:
Piano pin tuners (these work with a standard drum key by the way)
Piano wire (to attach the strings to the pins which only have piano wire size holes)
Black piano key nut (this I made quite poorly and it's awful, first thing I need to improve on)
Pine 2x4 neck and crossmembers
Oak (I think) paneling fingerboard
Eyelet bolt bridge/saddles (with felt washers)
Ferrules (to help stablize string in eyelet)
Trashcan (with handles and brackets removed)
Piezo buzzer (disassembled and wired to jack as piezo pickup)
1/4 inch jack
'Poster putty' (to attach pickup)
'Weed Whacker' strings (they are so smooth, low tension, and springy)
Drywall screws (I use 'em for everything)
-next post will contain pics and sound clips-
