Another Homemade Instrumet

[Austin Bob]

This bassdrum showed up at the jam session I attended today. When I first saw it from a distance, I was squarely facing it, and I thought it was some kind of large banjo head.

As I got closer, I saw what it actually was. It was made over 20 years ago, and he plays it regularly. He also made the neck, but bought the tuners.

Hard to see in the photo, but the chain in the back is actually a turnbuckle that us used to offset the string pull. It actually sounded surprisingly good. Not quite like a double bass, but it cut through ok.

[pelone]

I love "folk" instruments and applaud the owners who have the courage to play them.

[Jim Garber]

Very cool. That looks like a home-made neck. Jake Wildwood made one with a guitar bass neck. I have a Remo kids Gathering drum that I want to convert to a banjo bass one of these days. I even have a neck for it but just have to figure out how to put it together so it doesn't implode.

[Jeff Mando]

I bet it sounds cool! And, it has its own wheels!

[Br1ck]

I built a three string cigar box guitar for around $25. It was only that much because I bought new wood and bolts for the nut and bridge, and some used tuners. In hindsight I should have gone into my scrap wood pile and hardware drawer. I also used the piezo from a Radio Shack doorbell buzzer, oh, and there was a ten dollar bottle of wine for the slide. You gotta make your own slide just the right length. Big fun.

[fscotte]

Looks like a bass banjo to me.

[Austin Bob]

Looks like a bass banjo to me.

That's kinda what I thought it was when I first saw it, I could only see the top half of the head due to a chair blocking my view.

But it sounds a lot different, more of a thump than the twang I hear above.

[MikeEdgerton]

I would expect a thunk from the size of the body

I actually think that's pretty cool.

[Austin Bob]

I would expect a thunk from the size of the body

I actually think that's pretty cool.

I liked it too Mike. It's a fairly simple concept, but it sounded good, and has held together for over 20 years. Many of us can't say the same for store bought instrument with recognizable names.

When I saw it, I walked up to him and we chatted a bit. I asked permission to take a pic and post it on the forum, and he had no problem at all.