How To Make A Whamola

[lazorwolf489]

I now have a home-made Whamola of my very own. You have no idea how much I've wanted one for the past 4 or so years. I definitely wouldn't have one if it weren't for this video. I owe you many thanks. So.. THANK YOU!

[NapoleanXV]

@lazorwolf489 No problem buddeh!

[macDiesiel]

do we need to wear lipstick when we are building it or only when playing it

[NapoleanXV]

@macDiesiel Yes. It is mandatory.

[fordsucks27]

I'm ok with it rubbing against the wood, Feels better that way.

[asmithgdci]

Should the handle, wheel, and nail all move as one when you are finished?

[NapoleanXV]

@asmithgdci Mine didn't but it shouldn't matter too much. Although you may want to make the wheel free floating for sake of the string.

[lebleufleur]

didn't get shit..

[NapoleanXV]

@lebleufleur FUCK SALT.

[fordsucks27]

@NapoleanXV Let me tell you about a porcupines balls, THERE SMALL AND DONT GIVE A SHIT!

[mackawack12346]

Can I stick my penis inside it?

[NapoleanXV]

@mackawack12346 you probably could. I would encourage it!

[CYLECRAZYCYLE]

u r chopped

[10guitars]

hey man, very well described, went to see primus in melbourne Aus. last week and have been obsessed with the whamalishious ever since, will be giving it a shot in the very near future.

[Whitemofoproductions]

how much should this cost after its all done

[chromerobo]

u sound like a prick! =D

[NapoleanXV]

@chromerobo that I do!I cant help it! puberty! I was 15!

[themacleodreynolds]

a sturdy slim shaft.

[squiresuzuki]

Red oak is a good choice. Hard n/ cheap.

[NapoleanXV]

@squiresuzuki Thats what she said.

[WachaDrop]

Is your name Napolean because you look like Jon Heder?

[NapoleanXV]

@WachaDrop I dont see the slightest resemblance. its a variant spelling of napoleon XIV who created the famed song "they're coming to take me away (haha)"

[johny1t]

very informative dude, excellent walk through video !

you rock !!!

[drumsrock999]

shut up peach! MAO

[mbsl5]

Nicely done. Looks like your head did a 360 (like in The Exorcist) at 5:31 :-)

[KingfisnPunk]

koolayed lucky 4 u ,i seen them the year b 4 last at the hollywoon paladium ,soooo many chicks

[KingfisnPunk]

primus sucks

[NapoleanXV]

@KingfisnPunk they do and I get to see them in october!

[madarkwaspian]

Great video! Just some quick questions:

When the handle is in relaxed posititon (when the handle is horizontal), is it the string tension holding it in place? And if so, the little ball on the other end of the string (on the other end that you drill a hole for) loose and not up against the whamola body? Should it only be touching the body when you pull the handle down?

Thanks man.

[NapoleanXV]

@madarkwaspian the strign is pretty slack when its relaxed, but thats because I dont use a little stopper thing at the top like most do.

and I dont think I really understand your second question

[madarkwaspian]

@NapoleanXV Thanks for answering the first question. Yeah, the second questions a bit of a mess, but I think I figured it out by watching your video and a few others. Thanks again!

[madarkwaspian]

@NapoleanXV Thanks for the heads up, also have you had issues with the string breaking, or do the upright bass strings endure pretty good?

[NapoleanXV]

@madarkwaspian they can take a pretty good beating

[josephj735]

what string do you use on the full sized whamola, or rather what does les use? Is it an upright bass E string?

[NapoleanXV]

D string, I dunno what les does

[BenjaminSN]

I love the in between "shut up"s :P .. Nice guide, gonna start building one when I get back from the Claypool concert in Berlin next week!

[joecroucher]

dude how stoned were you when u made this lol

[UltraBibendum]

EUROBEAT 4 LIFE

[felpudo00]

you should make a step by step video of how to make one

[NapoleanXV]

why? there are step by step instructions in the info box. plus, this video is two years old, I dont even have the whamola anymore.

[JEVentrillon]

and you are totally blazed

[JEVentrillon]

must be fun playing this blazed

[NapoleanXV]

am I?

[zben504]

Why don't you counter-balance the handle with a spring???

[NapoleanXV]

because Im lazy :D and didnt put very much work into this, my whamola stayed in afreinds garage and it rusted :p

[zben504]

LOL fair enough

[GalitUnggoy]

Mine cost about $20 to build. It sounds amazing when used through a guitar effect processor.

[PRSGuitarist1]

aprox. how much did this cost to make?

[NapoleanXV]

@PRSGuitarist1 about 90 US bucks

[PRSGuitarist1]

thanks.

[mrjonthehat]

This is still THE BEST GUIDE to building a whamola anywhere ! Mine is still going strong, despite a few breakages and modifications. (Build them strong folks ! ) - I went back to using a wound steel string, from a hardware store, after trying a double bass string - I prefer how it sounds, but it's cool to experiment...A whamola is the reason I carry a ski bag around in the summer d:oD Cheers Napoleon XV

[MoxyMafia]

Hey, I got mine all built, with the exception of the pickup and jack. But when I string it the handle sticks straight up before it's tuned enough to play. I bassically (pun) followed everything you did. Any suggestions to what I could have done wrong?

[NapoleanXV]

mroe than likely you picked a really low string, it needs to be quite slack and if its a D string, tuned to about a C when its full tension

[MoxyMafia]

well i used a red label double bass d string, but it was buzzing on the fret board, is it supposed to be that loose?

[NapoleanXV]

if you can post a video showing your problem that would be the easiest way for me to help you fix it

[MoxyMafia]

Alright, I'll try to get hold of a camera. But It might be a couple days, because I was really smart and used a guitar tuning machine that broke the string (that's all the music shop had). But it only broke at the top, so I'll move up where the string starts. Thanks for the help, I'll try and get that video up...

[Orgybar]

what kind of upright bass string did you use?

A string?

[NapoleanXV]

D string

[sociopathix]

hey man, does it have to be a fender percission bass pick up, or any bass pick up?

[NapoleanXV]

any passive pick up will work

[Wabaanimkii]

hehe....... nut

[NapoleanXV]

yes, well said

[brokehart]

hare dare u tell cat to shuttup

[NapoleanXV]

tis' my peach cat that loves me, I brush her everyday, she can be quiet for ten minutes

[Whiteblooded]

Noob question... by p bass pickups, you mean passive pickups? Awesome whamola by the way. Though I'm not sure about the nail hinge xD

[NapoleanXV]

as in pickup from a fender styled P bass

[llama2399]

ware u get them 6 foot strings

[NapoleanXV]

they are upright bass strings, you can get them in multiple places online

[MoxyMafia]

Alright, sorry, I wasn't thinking, but what string should I use from, and where can you get it?

[NapoleanXV]

musicansfriend has upright bass strings, depends on the scale length

[MoxyMafia]

do you know what les uses?

[MoxyMafia]

How do you keep the string on, all you said was to feed it through, but then what?

[NapoleanXV]

you wind it around the tuning peg, the ball end keeps the string in place

[MoxyMafia]

ball end? what ball end?

[NapoleanXV]

the ball end of the string

[lazthespaz4]

i got a phone jack at radio shack it looks about the same as a regular bass output but it has 2 extra prongs. i'm not sure if i got the right one

[NapoleanXV]

thats a stereo jack it will work but make sure you use the tip lugs instead of the middle ones

[lazthespaz4]

you say a piece of wood with a depth less then an inch would be better for the finger board but wouldn't it get in the way of the pick up?

[NapoleanXV]

as long as the bridge is high enough no it wouldnt. a shorter fingerboard makes for an easier pulley system

[moveEcritik]

Primus Sucks

[NapoleanXV]

indeed

[MissGravesBlogs]

Thank you! I'll try and make one on my own, I don't know how well it'll come out, lol

[BluesBrian]

Nice job on the whamola! Thanks for sharing. I got two questions:

1. What band & gauge upright string did you use?

2. What's the measurement between the nut and the bridge? (scale length)

Thanks!

// Brian

[OmertaMercenary69]

A B string would work tho wouldnt it?

[NapoleanXV]

any string would work, but if your going for a full scale i dunno where you would find one

[OmertaMercenary69]

right on man, simple enough, im kinda surprised to see how many people know what a whamola is! maybe ill throw one together now and post it up,see what you think but fuck yea ill smoke to that bro!

[SythDarK08]

you should make a business out of this. i dont have enough patience to do this kindof thing lol

[ravenshield56]

whats a whamola?

[peacemakercc]

What stops the hand lever from flipping too far forward once under string tension? Looks like it would just flip to the front. Thanks

[jpatt1000]

Thanks for the info. Just got mine built using your guidlines. One suggestion, I used 1/4-20 hex head cap screws and nylock nuts to hold everything together. I think if you replace the nail through your roller with 1/4-20 hardware you'll get rid of the rattliness. Anyway, mine works well, just need to install the pickup and jack. Once again, thanks!

[NapoleanXV]

no problem! I like to be helpful

[mjschemicalromance]

so can you just find a shaft of wood about 1"x1"x3" (1x3) ? or does it have to be a specific "fingerboard"

[NapoleanXV]

its really doesnt matter, you jsut want something the same width of the shaft

[jpatt1000]

Thanks! I heard you playing yours on Whamola Marmalade, and it sounded great!

[jpatt1000]

P.S.S. I also assume you used an upright bass string. Which one did you use, or does it even matter?

[NapoleanXV]

its a D string

[jpatt1000]

P.S. As a possible fix for pickup jack mounting problems, Try using a channel instead of a square tube and mount the jack on the front. That way it doen't matter how long the jack is. Wish me luck!

[jpatt1000]

I was going to start building one this weekend! Mine was a little backwards though. I was going to put the tuning peg at the bottom with the end of the string threaded through a hole in the handle. I also had the handle mounted below the pulley with a stop so it can't come past 90 degrees. I planned on having the pully a little ways off the fingerboard to do double duty as the nut. I take it you've made a few, so I'll take any advice. Will this way work as well?

[NapoleanXV]

actauly I have only made the one, :p but yes I actualy like that Idea better! (the tuning peg)

[frod79]

looking at your instructions you drilled a hole through the length.. or i guess thickness of the steel and fed the string through....so you would string it from behind? common sense.... what a novel concept.

[frod79]

so friggin pissed i bought a single string saddle bridge and failed to realize it will not hold a double bass string because the stupid ball/pin at the end of the string is twice the size of a normal bass string (.5 vs. .25... my ONLY possibility to salvage this is to look for a super long scale string and somehow play around with positioning the bridge closer than where i have it.. talk about your deflating moments!

[shlongy911]

i dont even no wat the fuk it is

[NapoleanXV]

its a whamola, how did you find this video if you didnt specifically search for it?

[frod79]

finally getting around to building one... its coming along nicely i have plenty of pictures on my facebook but no video unfortunately - maybe ill do one when its done.... taking my time with the woodwork. Hopefully it'll kick some ass.

[NapoleanXV]

or in terms of my band, kick BASS

[RadixBloom]

you are the coolest most smartest-est all time cooleriffic person who knows all of the universes secrets. The only thing you need to work on is, NOT ACTING LIKE YOU KNOW EVERYTHING! I know this will be hard because, well, you apparently DO know everything, but please do try.

[NapoleanXV]

I dont think I came off as arogant, Kick your bass, is my bands slogan, its jsut a joke, as our name: Captain Muskey's Bass Boat. (b+ass) not (base) so its a joke, meant to be taken light hearted

[ninfreak18]

hey i am almost done building my whamola but i have a problem with the pickups i bought. it came in a set of 2, each pickup has its own wire but they are both connected by a red wire. can i cut the wire connecting them or do i have to use both of them?

[NapoleanXV]

go ahead and cut it

[frod79]

hmm.. well i am halfway through securing my parts for building my Brin Levinson clone. I cant get a good look at em at the website - trying to figure out where to get those metal brackets/connectors... and how that lever is being held up. Any ideas let me know, thanks all.

[NapoleanXV]

I think he might machine those brackets himself, also, the lever is jsut held up by string tension

[frod79]

has anyone seen a whamola with an active pickup? doable?

[NapoleanXV]

it wont make much difference considering the point isnt exactly tone. probably more or less a waste of money, but definatly doable

[SerjTankian33]

Had to laugh quite hard when you told your cat to shut up :D

Great tutorial, man, I'm probably gonna build one too.

[meghantaylor29]

You use a double bass d string correct? Do you have a it tuned to the D or is it loose?

[NapoleanXV]

yes Its a D string, its not nessecarliy tuned to D, seeing as it wouldnt stay in tune very well, best advice is to jsut play by ear

[matthewcross]

great tutorial, thanks a lot.

also, I agree with the end. Using pot just gets in the way! drug free is the way to be!

[cheesendfeltips]

would this work with an acoustic guitar pickup?

[NapoleanXV]

it would but it would also pick up alot of creeking from the lever, so that might be a problem

[Rhapbus]

I AINT GLUEING MY NUT ANYWHERE YOU SICK FUCK

jk, but really good guide i made mine from your video, too bad you cant teach me how to make a camera or else id video tape me jammin on it ;)

[tylerdredz]

yo what holds the bass string at the bridge? and why did you specifically use the p bass pickup? awesome whamola design

[NapoleanXV]

the hole through the shaft holds the string, jsut push the string right through

to be honest a local guiatr shop had some p-bass pickups from a mexi fender and they gave them to me for cheap

[tylerdredz]

alright thanks dude. I never would of even thought of building a whamola before this video. It even doubles as a weapon with that huge nail on the end

[NapoleanXV]

your not the first to say that haha

[leifnoto]

shutup

[NapoleanXV]

...?

[jovialj]

meow!

[QbidMusicandMore]

Hey man what is the 22 guage wire used for in the parts list? Is that what you were going to use for the bass string?

[NapoleanXV]

its if you choose to use a Pot in your circut, 22 gauge copper wire is a standard in guitar wiring, if your pickup leads are long enough jsut solder driectly to the output jack

[QbidMusicandMore]

Oh duh! I was thinking of all of the mechanics when I asked that. I was also wondering. You said in the other video that the string is an upright bass string did you say it was a D? Is that the lowest string on an upright?

[NapoleanXV]

no, 2nd from the left, upright bass is the same as bass guitar, just larger scale

[Justinmcn]

i would use a double bass E string

[NapoleanXV]

do it! I bet it sounds really cool

[ripzerskins]

I take back my comment.

I thought you meant like electric tuner, silly me :)

I'm going to work on my own design, make it more like the model here, claypool uses.

[NapoleanXV]

yeah, haha I should have said Tuning machine

[ripzerskins]

I don't quite understand what the bass tuner is there for. You just kind of mention 'so we can slip this bass tuner in here.'

what kind of bass tuner? Where? How?

Other then that an excellent guide. Which is good, because I need to build one so I can join the group of fucking awesome people.

[bean9seventy]

my man choon no ..lol

thats super chool dude

i hope u made a patient,, or something ,,

maybe get some dude to help u make a dozen and put your signature and sell on ebay,,,,

in the 1950s it was very popular to have basses like yours with a tea box for accoustics ,,

in the uk it was called skiffle ,,

and thats what i am thinking ,,

what about a mopdern skifflr wash board drum kit ?????

peace and respect ,,

[NapoleanXV]

even before the 1950s people were making washtub basses, and thats not a bad Idea getting a patent, but I am not the inventor, and he might already have a patent, not a bad Idea though!

[CAPUSA]

good job scotty.

[kocky13]

i found out if you beg for 5 stars, it can help

[caroffcliff]

how much was it all together to make it

[ptrLeGrand]

Hey, wanted to ear it, 'see if it's a good Whamola! Post something with its sound on! (would be nice)

[NapoleanXV]

whamola MArmalade is me playing it, look it up on my channel and subscribe!

[BritaniaRuleAgain]

What if you used a jazz bass pickup?

[NapoleanXV]

jsut different tone, it would be cool, give it a try and report back!

[kocky13]

Make sure to saw the pointy end off the nail, NapoleanXV almost poked all our eyes out...

[NapoleanXV]

QUIT IT!!!

[NapoleanXV]

thanks for the Cover!!!! its gREAT!!!

[mrjonthehat]

Thank you so much for this instructional clip.

I completed my first whamola today, and am loving it. It's all metal, (except the bridge, nut, and fingerboard) - as the carved wooden lever I made just wasn't strong enough.

Clip uploaded to youtube.

Cheers, compliments, respect and applause from Glasgow, Scotland d:oD

[kocky13]

whamolas sure are somethin' Weasel, I need that picture

[NapoleanXV]

shut up, I couldnt take it we were at Capt.Muskys house, Ill get it next week, oh and quit spamming my vids!

[wordisbird]

sav dude

[DerdleDoo]

my friend made one in shop class. It's freakin' ghetto :)

[NapoleanXV]

I wanna see!!

[ninfreak18]

Thanks you are fucking amazing! a note on the pickup tho. the cheapest i found was 2 for 70$, do you think i can find a cheaper set or a single package?

[NapoleanXV]

well, you can only get P-bass pickups as a set, so Id look around and ask for old pick used pickups, or find a friend who plays bass and is going t oreplace his pickups, I just advise you to not spend more on the pickups then the rest of the instrument!

[EnergizerBunny804]

Is their an advantage in a metal neck like Les Claypool's?

[NapoleanXV]

Im gonna say resonation, and a Brighter snappier tone, most locally available woods only come in flat planks and if theyre are in a long wood, its probably either Oak or Pine, neither of which are very good for tone

[lazthespaz4]

what kind of upright string do i use?

[NapoleanXV]

the brand I have been using is called Red Label or something like that, its a "D" string

[lazthespaz4]

alright thanks man

[Sticklah]

Whats the total cost of supplies?

[NapoleanXV]

I spent about 90 bucks, but I bought alot more then I needed jsut to make sure, you guys are lucky you get an awesome tutorial, right now Im contemplating building an upright bass, from an old bass neck, defretting it of course

[Mudskippersam]

mann this is awesome. im making one this week and this has been a great help =)

but i would suggest drilling the hole before cutting out the indent into the end of the bar, because during material tests my bar bent while drilling! D= oh noes!

but yeah, really good iinstructional

[Sonnythemobster]

pretty sweet vid man. i might try this with my own twist or something.

[NapoleanXV]

I was planning to make a tenor whamola too, I think it would sound crazy, although it would be more twangy and less thump

[Sonnythemobster]

that'd be pretty sweet. lol. my mum owns a hardware store so most of this stuff is readily available to me. maybe take an A string guitar string but get one thats a really low gauge.

[Austhyma]

Hey Andy, this is your guitar player from IMC (Garage Band)(The only male guitarist). I'm finally checking this out. This is really cool. =D

[joberle]

could a guitar pickup work

[NapoleanXV]

I suppose, but it will sound different