Washtub bass

[uttermike]

Here's my design... it came to me in a vision one night!

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showpost.php?p=9005767&postcount=3

The tone is much warmer than the traditional metal tub design I use to make. I then made ones like janmaat showed us in his post. I'm sure he can vouch for the warmer tone and less wear on your fingers. The tension is very low.

The double tub design greatly magnifies the sound. You really have to play it with reserve.

 

[mongo2]

Now that's cool.

Where'd you get the buckets and how are they attached to the neck?

 

[uttermike]

The buckets came from Wal-mart. The brand name Homz work the best. They seem to be made of a softer more plyable plastic. The buckets are the kind with rope handles. You cut out the rope handles and have four nice holes to bolt through and actually clamp the two buckets to the fretboard. I always add a bedpost foot for conversation and asthetics. The one pictured originally had two tuning machine heads where I tried a two string design but THIS DOES NOT WORK. The vibrations of two different frequencies contradict each other in that there is no real bridge that transfers the sound, the vibrations go from string directly to the end "diaphram"

 

[janmaat]

Hi uttermike, that's cool, good to see how the idea spreads. Don't forget to make us some sound recordings available! - and a construction drawing of some sort would be cool too. Am I right that your string does not even touch the buckets?

 

[victorgator]

Uttermike -- I'd really like to try to make one of your designs. Can you elaborate a little more on the construction or post some more pics?

Nicely done!