Good idea from the Honky Tonks

[Harpymorgan]

Dont know why I've never seen this before. In one of the Nashville honky tonks yesterday we saw a drummer who had converted one of those sit on beat boxes with a foot pedal and was using it as a sit on bass drum. Sounded great and cut down on the size of his kit for a small venue. He told me it was his idea, so I said he should run out and get a patent. That took a little explaining as you guys over here pronounce patent differently to us brits.

 

[idealassets]

what he was doing is a great idea, but you I don't think that you can assemble 2 pieces together and get it patented.

 

[Harpymorgan]

I know, it was just a tongue in cheek comment, and anyway we all know now so the ideas out there.

 

[jthrel]

converted one of those sit on beat boxes with a foot pedal and was using it as a sit on bass drum.

I am not a drummer but I like to gather a few percussion instruments for distribution to the guests during a Dinner + Jam Session evening. The use of a foot pedal with a cajon (beat box) is intriguing since it frees up the hands for a tambourine or shaker. A standard bass drum pedal moves forward (away from the drummer) when the foot pedal is depressed. How was the pedal rigged to strike the cajon with the drummer sitting on the box?

Al

 

[Harpymorgan]

I did not see the exact mechanics, he had a standard foot pedal, but it was backwards and he was operating it with his heel instead of the front of his foot, which, when you try to do it is actually a much more natural movement.

 

[Harpymorgan]

And I love the idea of dinner jam sessions. We try and do them, its almost the equivalent of the family gathering round the piano for a singsong before the days of television. It should be mandatory.

 

[geoguy]

Are you talking about something like this?

 

[Harpymorgan]

Vesy, very similar except he had his foot pedal as standard, just turned round, not with the linkage as this guy has.

 

[jthrel]

Thanks for the link. It seems that the Nashville drummer missed out on the patent.

Below is a screen cap from the video. Apparently a number of manufacturers have these pedals available. http://www.musiciansfriend.com/search?sB=r&Ntt=cajon+pedal

Al