bass boxes: Djever hear of one?

Subject: bass boxes: Djever hear of one?
From: Margo
Date: 14 Dec 99 - 02:40 PM

The other night I was at a song circle at which a lady had brought a bass box. I had never heard of one, and was very impressed. It was as though someone was playing a stand up base. Have you ever seen one? Do you think they are as good as a bass for performing? Just curious..
Margo

Subject: RE: bass boxes: Djever hear of one?
From: Allan C.
Date: 14 Dec 99 - 02:54 PM

Sure, I've heard of 'em; but I 'most always use the Coleman cooler to keep the bass in.

Just kidding. I presume you are talking about a sort of wooden version of a washtub bass. Never saw one but seems like something that would be good to hear. Can you describe the one you saw?

Subject: RE: bass boxes: Djever hear of one?
From: Blackcat2
Date: 14 Dec 99 - 03:38 PM

I'd be interested as well - I play the "warshtub" bass (as my beloved Patricia form Indian always insisted upon calling it) and would be interested in a wooden version - I'd guess it'd be more mellow, but who knows.

pax yall

Subject: RE: bass boxes: Djever hear of one?
From: Bert
Date: 14 Dec 99 - 03:45 PM

Yes, we used to make them out of tea chests in England, didn't we Roger the Skiff? Everyone thought we were crazy going 'round banging on tea chests to find one with just the right thunk sound.

But the best washtub bass I've seen was made by Elliot Kenin. It has a real upright bass neck and bridge, and a washtub mounted on it's side.

Subject: RE: bass boxes: Djever hear of one?
From: kendall
Date: 14 Dec 99 - 04:25 PM

I think I saw what you refer to in Jamaica. A large wooden box with a hole in the side. Over the hole a set of metal tabs which are plucked with the fingers, sort of like the African thumb piano only bigger. It produced a deep bass sound, even with the player sitting on it.

Subject: RE: bass boxes: Djever hear of one?
From: Bert
Date: 14 Dec 99 - 04:26 PM

Ah! that sounds like a different beastie. Margo, you'll have to describe it for us.

Subject: RE: bass boxes: Djever hear of one?
From: Margo
Date: 14 Dec 99 - 04:48 PM

It is as Kendall described! A wooden box about the size of a sewing machine with a hole in the middle of one side. It has metal tabs of varying sized that she plucked like a jews harp. She wore a glove. I was really impressed by the sound! Apparently her husband sells them. Shall I post his info for inquiries? Margo

Subject: RE: bass boxes: Djever hear of one?
From: Bert
Date: 14 Dec 99 - 04:51 PM

Why not? Sounds like a fun instrument.

Subject: RE: bass boxes: Djever hear of one?
From: Blackcat2
Date: 14 Dec 99 - 04:58 PM

sounds cool to me too.

Also, I'd like the description in a bit more detail of the "wooden" washtub made out of a tea crate - though where I'd find a sturdy wooden box these days, who knows...

Subject: RE: bass boxes: Djever hear of one?
From: Chet W.
Date: 14 Dec 99 - 04:59 PM

Yeah, I saw one at Clifftop last summer. We're sitting around playing under a tent, a guy walks up with a wooden box and sits on it, and in a few minutes we hear what sounds just like a string bass but where the hell was it coming from? Then he showed it to us. It is exactly like a mbira or thumb piano from Africa, but much bigger. The metal tabs were about 1 inch wide and from about 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 inches long. The bridge was a very sturdy wooden one, held down with three big carriage bolts. I intend to make one myself. A friend of mine who bought one from this guy said he sells them for $250 and he does an excellent job. A must hear instrument. I have heard them on Jamaican records but I never saw one before.

Chet

Subject: RE: bass boxes: Djever hear of one?
From: Bert
Date: 14 Dec 99 - 05:05 PM

The tea chest bass is just like the washtub or gut bucket bass. Tea chests in England at that time were cubes made of plywood about 1/4 inch thick with sides ranging from 24 to about 30 inches. You drill a hole in the middle of the top (Or bottom really, the tops were usually removed, so you turned the box over.) and used plastic clothes line and a broom handle.

The mbira thingie sounds more compact though, I'll have to make one.

Subject: RE: bass boxes: Djever hear of one?
From: Ted from Australia
Date: 14 Dec 99 - 05:06 PM

Known in OZ as the Bush Bass, We used one (teachest type) in a bush band "Bludger O'Toole" The player used to complain that it was very damaging to his plucking finger until we hung a microphone (Sure SM57) inside. Together with a lagerphone (see previous thread) it contributird to a driving rythm section.
To build:
Select suitable wooden teachest.
Attach a rubber crutch tip to a corner of the teachest
Get a broom handle cut a groove in one end
Cut the broom handle to a comfortable length to hold in the crutch tip
Drill a hole in centre of the top(ex bottom) of the tea chest and thread a stout string through the hole.
Tie a suitable stopper (stick) to the end of the string inside the box and tie the other end to the room handle.

To Play
Hold broom handle in left hand
Put right foot up on tea chest
Pluck string with index finger of right hand ( a leather fingerstall is a good idea)
Vary tension of string(get right note :-)) by varying pull with left hand

Regards, Ted

Subject: RE: bass boxes: Djever hear of one?
From: Margo
Date: 14 Dec 99 - 07:26 PM

OK. His name is George Neidhart, and on his business card it is called an Appalachian Bass Box. Phone [phone] or in Portland Oregon, [phone] email [e-mail].

I hope George gets some calls! (Nothing in it for me) Margo

Subject: RE: bass boxes: Djever hear of one?
From: Roger the skiff
Date: 15 Dec 99 - 04:46 AM

Ah, the old tea chest, Bert, what would we do today? Even the removal men use plastic crates and cardboard boxes instead of teachests and I don't think the sound would be the same!
RtS