Post you STOMBOX pic

[fingerpicker]

In a recent thread stombox's were mentioned. I had a PORCHBOARD for some time and now I have just a mike at my feet, which sounds fair at best.

 

 

d28andm1911a1's Stombox sounded very unique.

 

Anyone Care to Share?

[guit30]

Here's mine

 

 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?A=details&kw=BEPB100&is=REG&Q=&O=productlist&sku=373658

[d28andm1911a1]

Here are pictures from mine.

I didn't show the bottom but it's covered with some sort of rubber mat so that it doesn't slide.

 

the mic is a cheap laveler mic from one of those $14 wireless deals, I need to replace it with a piezo from radioshack someday.

 

 

 

[Terry Allan Hall]

Very interesting, d28andm1911a1!

 

A few questions:

 

(A) Do you get much feedback using a mic?

 

(B) Do you have a way to mute/shut-off the the tambourine, so as to add different sonic textures to your songs?

 

I was considering attaching a tamborine (and maybe a maraca/shaker) via a short, stiff spring, so I could have that/those sound(s) available, but also have the option of not using it when I want just a "board" sound (as described in my earlier post in another thread).

 

Another idea I've been mulling involves a cheap bass drum pedal whacking one or more objects.

[d28andm1911a1]

Haven't had a feed back problem, and the sound holes are small. When I get to replacing the cheap mic with a piezo I think it will be better.

 

The tamborine string is just hooked on a screw so it's on and of in a flash, but I can get different sounds by turning it over (string ancored to the top of the rim or the bottom of the rim) also by putting my foot across the whole tamborine or on the lower edge, all sorts of different sounds you can do with it.

 

I've been working on gettting my spoons attached, but I want to keep it simple. It fits in the milk crate that holds my music stand now with the tamborine around the bottom of the tip jar and the extention chord for the PA wrapped around that and the stompbox on top to close the milk crate.

 

Any one else got pictures?

[d28andm1911a1]

Ideas for other stompboxes?

[fingerpicker]

Here is a pic of that porchboard:

[d28andm1911a1]

Fingerpicker, do you have that one? Are you anywhere north of Orlando? I'd like to try it and get new ideas. If I remember right they were pricy, mine cost $14 for the mic that is junk anyway and I already had and some scraps of plywood.

 

Anybody else got one?

[fingerpicker]

I used to have the porchboard: right now the cheapest one is $195.00

 

I took the sensor in it and made a smaller version after I had beat up the original, and left it exposed. (I play along the beach). Doing so I damaged it beyond repair.

 

I had bought a Sennheisser (sp?) mike and have been using that with some success. I built a little open box around it and thump the mike with my foot. If I have a sub or very beefy pa speaker it sounds real nice.

 

I couldn't see spending the cash to get another one when I am getting the same effect with a mike. I will put a picyure up soon to show you.

 

BTW--- I am in Southwest Florida(Lee county) but I may be relocating to St.Augustine.

[d28andm1911a1]

St Aug is a good music city. We've been trying to get some gigs over there, they pay better than out here in the boonies. We are about 45 miles NorthLeft of G-ville.

 

Looking for the pictures of your setup.

[Terry Allan Hall]

Of a related nature, after seeing something similar at a music festival I performed at recently, I'm building something along these lines:

 

 

My project's main difference will be that it'll have wooden tone bars (possibly rosewood) instead of metal tines (thus, it'll have a mellower tone, somewhere between that of a marimba and a string bass), it'll be oriented to being played w/ my left foot, leaving my right foot to pound out a simple beat, and it'll be somewhat larger (the current "prototype" is 34"L X 20"W X 9" deep at the back, about 3 1/2" up front - I stole d28andm1911a1's idea for this part of the design...and I'm not ashamed! ).

 

Traditionally, a "marimbula" (bass kalimba) is tuned in 5ths, so to get a chromatic scale w/o having to retune it, I'll probably go w/ Bb-F-C-G-D-A on one row and E-B-F#-C#-G#-D# on the other.

 

Alternately, I might go with a "organ-bass pedal" chromatic design...whichever works better.

 

Most likely will use a contact P/U to amplify it.

 

Some info about where I get these crazy ideas :

 

http://www.cloudninemusical.com/Marimbulas.html (My design is similar to this one, other than mine will be foot-operated)

 

http://www.cloudninemusical.com/TheMarimbulaText.html (some historic background...just so y'all will know I'm not the only crazy one here! )

 

Will post pics whenever I'm happy w/ the results!

[hockey_musician]

*sniff*

 

these all look so cool

 

 

what are they!?

 

*sniff*

[d28andm1911a1]

Terry, I'm not sure how I would play that with my foot but it seems like a neat idea.

 

Why make it that big? Is that to get greater spacing between the tines so you can play it with your foot? Manly footware or barefoot? I'm in FL so I often play mine barefoot, took a while to get comfortable barefoot but I like it.

[Terry Allan Hall]

Originally posted by d28andm1911a1 Terry, I'm not sure how I would play that with my foot but it seems like a neat idea. I used to gig solo with a drum machine and a set of Moog Taurus bass pedals to back up my voice, guitars and rack harp, and this is an idea I've been thinking about for a while...just wasn't sure what to use or how best to do it until I saw a marimbula at that festival...once I saw/heard one in use, it occurred to me that one could be probably be made foot-operatable with just a few tweaks to the design. Why make it that big? Is that to get greater spacing between the tines so you can play it with your foot? That and the need for enough air space to reproduce the low tones...I want it to be essentially "acoustic", even though I'll probably plug it in, too, at least in most performance situations. I'm wondering if I'll need to brace the top, like an acoustic guitar, to get the deep tone I want...bracing is mostly to withstand the pull of strings, but it does contribute to the sound, as well. A friend of mine, who shares my interest in "do-it-yourself instruments" wants to build a solid-body, totally electrified version, though...he favors the metal tines and a magnetic P/U, as he plays in a very loud style! Manly footware or barefoot? Due the the nerve damage to my feet from having had Type 2 Diabetes for some years before realizing what the problem was, I have to wear boots, moccasins or sneakers. I'm in FL so I often play mine barefoot, took a while to get comfortable barefoot but I like it. Often wish I had that option!