Instruments other than uke...

[tad]

So I was on ebay the other night, and I'd done the math, and I had a little bit of cash...

Which of course means I was looking at ukes.

But then I sort of clicked around, and I decided that it's time to expand a bit. I wanted to adopt another unpopular/neglected/unusual/not a guitar instrument into my arsenal.

I found the ebay store for Blaine Horlocker, of Smokey Mountain Dulcimer Works in (weirdly) Florida.

I ended up picking up an Electric Flamestick:

Basically, it's an electric solid body stick dulcimer, like the electric Strumstick. Diatonic tuning-- which I'm sort of curiously excited about.

And then, on an impulse, I also picked up a diddley bow:

Also made by Blaine... it was only twenty-five bucks, and I figure, I connect a little piezo pickup to it, and I've got an electric diddley bow. Maybe something that might sound a bit like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s98WwTgCSKU

-------------------------------------

Anyway, other than ukuleles and guitars-- 'cause I know practically everyone on here other than me plays guitar-- what string instruments do you play? Anything interesting/unusual?

 

[virginia_barkley]

As a matter of fact

I have been known to occasionally play an egg shaker, tambourine, or kazoo. One day I hope to move up to a jew's harp.


Those diddley bows are wicked cool. You'll have to put up some vids of it.

 

[deach]

Your roommates are gonna love those.

 

[russ_buss]

oh man those are cool looking. yes, please make a video if you can!

 

[h-drix]

that secound one looks pretty beast, as for me i only play the cello not wierd or neglected...well a little neglected, but not by much.

 

[tad]

Your roommates are gonna love those.

LOL!

Well, I kinda got them with the roommates in mind-- the strumstick is a hardbody electric, at least, so it'll be quiet when I don't have it plugged in.

But the diddley bow is a one-string instrument, and the strumstick has a "no wrong notes" design. So I'm hoping to be sneaky and get them to pick 'em up and maybe play around a little, maybe play with me.

I'm trying to be sneaky. We'll see how it works.

that secound one looks pretty beast, as for me i only play the cello not wierd or neglected...well a little neglected, but not by much.

The cello seems to have had a bit of a resurgence in pop music, if anything. Although I bet you're the only person on this board who plays one...

 

[JoeyJr858]

the Chapman Stick..

it's a pretty sweet instrument! I've seen a few guys play it live! Pretty wicked!
check out this link below!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JjimMO2SdE



...

 

[tad]

the Chapman Stick..

it's a pretty sweet instrument! I've seen a few guys play it live! Pretty wicked!
check out this link below!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JjimMO2SdE
...

Dude, I've never seen one of those things in person, but they look insane/impossible... I can't believe anyone can actually wrap their head around playing one of those...

Out of perverse curiosity, what're they tuned to?

 

[seeso]

I want a hurdy gurdy.

 

[tad]

I want a hurdy gurdy.

I'll see your hurdy gurdy and raise you.

 

[seeso]

I'll see your hurdy gurdy and raise you.

Psh. I thought you were gonna lay a new weird instrument vid on me. Instead I get Donovan. Not saying it's a bad song, but how exactly does that one-up me?

I give you the Pencilina. A mix of dulcimer, bass, koto, and slide guitar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAmFNKb1L8g

 

[salukulady]

I'll see your hurdy gurdy and raise you.

Okay, that video gave me a flash back..........

 

[UkuLeLesReggAe]

shuda bought da pipa aow

 

[davoomac]

So you bought that $25 diddley bow on ebay too?

 

[h-drix]

LOL!
Although I bet you're the only person on this board who plays one...

nah, theres another fellow on these boards that play one, i dont know who, if he is still around.

 

[tad]

Psh. I thought you were gonna lay a new weird instrument vid on me. Instead I get Donovan. Not saying it's a bad song, but how exactly does that one-up me?

I give you the Pencilina. A mix of dulcimer, bass, koto, and slide guitar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAmFNKb1L8g

Donovan one-ups everything!!!

Seriously, though-- how about a beer-bottle organ?

I've always wanted to own a glass armonica.

The Samchillian Tip Tip Tip Cheeepeeeee should appeal to any Silver Apples fans in the room.

Finally, this drum made out of a propane tank is actually surprisingly beautiful.

So you bought that $25 diddley bow on ebay too?

You got one too? How do you like it?

 

[tad]

Another one-- more amusing than anything else...

The yintar, which is basically a strumstick duct taped to a guitar.

 

[uke142464]

i just got a jews harp and its really fun. I want a didge now!

 

[benmealer]

I want a hurdy gurdy.

Hey, I saw that lady playing the hurdy gurdy at union square last summer.