Whamola

The Whamola is a direct descendant of the washtub bass, an American folk instrument popular with skiffle and jug bands, and features a single string which is manipulated via a pulley-and-lever system.

The pulley mechanism is mounted in place of the tuning pegs at the top of a double-bass-style neck, which is attached to a wooden or metal body featuring a bridge, pickup and stand.

The Whamola is played by hitting the string with a drum stick and either fretting it against the neck with the other hand or using the lever to alter its tension and change the pitch.

However, the instrument has gained mass exposure due to its being played by contemporary bassists like Les Claypool.

Primus also regularly play a "Drum and Whamola Jam" in concert, as documented by their 2004 live DVD Hallucino-Genetics.