Washtub Bass

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Turkish on November 14, 2010 at 10:46am

With your skill-set, I would start with a 3, heck even a 4, string version. You'll have no problems.

Permalink Reply by Richard Sanabia on November 14, 2010 at 1:54pm

Diane, Great link. I made a couple of these designs, but they were such a pain to carry around I gave them away. I made this electric solid body with piezo PUs, and weed wacker round line for strings. I had to buy a lot of line, so I you need any I'll send you some of the sizes you could use. Don't buy any unless you have dozens of weed trimmers...I have .065, .080, .095....Richard in Tennessee.

Permalink Reply by Gutbucketeer (Jim Bunch) on November 15, 2010 at 12:48am

My favorite subject. Good luck in building!
There has been a lot of discussion on the Mudcate cafe on building washtubs. www.mudcat.org. Just search on washtub bass.

Gutbucketeer - aka Jim Bunch

Permalink Reply by Diane in Chicago on November 15, 2010 at 8:04am

Richard, which washtup design did you find made the best sound for playing in a small ensemble?

And what kind of amp do you bring along to play that upright weedwacker one?

Richard Sanabia said:

Diane, Great link. I made a couple of these designs, but they were such a pain to carry around I gave them away. I made this electric solid body with piezo PUs, and weed wacker round line for strings. I had to buy a lot of line, so I you need any I'll send you some of the sizes you could use. Don't buy any unless you have dozens of weed trimmers...I have .065, .080, .095....Richard in Tennessee.

Permalink Reply by Richard Sanabia on November 15, 2010 at 9:53am

Hi Diane, I use a Pignose Hog 20 amp that has a rechargeable power supply. Play it anywhere. Look here, http://www.pignoseamps.com/?disp=detail&id=254. The upside down tub design is the best for tone and volume. Much better than the ones that look more like a standup. Using a bottle slide works MUCH better than the lever type, which is more of a novelty than a play-along instrument. If I ever make one I would use a fixed neck, with a big tuner, then use a slide to get the note.

Diane in Chicago said:

Richard, which washtup design did you find made the best sound for playing in a small ensemble?

And what kind of amp do you bring along to play that upright weedwacker one?

Richard Sanabia said:

Diane, Great link. I made a couple of these designs, but they were such a pain to carry around I gave them away. I made this electric solid body with piezo PUs, and weed wacker round line for strings. I had to buy a lot of line, so I you need any I'll send you some of the sizes you could use. Don't buy any unless you have dozens of weed trimmers...I have .065, .080, .095....Richard in Tennessee.