Neat thread idea. (Brilliant tambourine invention, too!)

My wife comes from a small town a couple of hours from Toronto. There's no drum shop anywhere near there. But on a recent visit I discovered that the guy who runs the local computer repair shop also runs a great under-the-radar drum shop out of the back room. The floor is littered with old drums, cymbals, hardware--it's great. Every time we visit my in-laws, I make a trip down to see the guru and usually come away with a snare drum, an old cymbal, or a piece of hardware I need.

The last time I was there, I saw that the proprietor had mounted a full-sized wok on a snare stand. I was confused until he sat down to play: when hit hard, it sounded great! Somewhere between a large ride bell and a large cowbell. Interesting.

Man...

Did none of you guys ever invent anything? Come on. I'm a schlump and on a bad run, I'd develop two a year. Someone's surely done something here. We're musicians and artists. I know you guys are creative and I know you're holding out. Now fess up.

I am currently working on something. It will be a cradle for these tender, aged barrels we call bass drums. With so many of these 3 ply shells beginning to age, and the fact that they have various different types of legs, spurs, poles, rocks, you name it, holding them up, I have decided to try to put together a new type of cradle, or riser, or what ever you want to call it.

Problem Identified: The thin shells are weakening aroung the areas where the poles, legs, spurs etc, are holding them somewhat level/playable. this weakening is going to continue to compromise the strength and value of these vintage, and antique instruments.

Solution explained: A cradle/riser/holder/bra, whatever you decide to call it. It will be cut to the shape or contour, of the drum shell. I have three different sizes, 20, 22 and 24. These will be constructed from one or more of several materials. They will have to match the drums, or at least blend well, I don't know, if the drums are red sparkle, then would you want to have a hand laid sparkle stand...or maybe just stained....or should I buy an entire sheet of wrap just to make your riser/stand/cradle/beddy-bye....?

A) Solid pine/fir/maple/oak/balsa/cactus skeleton...

B) Plywood.

C) Plastic, for my buddy MastroMallet Player2

D) Mud, Elmer's glue and cardboard.

All I have to do now is decide on one of two designs. A semi-circular design or something that runs down the length of the shell...I don't know how to explain what is in the midst of my peabrain, just gotta try to get it out and on paper, or in the sand or something. Anyway, that is my main thing right now.

I actually play washbaord in a 1920s hot jazz band, (as well as period correct traps and drums, though more washboard!).... so as far as something different from the kitchen sink,... mine is a washboard, however, not played as you might think, but laid on its side, one leg under my leg, both hands working on each side thimbles attached to my finger tips.

Attached is a set of old 20s era cymbals and two tin pans. I modeled it after the one that Bruce Johnson in the Washbaord Serenaders played in a few old clips from the 1930s, mostly Vitaphone shorts for the old movies back then.

Here, take a gander at the old boys whoopin it up, hot jazz style, 1933!

"In a shanty in Old Shanty Town"

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tu14gQewgAA"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tu14gQewgAA[/ame]

And another from 1934,... kazoo muted in drinking glass,... then washboard comes in later...

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh7ozAfUKl4"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh7ozAfUKl4[/ame]

Last but not least, Eddie Thomas and Carl Scott....

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtCbbKmHano"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtCbbKmHano[/ame]