BUILDING YOUR TUB

There are many concepts when making a tub bass or a gutbucket.  Basically the tub is just a resonator or amplifier.  Unlike conventional instruments, old ones don't necessarily sound better.  They may have been built better, but a cheap thin tub sounds fine.  The tub will be placed on the ground upside down, so the sound will be muted (this gives the thump sound used in gut bucket style).  Many builders cut out holes in the sides or build elaborate sound boxes to increase volume, but all you need is to raise the front of the tub off the floor a few inches and let the natural megaphone shape do the job.

The first thing to do is remove the handles and anything else that can produce a vibration or buzz.  Of course you will have to put a hole in the bottom.  It really doesn't have to be in the center (just in case you screw up).  Punch or drill a hole just large enough for your string.

The string is the most important part of your instrument.  Avoid anything that stretches, like monofilament (it will make a rubber band sound and have very limited range).  Also, avoid anything that is twisted.  It will fray and break easily.  A piece of 1/8" braided nylon line or even wire from your local hardware store is fine.  The ideal thing is an actual wound upright bass string (harder to get, but really saves your fingers from blisters).  Attach the string through the hole with a small washer and a knot wrapped with a little tape to prevent vibration.    An eye bolt can be used, but it will reduce the resonance of the string.

The handle or stick can be made of anything strong enough to take the tension (shovel handle best).  Don't make it too short or you won't get your low notes (about 4' to 5').  If the handle is attached rigid to the side of the tub, you will have to fret the string against it to change your notes.  This gives you very limited range and impossible to get higher notes.  I have seen hinges used, but all you need is a notch in the bottom of your stick to set on the edge of the tub.  Cut another notch at a 90-degree angle from the bottom one at the top of the handle.  This is for the string to lodge into, over and about 3 or 4 inches down the handle to a screw or fastener.  If the string stretches, take up the slack on this fastener.  Try to keep the top of the handle directly over the center of the tub.