I got a tea chest, although it was made for exporting Chinese mobile phone parts. I got it for free from a back street mobile phone shop. It is exactly like a tea chest in every way. I built my first with my Dad as a kid in the 70's. I wanted one back then because of 'The Quarrymen' and a certain John Lennon. People see I have guitars and basses and don't understand why I would still have a cigar box guitar and tea chest bass. Long may they live.
Yep, standard handles are plentiful and easy to get in most places, 'owever, 'andles a little more illusive but if you ever find on, you'll note the tone you get from an 'andle is something else... a kinda 'eavy and 'onkin timbre... goes well the the 'armonica ;)
@@lilchucktheonemanskifflema2214 Imagine my embarrassment when I showed up at an interview recently dressed only in a whistle and a flute. They laughed at me ... until I started to play.
Hi Li'l Chuck, I've recently acquired what I've always known as a Kazonk-a tina ( or rattler) - a stick with nails drilled in with metal beer bottle caps attached. Great for keeping time. Can you point me to any links on bands, jug bands or others who play these things? Any advice gratefully received. Thanks mate.
Thanks for checking in Geoff, I have one too and have searched but I can't find any videos of mine! Down here in the souther hemisphere, we call it a Largerphone... there seems to be a lot of vids on YT of folks playing them... great instrument! I enjoy making them.
Great video! I doubt if I'll ever be able to find a tea chest here in the USA. I would probably have to make one. Do you have the dimensions of a typical tea chest?
They are getting pretty tough to find anywhere nowadays... anyhow, approximately 600mm high, 400mm - 500mm wide. they are made of pretty thin ply about 5mm but are braced (you can see the bracing inside in the video at about 2min 40. either way, don't over think it, these tea chests were basically roughly constructed boxes.
Thanks a lot! I know I'm being pretty anal about this! Is the top usually square or rectangular? About what size are the braces? It looks like they are about 1"x 3/4". (Pardon the non-metric measurements!)
Thanks so much Chuck! One more question and I won't bug you anymore! What about the metal on the corners? It looks about 20 mm (how's that?) square. I'm a huge Beatle fan, so my goal is to make one like this: www.beatlesbible.com/wp/media/570706_quarrymen_04.jpg
I got a tea chest, although it was made for exporting Chinese mobile phone parts. I got it for free from a back street mobile phone shop. It is exactly like a tea chest in every way. I built my first with my Dad as a kid in the 70's. I wanted one back then because of 'The Quarrymen' and a certain John Lennon. People see I have guitars and basses and don't understand why I would still have a cigar box guitar and tea chest bass. Long may they live.
Cool Paul... yep the tea chest bass is timeless... its beauty is in its simplicity :)
Cool! Something tells me that none of the Christchurch secondhand shops are gonna part with a tea chest for a tenner though.
+Nonferrous Bueller.... probably not now I have started the 2015 Tea Chest Bass revival!
I went looking for a broom 'andle, but all I could find was a broom handle.
Yep, standard handles are plentiful and easy to get in most places, 'owever, 'andles a little more illusive but if you ever find on, you'll note the tone you get from an 'andle is something else... a kinda 'eavy and 'onkin timbre... goes well the the 'armonica ;)
@@lilchucktheonemanskifflema2214 Imagine my embarrassment when I showed up at an interview recently dressed only in a whistle and a flute. They laughed at me ... until I started to play.
I played one of these with the Quarrymen last Saturday night!
Nice I was only talking with Rod Davis recently as part of a podcast for this show... check it out :) beatledrama.com/home
Excellent!
Thank you!! :)
I want you - I'm going to make myself one. Top video
+Bill Bates Thanks Bill, great to hear from you and have you on board!
I had one years ago but found it a bit bulky to transport SO - does it sound better that a washtub bass??
bulky transport... but you can fill it full or all your other gear :) As for sounding better, that's all in the ear of the beholder :)\
Hi Li'l Chuck, I've recently acquired what I've always known as a Kazonk-a tina ( or rattler) - a stick with nails drilled in with metal beer bottle caps attached. Great for keeping time. Can you point me to any links on bands, jug bands or others who play these things? Any advice gratefully received. Thanks mate.
Thanks for checking in Geoff, I have one too and have searched but I can't find any videos of mine! Down here in the souther hemisphere, we call it a Largerphone... there seems to be a lot of vids on YT of folks playing them... great instrument! I enjoy making them.
I’m wondering if there are construction plans to build a tea chest. They’re very difficult to get in the states.
just build a box shape out of 3mmish ply - dimensions to suit...and batons in the edges to hold it together... :)
@@lilchucktheonemanskifflema2214 - The 3mm ply can sometimes be found being sold as 'door skins' in bundles. Often pretty cheap.
can i use a cello string?
I guess you can try anything! Not sure how good it will be.
Great video! I doubt if I'll ever be able to find a tea chest here in the USA. I would probably have to make one.
Do you have the dimensions of a typical tea chest?
They are getting pretty tough to find anywhere nowadays... anyhow, approximately 600mm high, 400mm - 500mm wide. they are made of pretty thin ply about 5mm but are braced (you can see the bracing inside in the video at about 2min 40. either way, don't over think it, these tea chests were basically roughly constructed boxes.
Thanks a lot! I know I'm being pretty anal about this! Is the top usually square or rectangular? About what size are the braces? It looks like they are about 1"x 3/4". (Pardon the non-metric measurements!)
Bracing is aprox 20mm / 3/4" square. and yep many are rectangle, 400mm x 500mm
facebook.com/skifflemachine :) Bracing is aprox 20mm / 3/4" square. and yep many are rectangle, 400mm x 500mm
Thanks so much Chuck! One more question and I won't bug you anymore! What about the metal on the corners? It looks about 20 mm (how's that?) square.
I'm a huge Beatle fan, so my goal is to make one like this:
www.beatlesbible.com/wp/media/570706_quarrymen_04.jpg
When you buy Tea Chests on Ebay. They don't come to you, you go to them.
It depends on the tea :)
@@lilchucktheonemanskifflema2214 I love Yorkshire and Pluckley tea the best.