'Nother song was "Lawyer Clark." Yeah. A lawyer in Brownsville, Huey Clark. Best lawyer they said, keep ya out of jail. He'd book John out of jail a lot of times, 'cause John get drunk every holiday and go to jail. They wouldn't make him pay nothin'. Let him out when he get sober. - Yank Rachell, from Blues Mandolin Man, by Richard Congress
I have been collecting/playing kazoos for many years, and I would say that that Clarke kazoo is the best by far. It is made of tin and has that vintage look to it, similar to the old trumpet kazoos from the early 1900's. You can get them for a very reasonable price from Kazoobie. One of the best attributes is that you can adjust the tightness of the membrane holder. This allows you to change the sound in a way that is impossible with a plastic kazoo or one of the cheap metal kazoos with the red bottom.
My go-to kazoo is a jazzophone from the early 1900's. It has a great sound and a very cool look that makes people wonder what you're playing. You can occasionally find one on ebay, but they often go for a good amount of money.
This thread motivated me to check out what was being played on the Big Joe Williams/Sonny Boy Williams mp3 collection - maybe its well known if not - he played a kazoo.
« Last Edit: April 28, 2013, 03:17:07 PM by harriet »
I used to use the plastic kazoos, they sounded great but the membrane had a tendency to come loose in the middle of a solo . . . the metal ones are made better & I've never had that happen with them. I've been wondering about a kazoo sponsorship, is that possible?
« Last Edit: April 28, 2013, 05:24:48 PM by cheapfeet »
I have a metal one (like the one Pan posted above) that I use for photos (it takes a lot more effort to play but looks good) and a super cheap plastic one for gigs.
is that bolivian tin or guatemalan? seriously interesting thread .. i have had a few goes at the kazoo .. I like the tin, but wish there was one with a plastic (food grade?) mouthpiece, or whatever wind instruments mouthpieces are made of? Q. if the harp is the mississippi saxaphone, ... then the Kazoo is the ....... trumpet?
I really dig the kazoo! I try to play mine in every gig nowadays, it sure deserves a spot in a few songs being such a classic instrument in blues and jazz..
The kazoo was my symphonic secret weapon, for years.
I've now largely replaced it with diatonic harmonicas, which, let's face it, are a hell of a lot more musical.
However, there a a few songs yet in my repertoire that won't fit inside the diatonic scale. So, for Dream A Little Dream Of You, I still kazoo.
I'm quite fond of my duck call, too, you know. I never leave home without it. It works great with kids and dogs. They love it. For some reason, though, I've never had much success with it with ducks, or women...
« Last Edit: May 09, 2013, 03:37:33 AM by Jimmy J »
But can 9 out of 10 folks really get a tone out of a sax mouthpiece in their first ten minutes??! Would love to see an account or clip from someone who's played this! Was this real or a cereal box disappointment?
Since it can play Carmichael I'd like to request a gahoon orchestral arrangement of 'Stardust' with baritone, tenor and alto gahoon parts. Or perhaps more appropriate to the instrument, Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring.