Sporting Life (Tea Chest Bass)

[KevinRexrod]

I,m sorry to say that this guy has got it all wrong when it comes to build a tea-chest bass. My very first bass was a tea-chest bass, and mine had a fixed neck with a fingerboard. The top op the box was reinforced to withstand the tension of the string, and i,ll tell you mine sounded much more like a real bass with an amazing sustain believe it or not and i didn,t need a glove to play it.

[MrZeroTerrorRide]

1:49 He's flipping me off!!! that Mothra Hugger!!!

[ItsMeCrofty]

Or at least explain what you've done?

[lewdite]

@ItsMeCrofty I have attached a bracket to the side. It is a bracket that has a spring-like clasp that I can just snap the broom handle into. The bracket is probably intended for garden tools etc.

[ItsMeCrofty]

Hi, any chance you could show the other side of the box, where the broom handle clips on?

[bobbystormont]

I'm all for cost-cutting in the performance of music, but surely cheaper and easier these days to purchase a second-hand acoustic bass guitar!

[VonBlade]

@bobbystormont Wholly missing the point. Tea-Chest bass is much cheaper, and you can make one in a couple of minutes, which saves lugging a bass about. Plus you don't get the same sound out of a genuine bass

[Theslavedrivers]

@VonBlade Well, its beyond me, put it that way.

[gfmgma]

Great voice, could spend the hole afternoon listening to this. You're very talented, nice job!

[lewdite]

@gfmgma Thank you for those kind words…

[Slimboyfat1979]

very informative...are they loud enough though to perform with other instruments?

[lewdite]

@Slimboyfat1979 With acoustic instruments… yes.

[ukulelemike]

Not much volume-can a hole be cut in the front, like a bass fiddle, f-holes, or some-such? Or tip it on edge like a washtub bass?

[ramiejose]

tear the skin of ur skin

[cosycleaner]

Yep, made mine nearly 50 years ago too - happy days...

[xairflyer1969]

Hey Dude...you are the best...cant wait to see some more....excellent....il be singing that in my head for days to come.

[clevblue]

That sounds great Lew, thanks. You sing like Ken Colyer, too, excellent!

[ettorejim]

DOES IT MAKES ANY NOTES?!?

[wesenlord]

Are you a painter?

[lewdite]

@wesenlord Once upon a time, I was…

[8000cheese]

what do u use for a bass string?

[lewdite]

@8000cheese Rope.

[singularity64]

Wow! That takes me back. I remember making one of those 50 years ago. Can't remember what became of it. Probably should have hung onto it. By the sounds of it it could have been worth a bit today LOL

Cheers

Ferdy

[normwebs]

Is this the same 'Sportin' Life Blues' written and performed by Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee ? How strange you should claim it was written by Chas McDevitt. I bet you think he wrote 'Freight Train' as well

[lewdite]

@normwebs Strange observation you've made here. Nowhere do I claim this song was written by Chas McDevitt, in fact, I wrote in the description "Sporting Life is a Brownie McGee song that the Chas McDevitt Skiffle Group taught me to love".

Freight Train by the way was written by Elizabeth Cotton.

[normwebs]

@lewdite Sorry. Somehow I missed anr mention of Brownie. Glad to hear that you love this blues. And me. From the time I heard Ken Colyer do it in the mid 50s at his club, Studio 51. I had a group, the Fortyniners, and we used it, though nowhere in Ken's league. Remember 'Muleskinner Blues', 'Downtown Train' 'Ella Speed' ? I do feel the Ken Colyer group, with John Bastable, was far ahead of all others.

As you know, there are examples on 'You Tube'.

[lewdite]

@normwebs I did not know about Ken Colyer's Skiffle Group until many years later. Living in Canada I had limited exposure to the skiffle scene in the 1950s. I was familiar with Lonnie Donegan, The Vipers, and Chas. McDevitt for the most part. When I later discovered Ken Colyer I actually preferred his skiffle… more "authentic" in a way.

[normwebs]

@lewdite Glad you liked Ken's style.. An evening at his club was very special. The band played a very joyous, authentic form of New Orleans jazz. In between sets, the skiffle group would take over.

As you have agreed, it was light years away from the other groups. I have great memories, and it was very nice to hear your comments and performance. Do you know the other Colyer tracks on YOUTUBE.

[lewdite]

@normwebs I don't know if I have seen them all but I have seen many and I also have all of Ken Colyer's skiffle recordings. I met Monty Sunshine in 1989 at the 100 Club on Oxford street which led me to a get together with Lonnie Donegan the next night in Maidenhead. To this day I still keep in touch with Chas McDevitt. So you might say that skiffle is in my soul.

[europica]

Very informative. On the Teachest bass that I play the guy who made it used bail twine rather that rope, but he does eventually replace it after a long while. So I can play without shredding my fingers. The sound you got there is really cool, a nice deep sound. Thanks for posting this video.

[StopTheMoti0n]

produce* of kenya

[FlatfootJohnny]

Im loving that bass and loving that tune. walking home today i saw someone throwing out 3! tea chests the same as your one...when I got home i made me a tea chest bass...its awsome! woo yeah

[MsBobohj]

never heard of it

[loyboy1979]

ive never heard of this im going to make one now wow amazing ur clip was funny also inspriing i now can have a go at making one sweet

[bemuzic]

great sruff...I'm going to be on the lookout for tea chests now!!

[MrBarryMusic]

Just found one cleaning out my grandma's house. It's a sign!

[lewdite]

I'd say "GO FOR IT!"

[MrBarryMusic]

I did! I might have to post a video response!

[lewdite]

I look forward to it...

[MsBobohj]

@MrBarryMusic how would it take your skin off thats dum i dont belive that

[MrBarryMusic]

@MsBobohj .... What did I say about skin?

[doogey9]

Excellent.....i've got to have one!

[freezazoid]

it's amazing that anyone ever used this in any sort of band. You would constantly be out of tune unless you were some sort of master at it.

[SirCoughsalot]

Well, I don't know if I can find a tea chest, but dad said he'd look for a washtub for me the next time he's out in the mountains. A SirCoughsalot Skiffle Group is becoming more and more possible each day.

[Graemereserve2]

Lots of fun - well done !

[NervousPaulvis]

Yeah Nice going boy, and a good sound too but you don't half make hard work for your self. Try using a thinner string 0.5mm woven nylon builders yarn is best. Also turning the box upt'other way and putting strings across the middle allows more sound to come out and let's you stick your foot inside rather than having your knee up in the air like that.

Check out some of my olde ones and let me know wot you think of my new lutiered Tea-Chest.

chow4now

Paulvis

[Jusdebanane]

This is incredible, fantastic, helpful, wunderbahr, great, well anything! I love it! Thank you so very, very much!

[buddyeagle]

Washtub Bass in USA, look for a Tub and pluck it, easy to build and fun to play.

[jc163268]

cool video only good tutorial on the whole of the internet on how to make one. Can anyone play tea chest bass do i need to have bass guitar experiance

[lewdite]

Anyone can play... you just need rhythm.

[socom6543]

Jammer dat je het geluid niet echt goed kan horen... Kan je geen verschillende tonen maken door het touw hoger en lager bij de bezemsteel vast te houden?

[jellyfishslapper]

dear lewdite,

great video!! but what string/twine do you use?

[lewdite]

It is a rope (not too thick)

[billkilpatrick]

great painting!  check out "annieandmac" - their "magic flute" video in particular: interesting modification to their wash-tub bass. (mozart and wash-tub bass!)

[lewdite]

Painting behind me is by Winnipeg artist James Culleton. Thanks for the tip on "annieandmac"... great old time music.

[wmstrop]

Lew, you are one amazing musician! Thanks for sharing the inner workings of the Tea Chest Bass. 5 stars for this most entertaining video. I'm off now to take some skin off my skin (?).

Bill

[lewdite]

That can hurt!

[KnickKnackerson]

yep, wonderful. tutorials are super duper.

Thanks so much for the 7 CD collection(I think I have 8 now) Unbelievable!!!

[lewdite]

As a fellow artist I thought you might appreciate the CD cover art on these CD's. It is all your fault because when we made that CD two years ago (Songs My Father Taught Me To Love) you introduced me to Dan and I couldn't resist the opportunity of putting together a Lew Dite retrospective which took 7 CD's to complete.

[jacquesmees]

Very nice video

[brokenbirch]

Hi Lew,

Great video. Very interesting!!! I heard that when you upload your 400th video they're going to rename this website LEW TUBE!!!

The best,

'WT" & Maxine

[lewdite]

You may be right... BUT.... if I spend much more time at the computer I will have to change my name to YOU TUB

[Monklady]

Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant! Another of your classics, although the retakes mean you aren't perfect as first thought...

I always wondered how the tea chest sound was achieved, thank you for unveiling one of lifes great mysteries.

I take it from your agility that you are recovering well from the fall, great news.

You are so talented! thank you for sharing.

P.S. Hate the hat.

[lewdite]

Recovering well thank you...

After a 7 week layoff I went downhill skiing 4 times this past week. Still lots of snow and plenty of spring sunshine.

[derekeverett]

Kickin butt as usual lew!

[RLewisH]

CooL!