Gut Bucket

A Gut Bucket is a single-stringed musical instrument invented by early jazz and blues musicians who either didn’t have the money to afford an upright bass or found one too cumbersome to pack around.

Made from everyday items

It consists of an overturned washtub with a hole drilled in the middle of the bottom panel where a string – anchored to the bottom – passes through the hole and is attached to the end of a broom stick. The other end of the broom stick rests on the lip of the upside-down tub.

The player pulls at the stick toward him/her to tighten or loosen the string. The other hand plucks the string. This creates a bass sound.

Elvis had one in his band

The crude bass sound melded readily with the slide guitar, washboard, spoons and harmonica sound of the early blues and blue grass players. Muddy Waters, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis were in bands that featured the gut bucket. Sun Records impressario, Sam Phillips, sought that type of a bass sound when he first recorded Elvis Presley.

Gut buckets are found around the world, particularly in the choice of resonator, which is what the washtub is called. So here are some variation: “gas-tank bass,” “barrel bass,” “box bass” (Trinidad), “bush bass” (Australia), “babatoni” (South Africa) and many others.

The gut bucket sounds especially good when an actual “D” string for an upright bass is used. For better sound control a microphone is placed under the resonator (or beside it) which is then put through a good EQ.

I had one accompany me on many occasions.