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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallA Whamola is a single-string bass played by plucking or striking its string while moving a lever to bend the pitch. You can build a DIY version around that basic mechanism, but the available published coverage does not establish a complete, verified parts list or construction sequence. If you want the official Pachyderm instrument, its maker’s page is the place to check current availability and terms.
What a Whamola is
The Whamola is a one-string bass, not a conventional viola. Its defining feature is a lever that changes string tension as the player moves it, raising or lowering the pitch. The player can pluck the string with a finger or strike it with a stick; a pickup lets the instrument produce an amplified electric sound.
Pachyderm Instruments describes its current Whamola as a string stretched across an aluminum body above a finished hardwood fingerboard. The design also recalls a washtub bass: a simple resonating structure paired with a tension-changing mechanism. The official maker’s history says Les Claypool named the instrument “the WHAMOLA,” as recounted by Pachyderm Instruments.
How the lever changes pitch
The lever acts like a whammy bar: moving it changes the tension on the single string, which bends the note while it sounds. That makes the Whamola suited to expressive slides and pitch changes rather than conventional multi-string bass playing. The player supplies the attack by plucking or striking, then controls the bend with the lever.
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Pachyderm’s account of the first instrument describes square aluminum tubing, a hinged handle, a flat-wound string, a crude fingerboard, a pickup, a roller channel, and a string-bass peg. The maker says the design was later revised after years of stage use. Those historical details describe an early instrument, not a verified bill of materials for a new build.
Can you build one yourself?
Yes, the basic concept is suitable for a DIY project if you can fabricate a stable body and a lever mechanism that safely manages string tension. Make: presented the project as approachable and estimated a build at about $100 in an article published April 23, 2015. That figure is a historical estimate, not a current parts budget or itemized cost.
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Make: links to an Instructables project by user gazillabytes, but its supplied page content does not establish a complete, independently verified parts list or step-by-step method. Treat the link as a possible project reference, not as confirmation that its materials, dimensions, or instructions have been checked here.
Before cutting or assembling anything, decide whether your priority is experimentation or a closer match to the official instrument. The maker describes an aluminum body and hardwood fingerboard, but the available information does not specify the dimensions, hardware ratings, joint design, or fabrication sequence needed to reproduce it reliably. A DIY build therefore requires design decisions and careful attention to how the lever, roller, anchor points, and fingerboard work together under string tension.
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DIY build or official instrument?
| Route | What is established | What to verify or plan |
|---|---|---|
| DIY version | Core concept: one string, a lever that bends pitch, a playable surface, and an optional pickup. Make: published an approximately $100 estimate in 2015. | Current parts cost, complete bill of materials, dimensions, construction sequence, and hardware suitability are not established by that coverage. |
| Official Pachyderm Whamola | The maker describes an aluminum body, hardwood fingerboard, and official string and tuning guidance. | Current stock, price, shipping availability, and applicable terms; check Pachyderm Instruments directly because these can change. |
A DIY build gives you room to experiment, but it does not automatically reproduce the official instrument’s geometry or setup. Buying the official version is the more direct route if you want the maker’s specified configuration; its current availability and commercial terms should be confirmed on the official page.
String, tuning, and stick for the official Whamola
Replacement string and tuning
Pachyderm’s FAQ specifies a single G string for a full-size 4/4 cello at medium tension. Its tuning instruction is: “With the Whamola bar fully compressed, tune up to F♯ (F Sharp).” Follow that setup guidance for the official instrument rather than assuming an arbitrary bass string or tuning will behave the same way.
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Playing stick
The maker says the Whamola comes with a stick and recommends a soft stick, preferably bundle sticks. It also says to use only the supplied size to maximize string life. That advice is specific to the official setup; do not substitute an arbitrary drumstick and assume it is equivalent.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to check official availability and terms
Pachyderm Instruments’ FAQ currently states that it ships only within the United States, provides a one-year non-transferable warranty from shipping, and accepts returns within one week of delivery for 80% of the retail price. These are changeable commercial terms, and the FAQ does not establish current stock or price. Confirm the latest details on Pachyderm Instruments’ Whamola page before ordering.
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Sources
- Make:’s Whamola DIY article, published April 23, 2015.
- Pachyderm Instruments’ Whamola information and FAQ, including setup and current sales terms.
- Pachyderm Instruments’ account of the Whamola’s history.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
