Double Bass Interesting Washtub bass - need advise on strings/pickup selection

[bassmizer]

Hey all...first time posting...I'm a electric bass player that always wanted to play bluegrass. I just picked up an interesting washtub bass.

I would assume I need some flatwound electric strings for the setup and curious about a pickup....the builder suggested K&K transducer PU....

other ideas?

peace
Russ

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[four2oh]

Yo Russ! Welcome To Talkbass.

Nice score. I hope you are bringing that crazy tub to String Summit this year.

Well, you've seen my setup on the Cabletub Bass, in which I use a MM Stingray PU (wired to use only one coil passively). Of course, it gets an electric sound as opposed to the natural 'tub thump, but this allows me to have a more pronounce attack when the band is playing in an electric setting.

The K&K would be a nice choice if you want to get the real resonated sound from the washtub. Or if you want to keep it funky, try mounting a couple contact mics on the tub (similar idea to the K&K, but more lofi). I got a 6-pack of these cool bottlecap contact mics (Red Stripe caps even!): Invalid Link Removed

or you could co complete overboard and do both and be able to blend between an electric pickup and a piezo/transducer pickup.

And yeah I'd go with some flats. Is the neck fretted?

Cheers,

john/four2oh

 

[bassmizer]

Hey John!

yeah man! it will def. be at NWSS! couldn't imagine i'd be there without it!

cool stuff with the bottle cap contact mics....may be my style to use these....then if we get to a place like Spare Rib...kick it up a notch and add the blend.

yeah, it's fretted, but will most likely pull the frets and add clear apoxy/sand it down...also gonna sand the back of the neck to make it super smooth....my P bass has the finish sanded down and it's sweet.

this thing is a lot of fun...already have my right index finger feeling the love....trying to translate all my bluegrass songs that I know on guitar to bass....kick ass!

Russ