I thought I would reproduce here this post Waxwing made on the Woodshed. We don't have a washboard thread (on a board called Gitfiddles, Harps, Washboards and Kazoos!) and I thought this was really great advice. I'm assuming Wax won't mind!
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Don't buy a modern washboard. They are flimsily made (more for decoration) and their tone matches their build quality. Go on ebay and take your choice from many vintage washboards that are sold there regularly. If you can, hold out, and pay a little more, for one that has an enamelled metal surface. This gives the washboard a particularly nice tone, as recommended to me by Orville Johnson.
You can also get a "lingerie" model, which are much smaller and easier to tote around.
I would highly recommend a video by David Holt (Homespun, I think) in which he teaches not only the basics of washboard playing, but also the playing of bones, spoons, paper bag and hambone (body pecussion).
If you can get thimbles to fit your fingers, they are the traditional striker, but they are very loud and hard to control. If you are playing in an acoustic band, your mates may appreciate other options (altho' I'm sure many here will assert that loudest is best -G-). I use brushes which I made from thin branches of bamboo. I wrap them with heavy waxed thread to create a handle. I also secure a small round wooden mallet so that the ball sticks out the opposite end from the brushes and use this to strike the cowbell, woodblock and mason's trowel which I have mounted to the frame. I also carefully added small brass screws to secure the joints of the frame to take the abuse of being a rhythm instrument.
Another substitute for thimbles is metal fingerpicks. You can actually get subtler variances in volume and tone with these. I've also heard of folks using some sort of copper caps, perhaps from an electrical supply store. Often I've seen folks with their thimbles or whatever glued to the fingers of white cotton gloves so they can slip them all on at once.
As to add on noisemakers. Some folks just go out and buy cowbells, woodblocks and small cymbals from a music store, but I think it is more fun to find vintage items to match the washboard and the music. I found my hand-hammered cowbell at an antique/junk store, places where I habitually go around striking (carefully) anything I think might sound good. The trowel was found at a dump and has a great "Clank". My wood block I made myself as it was drop-off from a 3" square beam of mahogony I laid up to make legs for a cabinet at work. Nothing someone couldn't have done 100 years ago.
My latest addition is a vintage service bell, you know, like you hit the button on for counter service, that came from a Chevy dealership in Indianapolis. There's a decal that gives the address and phone #: Lincoln 4378. The nickel plating has a great patina and the tone is superb. Found on ebay in my first search. I had to outbid a few Chevy memorabilia collectors but they just didn't want it as bad as me. I think I got it for around $20. Ebay is an excellent place to find esoteric vintage items. Most of the time no one else bids on them.
Anyway, if you are into learning from the old washboard masters, like Bull City Red and Washboard Sam, go to Document records where you can search by instrument. This will probably give you quite a few names to follow up on. Much of the Document label is now downloadable from eMusic.
If you happen to be in the San Francisco Area, there will be a Jug Band Festival on August 27th and the band I play in, The Hohoppas Jug Band, will be playing some traditional music. When not playing guitar I play washboard. Either way I play jug, on a rack, at the same time.
All for now.
John C.
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Don't buy a modern washboard. They are flimsily made (more for decoration) and their tone matches their build quality. Go on ebay and take your choice from many vintage washboards that are sold there regularly. If you can, hold out, and pay a little more, for one that has an enamelled metal surface. This gives the washboard a particularly nice tone, as recommended to me by Orville Johnson.
You can also get a "lingerie" model, which are much smaller and easier to tote around.
I would highly recommend a video by David Holt (Homespun, I think) in which he teaches not only the basics of washboard playing, but also the playing of bones, spoons, paper bag and hambone (body pecussion).
If you can get thimbles to fit your fingers, they are the traditional striker, but they are very loud and hard to control. If you are playing in an acoustic band, your mates may appreciate other options (altho' I'm sure many here will assert that loudest is best -G-). I use brushes which I made from thin branches of bamboo. I wrap them with heavy waxed thread to create a handle. I also secure a small round wooden mallet so that the ball sticks out the opposite end from the brushes and use this to strike the cowbell, woodblock and mason's trowel which I have mounted to the frame. I also carefully added small brass screws to secure the joints of the frame to take the abuse of being a rhythm instrument.
Another substitute for thimbles is metal fingerpicks. You can actually get subtler variances in volume and tone with these. I've also heard of folks using some sort of copper caps, perhaps from an electrical supply store. Often I've seen folks with their thimbles or whatever glued to the fingers of white cotton gloves so they can slip them all on at once.
As to add on noisemakers. Some folks just go out and buy cowbells, woodblocks and small cymbals from a music store, but I think it is more fun to find vintage items to match the washboard and the music. I found my hand-hammered cowbell at an antique/junk store, places where I habitually go around striking (carefully) anything I think might sound good. The trowel was found at a dump and has a great "Clank". My wood block I made myself as it was drop-off from a 3" square beam of mahogony I laid up to make legs for a cabinet at work. Nothing someone couldn't have done 100 years ago.
My latest addition is a vintage service bell, you know, like you hit the button on for counter service, that came from a Chevy dealership in Indianapolis. There's a decal that gives the address and phone #: Lincoln 4378. The nickel plating has a great patina and the tone is superb. Found on ebay in my first search. I had to outbid a few Chevy memorabilia collectors but they just didn't want it as bad as me. I think I got it for around $20. Ebay is an excellent place to find esoteric vintage items. Most of the time no one else bids on them.
Anyway, if you are into learning from the old washboard masters, like Bull City Red and Washboard Sam, go to Document records where you can search by instrument. This will probably give you quite a few names to follow up on. Much of the Document label is now downloadable from eMusic.
If you happen to be in the San Francisco Area, there will be a Jug Band Festival on August 27th and the band I play in, The Hohoppas Jug Band, will be playing some traditional music. When not playing guitar I play washboard. Either way I play jug, on a rack, at the same time.
All for now.
John C.