Lessons Learned from my First Washtub Bass Build

[@amandaglasscock9328]

That’s an awesome washtub bass. Good tone from the trimmer string and all this time I’ve been using it to cut weeds 🙂

[@musicalmiscellany]

Hey... ya never know 'til ya try. Ha ha. Thanks for watching the vid.

[@Iceland874]

My dad played the gut bucket in a pizza parlor band with his work buddies when I was little. He played the piano too but the gut bucket was fun! This video is awesome but making one looks a little hard. Its so helpful and inspiring as always!

[@musicalmiscellany]

Washtub basses are really fun. I'm glad I built this one. It's a bit of a challenge to play, but I really do like it. Thanks for watching.

[@Iceland874]

@@musicalmiscellany maybe washtub basses are called gut buckets in California. I think washtub bass sounds a lot better. Ha! Something new is always learned from your videos. I think your followers are hooked.

[@johnaustin1825]

That sounds good. In England in the 60's we used a wooden Tea Chest for a bass in our skiffle group (No doubt well before your time). Thanks for your time

[@musicalmiscellany]

I love those British skiffle bands. Such a cool vibe. Thanks for checking out the video man.

[@sneakyvarmint]

Nicely done! Thanks for sharing!

[@musicalmiscellany]

Thanks for watching! Hopefully the video is helpful.

[@jessewilliams102]

This is some great info man. Thanks for the video. I’ll tell you where a good place to get sticks is. About every 5 to 7 years. The electric company goes around and cuts down all the trees underneath powerlines and they just lay the trees on the side of the road, so I have to go right behind them and collect all the good walking stick Ones. It would look wicked cool if it had some vine, spirals or something. Have a good day.

[@musicalmiscellany]

Great idea for a stick. Thanks for checking out the vid and good luck.

[@mybusiness7663]

Very good follow up I still like the sound you get out of it. I watched this video while my wife applying make up takes her forever and I don’t have to explain anything to her. Works well we have been married 30 years this October

[@musicalmiscellany]

Congrats on the upcoming anniversary. You gotta do what works. Happy wife = happy life. Ha ha. Thanks for watching.

[@rustynails68]

Awesome!!!!!! We all must make one. I hope to inspire a kid to make one.

[@musicalmiscellany]

They are a heckuva lotta fun. Thanks for checking out the vid.

[@johnaustin1825]

Keep up the good work - we are all on the same page! Cheers from Lost John UK

[@musicalmiscellany]

I appreciate the support and the comments. Thanks.

[@bunskilabonskiwashtubfun9841]

Truly enjoyed this video! My bucket employs a soft nylon paracord string, amplified with two mics, one to my PA system and one to the bass amp, very near the eyebolt. I want to try your guitar pickup system but can't bring myself to cut in to my bucket as it sounds OK. Time for a second build with guitar pickup.

[@musicalmiscellany]

Thanks for watching the video. The good thing about these washtub basses is it's really easy to create another one. It sounds like you've put a lot of thought into the one you have. Good luck. BTW, check out this video to see exactly how I did the pickup. kzbin.info/www/bejne/haeblZiHbLp9pK8

[@aniquinstark4347]

You can put a condenser microphone underneath the bucket. Works great.

[@musicalmiscellany]

@@aniquinstark4347 Using a mic would be a great technique for recording but the idea of this arrangement is to be able to plug the washtub into a bass amp (e.g. for jamming w/a drummer). Most bass amps don't have phantom power or XLR inputs so a condenser mic wouldn't really work well for that particular application. Needless to say, you could plug the mic directly into the PA (as Bunski stated above) provided you had enough channels available. That would be a possible solution for live gigs but requires a lot more equipment (mic, XLR cable, preamp, power amp, pa speakers, speaker cables, etc). If you've already got all that for a band setup, it might not be a big deal for you, but probably overkill for a jam session. Another advantage of the 1/4" output is you can plug the washtub directly into effects pedals. With a mic, you'd have to route a send/return channel out of the mixer to the effects and back. Again... totally doable but a lot more cables and setup required. The piezo/preamp is a really simple solution for a bass player who already has an amp but wants to get into washtub bass.

[@briane.paulson]

Great stuff.

[@musicalmiscellany]

Thanks for checking it out.

[@stevesstrings5243]

Great stuff! Thanks for the suggestions!

[@musicalmiscellany]

Sure thing. I like to pass on the lessons I learn.

[@CurtisJShaw]

Dude you are awesome!

[@musicalmiscellany]

I appreciate that. Thanks for watching the video.

[@peteytwofinger]

i would use a zoom or bass multi effect . use a auto wah and over drive - so jealous - want !

[@musicalmiscellany]

It’s super easy to build. Have fun. Thanks for watching.

[@marinevet7273]

Can’t wait for you to do it again vs.2

[@musicalmiscellany]

Thanks for checking it out. I would probably do a few things differently the second time but this one works pretty good.

[@1980bwc]

Nice job!

[@musicalmiscellany]

Thanks for checking out the video!

[@beefyburritoboy9675]

You’re awesome thank you!

[@musicalmiscellany]

Thanks for checking it out.

[@monsha.mp3]

omg i love it, i want one of those

[@musicalmiscellany]

It's a really easy project to build yourself. Thanks for checking it out.

[@monsha.mp3]

@@musicalmiscellany Thank you for providing us with such beautiful content.

[@mollylewis7199]

I just saw this. I’ve had the parts for a wile now and you’ve inspired me to get to it and build one. Those are great additional tips. Thank you. One question - did you leave the tape on the rod piezo when adding the shrink wrap, or did you remove the tape? Great videos. Thanks!

[@musicalmiscellany]

Great to hear. I left the wrap on the piezo rod. Have fun and good luck.

[@aniquinstark4347]

Looks like a pretty good way to train your ear because there's no frets or even a fingerboard to visually guide you.

[@musicalmiscellany]

You are 100% correct. Washtub bass is very much a "feel" instrument as there are no frets and the string doesn't even have a pitch until you put some pressure on it. Thanks for checking out the video.

[@garydesrosiers5692]

I do think it sounds better with the weedwhacker string but that's just my opinion 😏

[@musicalmiscellany]

Thanks Gary. I like the way it feels a lot better. I may try experimenting with different gauges of weedwacker line but this one seems to work pretty well.

[@fourlightsorchestra]

What are the legs for?

[@musicalmiscellany]

Lifting the washtub off the ground slightly allows the sound to come out, similar to the sound hole in a guitar. It's supposed to increase the acoustic volume.

[@bearshield7138]

and we get better

[@musicalmiscellany]

Indeed. Practice is the key.