Building a Gut Bucket... where do I start?

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I would like to build an instrument and a gut bucket sounds like fun. What materials do I need, and how do I do it? Then, how do I play it?? Hehe

-- Brian (ponycrzy@epi.net), March 02, 2002

Answers

a gut bucket?? hand the animal up,, slice down the belly,, let the guts fall,, INTO the bucket,, how YOU play it at that point,, is up to you

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), March 02, 2002.

Like a stand-up bass?

-- cowgirlone in OK (cowgirlone47@hotmail.com), March 02, 2002.

Gut bucket - washtub bass. I have seen them, and plans for one somewhere. You need a washtub, a pole (old hockey stick, broom handlet, dowling etc.) and a 'string'. Find someone who plays an upright bass, and get an old one off them. Otherwise, you'll have to buy a whole set of four at a music store. Now, how it goes together I'm not to sure of. I know there's a hole in the bottom of the washtub that the broom handle fits into. The string is attached to the wash basin near to this hole, and is also attached at the top of the pole. It is played by plucking the string. The different notes are achieved by sliding your hand up and down the string and pole at the same time. This is done in about the top third, while the plucking is done lower down on the string. They are great fun. I've seen them played, but unfortunately never paid much attention on how they were put together, except for the obvious which is what I've given you here.

Lots of luck.

-- Bernie from Northern Ontario (bernadette_kerr@hotmail.com), March 02, 2002.


There are some sites you can check out if you do a google search. Here is one of them. wash tub bass They really are fun!

-- cowgirlone in OK (cowgirlone47@hotmail.com), March 02, 2002.

There's a buncha homemade musical instruments at:

http://www.ehhs.cmich.edu/~dhavlena/

-- Goose (bgmicro@aol.com), March 02, 2002.



Washtub bass. Happy to see that there are still some people who remember those. From what I've seen of the new style, the pole is solid. The left hand applies tension to the string at the "neck" of the pole while the right hand picks the notes. With the simpler ones, the pole was loosely attached to the about halfway between the center and the edge. The left hand was at the top of the pole and applied tension to the string that way to change notes. Nothing but a washtub, broomstick, and G string. Alas, haven't heard that sound since the 1940s!

-- Martin Longseth (paquebot@merr.com), March 03, 2002.

When I was in highschool back in Jurassic times, my friends and I formed a Jug Band. It was during the 60's when coffee houses and folk music were big. We dressed like stereotypical 'hillbillies' or what we thought they dressed like from the TV and movies, and played jug band music. We had a guitar, banjo, washboard, Kazoos, and a gut bucket. We were a big hit for about three years and had a ball. We made next to zero money, but who cared...we were stars!!! This was in Hamilton Ontario where very few had ever heard this type of music. The gut bucket directions above fit what we did with ours so I won't bore you. The only thing we did different from above was to use a thick cord (window sash) for our string. It was a lot easier to play than a real bass string, and we didn't slide up and down the pole to change notes, but pulled back on the broom handle to change the tension. It took some practice but worked fine.

Russ...from Bertie Heron's Autocratic Breakfast Table Jub Band

-- (imashortguy@hotmail.com), March 03, 2002.


Now, don't laugh, folks! I was hesitant to open this thread for fear of exactly what Brian wanted to do. Sigh.....I'm glad it didn't include some animal!

-- Ardie/WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), March 03, 2002.

Go to www.google.com and do searches - use "gutbucket bass", "gut bucket bass" (note the space), "washtub bass", "wash tub bass", and don't forget "tea-chest bass" and "tea chest bass".

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), March 03, 2002.

Hey Thanks everyone! I finished my own version of a Gut Bucket today.... Sounds great! I used plans found on the website posted above.

-- Brian (ponycrzy@epi.net), March 06, 2002.


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