Granted, there is a lot of weak, toneless tub-thumping out there, produced by players who approach the tub strictly as a percussion instrument and don't even try to play notes (or who don't have the ear to discern the difference). However, a *good* player can pick just about anything on a washtub that could be played on any acoustic bass. For proof, you might give a listen to the work of one Fritz Richmond, who recorded several Vanguard albums in the mid-60s as a member of the Jim Kweskin Jug Band. (Most if not all are available on CD.)

I developed a decent level of expertise myself back in the old days, using white woven natural-fiber rope about a quarter inch in diameter. We used to call it "clothesline rope," which is an even more obsolete term now than it was then, but the same product is also known as "sash cord," and was already recommended earlier in this thread.

A couple of years ago, I tried to rig myself up a new washtub bass and start playing again. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of buying yellow nylon "rope," a newer product that has become more readily available than the old-style white cotton rope. I got very frustrated at my inability to play any notes at all -- I was only able to produce the worst kind of toneless thumping that has always given the instrument a bad name.

So, I learned that decent gutbucket playing requires the right equipment (especially the string) as well as a reasoably skilled player.

For someone with the right kind of musical intuition, the washtub bass can be played nearly as easily as the kazoo, and the output can be just as musical and as complex as *any* bass figure you can imitate, improvise, or "hear" in any way in your mind's ear.

PS: It's not as easy as you might think to have your bass double as a beer cooler when not in service. Once you drill that hole in the bottom for the eyebolt, you can forget about holding water. Also, with the bolt and all installed, the tub won't sit flat on a floor or deck (although I suppose you could set the tub in sand, mud., etc., easily enough)

The alternative is to remove the bolt/string/stick assembly and duct-tape the hole shut, and then reinstall it when you're finished drinking and ready to play. Way too much trouble for me -- especially since you're likely to want to start playing before you're done drinking!