Double Bass Junior Huskey's whatizzit?

[Steven Ayres]

Here's a photo of Junior Huskey with Jim Barber and Sonny Burnette in '52. I'm wondering whether anyone here knows what's going on with the little drumlike dingus Junior has attached to the shoulder of his Kay M-1. I expect it has something to do with slapping, but please, you tell me!

 

[cultrvultr]

Brushbass. Search here and you’ll see some good info.

I built one and posted about. Also some YouTube videos about how to make one for cheap.

 

[Dr. Love]

When I went through the Ryman several years back, they had a bass like that (probably the same one) and the guide said the theater had a "no drums" policy at the time and he used that with a brush to add some extra rhythm.

 

[Steven Ayres]

When I went through the Ryman several years back, they had a bass like that (probably the same one) ....

We've been slowly adding to our list of fame-connected Kays, and it would be fabulous to document that bass! Can anyone in/near Nashville get some photos and (important!) the serial number?

 

[GretschWretch]

 

[GretschWretch]

When I went through the Ryman several years back, they had a bass like that (probably the same one) and the guide said the theater had a "no drums" policy at the time and he used that with a brush to add some extra rhythm.

And this is one reason a lot of nascent country music stars in the 1950s honed their craft at the Louisiana Hayride in Shreveport. It wasn't called the "Cradle of the Stars" for nothing.

 

[cultrvultr]

this is a really awesome video! A lotta practice goes into playing it that fast and clean.

I don’t think I could walk in 4/4 like that with the brush without a lot more work. Especially at that tempo. I’ve mostly used it for a 2-step

 

[superman]

Junior Huskey really never played the drum attachment,that was another guys bass,, I explained the history in this little video

 

[superman]

this is Ernie Newton he's the one that came up with the drum attachment, Newton played with the Les Paul trio in the 30s as well as Fred Warings Big Band, he came to Nashville in 1949 with Red Foley,he was one of the first session players in Nashville, he recorded with most of the country acts of the 50s,