How to electrify a washtub bass

Shane Speal shows the secret of Farmer Jon's "Soul Bucket" washtub bass. Discover Shane Speal's Snake Oil Band at www.shanespeal.com

[@stevepethel6843]

You are a genius for coming up with this electrified Washtub bass. . .fantastic and That's a Warp

[@WastelandSeven]

Very cool! Thanks for sharing the tip. (and I guess it's not just rockers who beat up their instruments ;) LOL )

[@pihtbull3055]

Shane that is awesome !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@dannykomatsu1952]

did you try mounting the pickup on the underside of the eye bolt? I am wondering about possible feedback.

[@WILLARDJ]

great video,,,,,,thanks for posting

[@74dartman13]

Such a cool idea!👍😎🎸🎶

[@MrJhchrist]

I wanna see the washboard beat up the washtub, theres gotta be video of that somewhere, yeah?

[@ShaneSpeal]

Well, that usually would happen at the end of a 3 hour show and there is always lots of beer involved. By then, most people are dancing and not filming. ;)

[@blackkoganinja5093]

Dude brilliant

[@ShaneSpeal]

I give all the building secrets in my upcoming book, "Poor Man's Guitar." If I could only keep Farmer Jon from beating the bucket senseless...

[@pickleparade]

What kind of string do you use on this?? Thanks.

[@nicholasbiddle7893]

Weed wacker

[@pluisnonplux9728]

Hi Barry, from the Netherlands! I made a wash tub bass using a big plastic concrete-mixing tub, 90 liters (about 20 gallon?). The best string we can get, is a 10 meter (33foot) 0,1 inch thick kind of plastic wire with an eye on the end, it is a helping tool, used to pull new electric cables/wire through the tubes in the house... It's soft on your hand if you play it, and it has absolutely no elasticity. I hope you can find such a wire in the States... I use a little bit different system on my bass: so I have a plastic tub, a 1,1 inch broom stick, 2 meter long, a 2 mtr piece of string, AND a piece of 2 inch pvc pipe, 4 inch long. This piece of pvc pipe goes from the top over the broom stick AND the wire, so if you pull it down with your left hand, the tone will change, goin higher, up=lower... So it's very easy to get the right tone... Music is fun, have a good time! Sorry for my broken English!

[@bradcoley2895]

I Would happily mail you some rubber grommets for your pickup cable pass through the tub body! They may even stand up to a washboard beating!

[@monkeydooswingband831]

thx!

[@chadbess1859]

Was there a need for a battery for the piezo pickup to work on the amp? Just wondering i know on most guitars they have a 9volt battery but I’m wanting to electrify my washtub bass so i can play on a bass cab but trying to make sure the one I’m going to buy( no inline place for a battery) will work when i plug it into my amp

[@ShaneSpeal]

Chad Bess the battery is for the preamp. A piezo pickup is underpowered on its own. It will work, but not as awesome as one hooked up to a preamp for boost

[@xCRYPTICMINDx]

I would never smash my gutbucket with my washboard no matter how hammered I get.

[@Mlotshaw1]

could u not just mic the inside?