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Washtub Bass Facts

Washtub Bass Facts
The washtub bass is a musical instrument of the string family of instruments. It is also referred to as the gutbucket, as it became popular in the early 1900s in African American jug bands that improvised to make instruments from a variety of items. The washtub bass became popular in American folk music and there are many variations of the washtub bass around the world today. The washtub bass is believed to be derived from the ground harp - a primitive instrument in Africa. The washtub bass is something that can be made very cheaply with a washtub (turned upside down), wood pole or stick, and a plastic-coated steel core clothesline.
Interesting Washtub Bass Facts:
The name gutbucket was used for the instrument because the bucket used for making the instrument was also used by African American families to gather the guts of animals - often pigs, to make chitlins - a popular food at the time.
The washtub bass is commonly played along with a washboard, spoons, and other 'homemade' instruments that are easy to find and use to create music.
The resonator of the washtub bass is the washtub.
The stick used to make a washtub bass neck should be 4.5 feet in length. It needs to be strong enough to not break when being played.
The plastic-coated steel core clothesline won't break and is commonly used to build washtub basses today.
The string is attached to the bottom center of the washtub either by being strung through a hole in the center or attached with a bolt. It is also attached to the neck (stick).
The musician plays the washtub by planting their foot on the washtub bottom rim, and applies or releases tension on the string while strumming to create sound.
Washtub basses can be electrified and amplified with a microphone.
A washtub bass made by Fritz Richmond is on display at the Smithsonian Institute.
Famous washtub bass players include Will Shade (1898-1966) of the Memphis Jug Band, Fritz Richmond (1939-2005), Brian Ritchie of the Violent Femmes, Les Claypool of Primus, Terry Devine of the Genuine Jug Band, Stu Cook of Creedence Clearwater Revival, and David Bowie - who played the instrument as a pre-teen.
When Sam Phillips of Sun records first recorded Elvis Presley he was actually trying to find gut bucket (washtub bass) music to record.
Jug bands, with washtub basses, were most popular between 1925 and 1935 in Memphis and Louisville. They were most popular in New Orleans in 1900.
Washtub basses can be made with a variety of alternative 'washtubs' and they are also made and used in different countries around the world. As such they are sometimes called a gas tank bass, a barrel bass, a box bass (in Trinidad), a bush bass (in Australia), a babatoni (in South Africa), a dumdum (in Zimbabwe), a dan bau (in Vietnam), a sanduku (in Zanzibar), a tulon (in Italy), and a tingotalango (in Cuba).
The tea chest bass is a popular washtub bass variation. It is made with a wooden tea chest, a broomstick, and one or more strings.


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