BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    (1) Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention pertains to an electronic bass musical instrument. More specifically, the present invention pertains to an electronic washtub bass musical instrument having the appearance, character and ambiance of a traditional washtub bass where the sounds of the bass are produced electronically, thereby providing vastly improved tonal quality and pitch accuracy to the sounds produced. 
         [0003]    (2) Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    The washtub bass, or “gutbucket,” is a stringed instrument used in American folk music that uses a metal washtub as a resonator. The traditional washtub bass is comprised of an inverted metal washtub, an elongate staff or stick held by the bass player in an upright orientation on top of the inverted washtub, and a single string that is secured to the top of the staff or stick and the center of the inverted washtub bottom. The pitch of the single string is adjusted by the bass player by pushing or pulling on the staff or stick to change the tension in the string. 
         [0005]    The washtub bass was used in jug bands that were popular in some African American communities in the early 1900s. In the 1950s, U.S. folk musicians used the washtub bass in jug band-influenced music. 
         [0006]    The hallmarks of the traditional washtub bass design are simplicity, very low costs and do-it-yourself construction. However, these gave the traditional washtub bass its historical reputation for poor tonal quality and difficult, if not impossible pitch control. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    When a right-handed bassist plays a standard acoustic string bass instrument, the left hand of the bassist manipulates the strings at the upper end of the instrument fingerboard to provide the proper pitch while the right hand of the bassist either plucks, slaps, bows or otherwise causes the strings to vibrate to produce the sounds intended. With a traditional washtub bass, the left hand of the bassist applies a variable tension to the upper end of the single string of the instrument by pushing or pulling on the staff or stick to change the tension in the string to produce the proper pitch when the string is plucked by the bassist&#39;s right hand. 
         [0008]    The electronic bass musical instrument of the invention utilizes the traditional hand positions of both instruments by providing electrical input devices at those positions that send signals to electronic sound producing control circuitry of the invention that in turn produces the desired sounds from an appropriate amplifier system. 
         [0009]    The electronic bass musical instrument of the invention also employs an inverted washtub for form and structure but not as a resonator. A brace member is attached to a sidewall of the washtub. A neck with a fingerboard surface extends upwardly from the brace member. Together the inverted washtub and the brace member form a support for the neck. 
         [0010]    A first plurality or first set of electrically conductive contacts are mounted on the upper end of the fingerboard surface. The contacts are positioned directly under a metallic electrically conductive string that extends the length of the fingerboard and enters the center of the inverted washtub. The string is spaced a small distance from the contacts by frets positioned between adjacent contacts. The contacts are electrically connected to electronic sound producing control circuitry located inside the washtub by wires extending from each of the contacts, through the neck, through the brace member and into the washtub where they communicate with the electronic sound producing control circuitry. The metallic string passes through the bottom surface of the inverted washtub and is connected to the ground of the electronic sound producing control circuitry. The plurality of electrically conductive contacts on the neck fingerboard and the metallic electrically conductive string form a plurality of switches that, when the string is pressed against one of the contacts by the bassist the switch is closed, thereby providing a specific input signal to the electronic sound producing control circuitry in the washtub that establishes the pitch of the notes to be played. 
         [0011]    A second plurality or second set of electrically conductive contacts is also provided on the instrument neck fingerboard. The second plurality of contacts is located lower on the fingerboard than the first plurality of contacts where the bassist would normally pluck the string. Pressing the string against any of the second contacts operatively produces switch closures that signal the electronic control circuitry in the washtub to sound a particular note. Isolating frets are also provided in this area of the fingerboard between adjacent contacts. These frets establish the appropriate spacing between the metallic string and the contacts and also serve to prevent unintended multiple switch closures of the adjacent contacts. 
         [0012]    In playing the electronic bass musical instrument, the key in which a composition is to be played is selected by a switch on the sidewall of the inverted washtub. The switch communicates with the electronic sound producing control circuitry inside the washtub and provides an appropriate selection code to the control circuitry inside the washtub. The desired chord is selected by the bassist pressing the string against an appropriate contact of the first set of contacts at the upper end of the fingerboard. The desired note is then played by the bassist pressing the string against the appropriate contact of the second set of contacts at the lower end of the fingerboard. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURE 
         [0013]    Further features of the electronic bass musical instrument of the invention are set forth in the following detailed description of the instrument and in the drawing figures. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of the electronic bass musical instrument of the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the musical instrument. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a portion of the instrument neck. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the inverted washtub of the instrument. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a schematic representation of the electronic sound producing control circuitry of the instrument. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a string bass embodiment of the instrument. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a guitar bass embodiment of the instrument. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    The electronic bass musical instrument  12  of the invention is basically comprised of a washtub  14 , a brace member  16 , a neck  18  and a string  22 . In the embodiment of the invention to be described the basic component parts of the instrument set forth above are constructed of materials typically used in the construction of a traditional washtub bass. For example, the washtub  14  is constructed of galvanized steel, the brace member  16  and neck  18  are constructed of wood, and the string  22  is a metallic electrically conductive string. These materials give the electronic bass musical instrument of the invention the general appearance of a traditional washtub bass. However, it should be understood that other equivalent types of materials may be employed in constructing the electronic bass musical instrument of the invention. 
         [0022]    The washtub  14  has the basic configuration of an inverted washtub. The washtub  14  has a sidewall  24  that extends completely around the washtub. The sidewall  24  has a bottom circular rim  26  and a top circular rim  28 . The diameter dimension of the bottom circular rim  26  is larger than that of the top circular rim  28 , thereby giving the sidewall  24  a configuration of a truncated cone. A circular top surface  32  is secured to the sidewall top rim  28  around the periphery of the top surface. If the washtub  14  were not inverted, the washtub top surface  32  could actually be the bottom surface or bottom wall of the washtub and the washtub bottom rim  26  and top rim  28  would actually be the respective top rim and bottom rim of the washtub. 
         [0023]    The brace member  16  is attached to the washtub sidewall  24 . In the embodiment shown in the drawing figures, the brace member  16  includes a straight column  34  having a rectangular cross section that is secured by a pair of removable mechanical fasteners  36  to the washtub sidewall  24 . In the embodiment shown in the drawing figures, screw threaded bolts and wing nuts are employed as the mechanical fasteners  36 . Also in the embodiment shown, the column  34  is constructed from a 2×2 piece of wood. However, as stated earlier, other equivalent materials may be employed. The brace member  16  also includes a pair of generally triangular gusset panels  38  secured to the opposite sides of the column  34  toward the top of the column. The gusset panels  38  are also constructed of wood, although other equivalent materials may be used. The gusset panels  38  are secured to the opposite sides of the column  34  by mechanical fasteners, adhesives or other equivalent means. 
         [0024]    The bottom portion of the neck  18  engages against a top end of the brace member column  34  and extends between the gusset panels  38  to a proximal end  42  of the neck. In the embodiment of the instrument shown in the drawing figures, the neck  18  is an elongate shaft of wood having a rectangular cross section and a straight configuration that extends between the proximal end  42  of the neck and a distal end  44  of the neck. In the embodiment of the instrument shown in the drawing figures, the neck  18  is constructed from a 2×2 piece of wood, although other materials may be employed. The bottom portion of the neck  18  is secured to the top of the support column  34  and between the pair of gusset panels  38  by mechanical fasteners, adhesives or other equivalent means. Together, the inverted washtub  14  and the brace member  16  form a support for the neck  18 . A front surface of the neck  18  that faces away from the brace member column  34  and gusset panels  38  functions as the fingerboard  46  of the neck  18 . In contrast to the traditional bass where the shaft or stick of the bass is movable, the neck  18  is held stationary relative to the washtub  14  by the brace member column  34  and gusset panels  38 . However, for ease of transportation and storage, the mechanical fasteners  36  connecting the brace member column  34  to the washtub sidewall  24  can be easily removed, enabling the brace member column  34 , the gusset panels  38  and the neck  18  to be removed as one piece from the washtub  14 . 
         [0025]    A first plurality of sensors or first set of electrically conductive contacts or plates  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58  are attached to the front surface or fingerboard  46  of the neck  18 . As seen in the drawing figures, the first set of contacts  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58  are attached to the neck fingerboard  46  at spaced positions along the length of the neck  18  and toward the distal end  44  of the neck. A second plurality of sensors or second set of electrically conductive contacts or plates  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  are also attached to the front surface or fingerboard  46  of the neck  18 . The second set of contacts  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  are arranged at spaced positions along the length of the neck  18  toward the proximal end  42  of the neck. The first set of contacts  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58  are positioned on the neck fingerboard  46  where the left hand of a right-handed bassist would hold the neck  18 . The second set of contacts  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  are positioned on the neck fingerboard  46  where the right hand of a right-handed bassist would typically pluck, slap, bow or otherwise cause the strings of a conventional bass to produce the sounds intended. The first set of electrically conductive contacts  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58  and the second set of electrically conductive contacts  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  are separated from each other by isolating frets  72 . The frets extend along the width of the neck fingerboard  46  with a pair of frets  72  being positioned above and below each of the electrically conductive contacts. Each of the electrically conductive contacts  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  is electrically connected to a separate electrical conductor  74  that extends through the interior of the neck  18  and the bass column  34  to the interior of the washtub  14 . In order to simplify the drawing figures, each of the separate electrical conductors  74  connected to each one of the electrical conductive contacts  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  is represented as a single-line extending through the neck  18  and the brace member column  34  to the interior of the washtub  14 . 
         [0026]    The string  22  has a elongate length with opposite proximal  76  and distal  78  ends. In the embodiment shown in the drawing figures, the string  22  is a metallic electrically conductive string. However, other electrically conductive materials may be employed. The string distal end  78  is secured to the neck front surface  46  adjacent the neck distal end  44 . The string proximal end  76  passes through a hole at the center of the washtub top surface  32  and into the interior of the washtub  14 . The string  22  is secured to the washtub top surface  32  so that the length of the string extends taut from the washtub top surface  32  over the second set of electrically conductive contacts  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  and then over the first set of electrically conductive contacts  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58  to the string distal end  78 . The plurality of frets  72  on the neck front surface  46  prevent the string  22  from contacting any of the electrically conductive contacts  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  but allow a portion of the string  22  to be manually pressed between a pair of adjacent frets  72  and make contact with one of the electrically conductive contacts, thereby closing a switch between the string and the contact. 
         [0027]    Electronic sound producing control circuitry  82  is contained in and supported by the washtub  14 . In other embodiments, the circuitry could be separate from the washtub and remote from the instrument. The circuitry  82  contained in the washtub  14  is represented by dashed lines in  FIG. 1 . The circuitry  82  can incorporate any of a number of well known techniques including analog, digital or a microprocessor that provide tone generation or record/replay strategies responsive to input signals received by the control circuitry that are created by closing the switches of the electrically conductive contacts  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68 .  FIG. 5  provides a schematic representation of one example of the electronic sound producing control circuitry  82 . The circuitry receives power from a conventional plug-in power supply unit (not shown) through a cord  84  that extends from the circuitry and the washtub to the power supply unit that can be plugged into an AC wall outlet. In the circuitry  82  of  FIG. 5 , signals produced by closing the switches of the electrical contacts  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  are received by the circuitry  82  and processed by a microprocessor  86  which then sends signals to a sound module  88  to produce the audio signals wanted. The audio signals produced by the sound module are sent to an external amplifier system through a volume control  92  and an output jack  94  on the washtub  14 . 
         [0028]    It is well understood in music theory that there are three principal chords specific to each key in which musical compositions are played. For example in the key of “C,” the principal chords are “C,” “F,” and “G7.” There are also specific relative minor chords for each key, which for the key of “C” are “Am,” “Dm,” and “E7.” There are alternative chords as well. In each chord in each key there are certain individual notes that are most generally played by a plucked string bass. In this instrument  12  the key in which a composition is to be played is selected by a rotary binary encoder switch  96 . The switch  96  provides an appropriate selection code to the electronic sound producing control circuitry  82 . The desired chord is selected by pressing the string  22  against an appropriate one of the first set of electrically conductive contacts  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58 . Then, the desired note is played by pressing the string  22  against an appropriate one of the second set of electrically conductive contacts  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68 . 
         [0029]    In operation of the electronic bass musical instrument  12 , a musician manually sets the rotary binary encoder switch  96  on the washtub sidewall  24  to provide a binary coded input to the microprocessor inputs IO- 16 , IO- 17 , IO- 18 , IO- 19  that inform the microprocessor  86  of which of the twelve major keys in which the musician wants to play. In the example of the electronic sound producing control circuitry  82  shown in  FIG. 5 , the microprocessor  86  is an ARMmite PRO single board programmable controller provided by Coridium Corporation. Other equivalent types of microprocessors could be used. 
         [0030]    The musician then selects one of the three principal chords or a relative minor chord consistent with the key selection made by the binary encoder switch  96 . The desired chord is selected by manually moving the string  22  to engage in electric contact with one of the first set of electrically conductive contacts  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58  at the top of the neck fingerboard  46 . Pressing the string  22  against the top most electrically conductive contact  52  closes the switch associated with this contact and selects the first (“I”) chord of the selected key. Pressing the string  22  against the next lower electrically conductive contact  54  closes a switch associated with this contact and selects the forth (“IV”) chord of the selected key. Pressing the string  22  against the next lower electrically conductive contact  56  closes the switch associated with this contact and selects the fifth (“V”) chord of the selected key. Pressing the string  22  against the bottommost electrically conductive contact  54  of the first set of contacts closes the switch associated with this contact and selects the relative minor sixth chord of the selected key. 
         [0031]    In time with the music, the actual note to be played by the instrument  12  is selected by the musician by manually moving the string  22  to contact the electrically conductive contact  66  of the second set of contacts thereby closing the switch associated with this contact, or the electrically conductive contact  64  of the second set of contacts, thereby closing the switch associated with this contact. Manually pressing the string  22  to contact the electrically conductive contact  66  causes the microprocessor  86  to send a binary code signal from its outputs IO- 8 , IO- 9 , IO- 10 , IO- 11 , IO- 12  to the address inputs A 0 , A 1 , A 2 , A 3 , A 4  of the record/playback sound module  88 . In the example of the electronic sound producing control circuitry  82  shown in  FIG. 5 , the sound module is a single chip voice record/playback device ISD 2560/120 provided by Winbond® Electronics Corp. Other equivalent devices could also be used. The sound module  88  selects the root note of the selected chord to be played as long as the string  22  is pressed in engagement with the electrically conductive contact  66  closing the switch associated with the contact. It should be noted that the microprocessor outputs, IO- 20 , IO- 21 , IO- 22  also respond to the closing of the switch associated with the string  22  contacting the electrically conductive contact  66  to manipulate the “CE” and “PD” inputs of the sound module  88  to start and stop the selected note at the proper time. Pressing the string  22  against the electrically conductive contact  68  of the second set of contacts causes the microprocessor  86  to send a signal to the sound module  88  to produce the fifth note of the selected chord in the same manner discussed above. 
         [0032]    When making a chord change, pressing the string  22  three times in rhythmic procession against the electrically conductive contact  64  of the second set of contacts controls the microprocessor  86  to send signals to the sound module  88  that result in the sound module producing an appropriate musical segue between the two chords. 
         [0033]    Pressing the string  22  to contact the electrically conductive contact  62  of the second set of contacts closes the switch associated with this contact and causes the microprocessor  86  to send signals to the sound module  88  to produce notes one full step higher than those normally chosen by the switches associated with the electrically conductive contacts. This accommodates a one-step mid-song key change. Pressing the string  22  a second time into contact with the electrically conductive contact  62  of the second set of contacts closes a switch associated with this contact a second time which returns the electronic sound producing control circuitry  82  to its normal operation. 
         [0034]    An output  94  of the sound module  88  transmits an analog sound output signal for input to an external amplifier/speaker system (not shown). 
         [0035]    An input  98  of the sound module  88  provides a connection to a separate source of appropriate recordable sounds that are loaded into the sound module  88  in preparation for use of the instrument  12 . 
         [0036]    Although the electronic bass musical instrument of the invention has been described by referring to a specific embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that modifications and variations of the invention could be made without departing from the intended scope of the appended claims. For example, the above described construction and operation of the instrument  12  could be incorporated into the construction of a conventional stringed bass, such as that shown in  FIG. 6 , or in a stringed guitar bass such as that shown in  FIG. 7 . In the embodiment of the electronic bass musical instrument  12 ′ shown in  FIG. 6  the body of the base  14 ′ would function as the support of the instrument, with the neck  18 ′ extending from the support  14 ′ and a single string  22 ′ extending from a distal end of the neck across the first and second sets of electrically conductive contacts to the proximal end of the string secured to the bass body. The electronic sound producing circuitry would be contained in the bass body. In the embodiment of the electronic bass musical instrument  12 ″ shown in  FIG. 7 , the bass guitar body  14 ″ would function as the support of the instrument with the neck  18 ″ extending from the support  14 ″ and the single string  22 ″ extending from a distal end of the neck  18 ″ across the first and second sets of electrically conductive contacts to a proximal end of the string secured to the support body  14 ″. In this embodiment of the instrument the electronic sound producing control circuitry would be contained in the support body  14 ″.
An electronic bass musical instrument that has the appearance, character and ambiance of a traditional washtub bass where the sounds of the bass are produced electronically by manually pressing an electrically conductive string extending along a neck of the bass against selected electrically conductive contacts arranged at spaced positions along the neck thus sending signals to an electronic control circuit of the instrument, whereby the sounds of the bass are produced electronically, providing vastly improved tonal quality and pitch accuracy to the sounds produced.