Washtub, or um oil drum bass
Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2009 8:51 pm
Hi Folks, I built this bass a couple years ago to help me get rid of the no bass jitters.
I started out thinking of a simple ole washtub bass, but I didn't like not having 4 strings so this is what I came up with.
This is 1/3 of an oil drum and a luan top plate, and 1/4 size fretboard. I made it pretty heavy but it sounds fairly good. It kept up with a fiddle and guitar.
![Image](http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad124/kb1fvx/Guitar%20stuff/100_4831.jpg)
![Image](http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad124/kb1fvx/Guitar%20stuff/100_4832.jpg)
Here you can see I overbuilt the neck a little.
![Image](http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad124/kb1fvx/Guitar%20stuff/100_4835.jpg)
I made the bridge and tailpiece to fit.
![Image](http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad124/kb1fvx/Guitar%20stuff/100_4830.jpg)
![Image](http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad124/kb1fvx/Guitar%20stuff/100_3259.jpg)
Here it the first try or, protype.
![Image](http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad124/kb1fvx/Guitar%20stuff/100_3263.jpg)
The bass bar wasn't heavy enough on this top, so I made the next one stiffer. Still gonna play with different thicknesses of the bridge and different nut materials. Is gets attention where ever its played.
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
I started out thinking of a simple ole washtub bass, but I didn't like not having 4 strings so this is what I came up with.
This is 1/3 of an oil drum and a luan top plate, and 1/4 size fretboard. I made it pretty heavy but it sounds fairly good. It kept up with a fiddle and guitar.
![Image](http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad124/kb1fvx/Guitar%20stuff/100_4831.jpg)
![Image](http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad124/kb1fvx/Guitar%20stuff/100_4832.jpg)
Here you can see I overbuilt the neck a little.
![Image](http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad124/kb1fvx/Guitar%20stuff/100_4835.jpg)
I made the bridge and tailpiece to fit.
![Image](http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad124/kb1fvx/Guitar%20stuff/100_4830.jpg)
![Image](http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad124/kb1fvx/Guitar%20stuff/100_3259.jpg)
Here it the first try or, protype.
![Image](http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad124/kb1fvx/Guitar%20stuff/100_3263.jpg)
The bass bar wasn't heavy enough on this top, so I made the next one stiffer. Still gonna play with different thicknesses of the bridge and different nut materials. Is gets attention where ever its played.