Washtub bass

The washtub bass, or gutbucket, is a stringed instrument used in American folk music that uses a metal washtub as a resonator. Although it is possible for a washtub bass to have four or more strings and tuning pegs, traditional washtub basses have a single string whose pitch is adjusted by pushing or pulling on a staff or stick to change the tension.

"Gutbucket" redirects here. For the band, see Gutbucket (band). For the Liberty Records sampler album, see Gutbucket (album). For the James Brown song, see Gut Bucket (song).

The washtub bass was used in jug bands that were popular in some African American communities in the early 1900s. In the 1950s, British skiffle bands used a variant called a tea chest bass, and during the 1960s, US folk musicians used the washtub bass in jug band-influenced music.

Variations on the basic design are found around the world, particularly in the choice of resonator. As a result, there are many different names for the instrument including the "gas-tank bass", "barrel bass", "box bass" (Trinidad), "bush bass" (Australia), "babatoni" (South Africa), "tanbou marengwen" (Haiti) "tingotalango" (Cuba), "tulòn" (Italy), "laundrophone" and others.

The hallmarks of the traditional design are simplicity, very low cost and do it yourself construction, leading to its historical association with lower economic classes. These factors also make it quite common for modern-day builders to promote modifications to the basic design, such as adding a finger board, pedal, electronic pickup, drumhead, or making the staff immovable.

"gas-tank bass"

"barrel bass"

"box bass" ()

Trinidad

"bush bass" ()

Australia

"babatoni" ()

South Africa

"dumdum" ()

Zimbabwe

"dan bau" ()

Vietnam

"sanduku" ()

Zanzibar

"tanbou marengwen, in English, mosquito drum" ()

Haiti

"tingotalango" ()

Cuba

"" (Italy)

tulòn

Other variations on the basic design are found around the world, particularly in the choice of resonator, for example:

vocalist and multi-instrumentalist member of the Memphis Jug Band who recorded from the 1920s until his death in 1966.

Will Shade

washtub bass player and multi-instrumentalist, recorded with Arthur Crudup in 1941.

Kansas Joe McCoy

(1939–2005)^[3] has performed on numerous recordings from America and Japan. One of his washtub basses is in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution.

Fritz Richmond

and Moya Aliya, one-string box players with the influential Malawi group Kachamba Brothers Band. Can be heard on "Donald Kachamba's Kwela Band",^[4] and "Malawi / Concert Kwela".^[5]

Donald Kachamba

of the band The Violent Femmes, plays a 'tubless electric washtub bass'.^[6]

Brian Ritchie

of Primus, often plays a variation called a whamola, as can be heard on the opening theme of the tenth season of South Park.

Les Claypool

Bill Smith, Len Garry, Ivan Vaughan,^[8] and Nigel Walley, tea-chest bass players of The Quarrymen.

[7]

John Sanford, a.k.a. , got his start in show business as washtub bass player for the "Bon Bons".^[9] In the Sanford and Son episode "Sanford and Gong" (aired December 17, 1976), Sanford and Don "Bubba" Bexley audition for The Gong Show with Bubba on washtub bass.

Redd Foxx

a Muppet voiced by Jerry Nelson in Emmett Otter's Jug Band Christmas, puts a hole in his mother's washtub in order to make a washtub bass. He later performs with it in a talent show.

Emmett Otter

and Mike Garbett played washtub bass on the eponymous album Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions – a forerunner band to Grateful Dead.

Bob Weir

the bassist of Creedence Clearwater Revival, played washtub bass on the track "Poorboy Shuffle" from the album Willy and the Poor Boys.^[10] He faked playing the instrument to a recording of "Down on the Corner" on the ABC-TV variety show Music Scene, December 1, 1969.^[11]

Stu Cook

Lionel Kilberg (1930–2008), promoter and player of the 'Brownie Bass' with 'The Shanty Boys' during the folk music revival of the 1950s and 1960s in New York, and producer/lyricist/player of the 1973 album We Walked by the Water featuring Kate Wolf.

[12]

plays a variation of the washtub bass called the 'Magic Pipe' and a few other self-built instruments.^[13]

That 1 Guy

Geoff Bell played the washtub bass for folk punk group .^[14]

Days N' Daze

plays a Taiwanese washtub bass on two Grammy nominated (non-musical category "Best Packaging") albums with The Muddy Basin Ramblers.^[15]