In May 2024 after spending a week attending a workshop with Victor Wooten, Pierce McVeigh made a unique Washtub Bass for Victor.

After building the bass Pierce had graffiti artist Kiba Freeman design and paint a unique personalized tribute to Victor on the tub featuring items of interest and concern to Victor’s vision of music and the planet we live on.

1. Construction

• Base: An inverted metal washtub or large bucket

• String: A single thick string or wire

• Neck: A hoe handle

2. Setup

• The string is attached to the center of the washtub's bottom

• The pole is positioned vertically, with one end on the ground and the other end holding the string taut

3. Playing Technique

• The player stands and holds the pole, varying its angle to change the string's tension

• The string is plucked with the other hand

• Changing the pole's angle produces different pitches

4. Sound

• Deep, resonant bass tones

• Extremely effective for providing rhythm and bass lines

5. Musical context

• Often used in jug bands, bluegrass, and folk music

Each “Tubinator” sold comes with an instructional Video featuring
Pierce McVeigh. Pierce will demonstrate the basic techniques and have you playing along within minutes!