I had a whole day to make that page and I’m glad for it.
No extra comics today though. I do however, have photos of my latest drum inventions. I guess they are sort of a round two of drum inventions around here. More will follow, as my time is divided, but also because I’m always striving to take the chore out of being a drummer.
Not that it does me much good. I still have to help everyone else with all of their heavy crap. I guess like-minded minds are few and far between.
Anyway… my first drum for show and tell this evening is perfect for the street corner beside that guy with the pignose amp and/or acoustic guitar. It also fits nicely down low beneath bongos on a stand. I don’t have a name for it yet.
What is it? It’s a Lyra Percussion Japan 13″ tom (circa… 1970?) atop a Home Depot 5 gallon bucket. Why? Aside from why not or because I can? Let’s have another look and I’ll try to explain.
For one thing, it was a worthless drum before. Now? Not bad at all. Basically I always liked the buckets, but hoped for more low end, and also liked the cocktail drums, but not the standing.
This drum has a used and abused garage sale coated snare batter head that I muffled on the underside with layers of printer paper and tape. It sounds good with sticks, mallets, and brushes. Or wooden spoons or whatever I would imagine. In the right hands. Left?
The claw microphone holder makes a great carry handle, and the drum is feather light. It doesn’t need a stand BUT it’s still mountable as a tom. In the tom mount currently is a cymbal holder sporting an IKEA stainless steel utensil holder. It makes some interesting sounds.
Yes I covered it in duct tape, but only after stripping it down to the bare wood and then first adding a layer of aluminum tape. Now it’s tough and street and no one will steal it. Plus personally I think it looks cool. Up next…
The Drum Chuks:
This pair has a long chain for wearing around the neck. The drum sticks hang low on your sides and if you drop a drumstick, you have a spare in easy reach for either hand. You can also put the hurt on someone if you have to and the cops won’t confiscate it as a weapon until you do. Great for the street.
I’m considering making a novelty set with a short chain just for the joke factor, but I can’t imagine playing the drums with them.
Still with me? One more? I saved the best for last. What the heck is… this:
It’s a pair of those fancy flat bongos tuneable from the bottom. Right? Kind of beat up though. Hmm…
So… they sit flat on a tabletop on some kind of custom… stand? What is this?
Here it is upside down. Fancy a guess?
It’s The Bongo Shield!
That’s right folks! Carry your bongos on your arm for portability and self defense. Clobber that villain in style and sound good when you do! After that, play these puppies in your lap or flat on a table or similar surface! The Bongo Shield!
O.K. that one is probably my most complex custom drum to date. It’s still tunable from the bottom! It needs new heads as the heads on it have been put through heck.
Thanks for indulging me today. I hope you enjoyed it. Have a great week and please visit us again Friday when we will return to our regularly irregular… rrr.
And I thought my alarm clock was brutal!
BAHAHAHA! Good one!
Awesome Drum shield how cool.
Thanks Fred!
I just don’t know where you come up with these ideas. Incredible!
Thank you Deb! I don’t know where these ideas come from either. A practical yet silly place.
But isn’t it fun!
Just stopping in to say hello.
I love to look at what is and ask myself “What can I make out of it?” Love the inventions.
Thanks Bo! I’m the same way. I see things in junk shops or junk yards or at the curb and the wheels start turning. I don’t always get it done but when I do it’s very rewarding.
You need to post a video of that drum in action.
I better get back to exercising so I look like my avatar.
Ha, now you can drum any evil doer down.
I like the idea of drumming something down.
Also thank you for the link exchange!
You’re like the Batman of drums!
Quick Robin! The Drum-A-Rang! Haha…
I’d love to have a DrumMobile.
If you’re going to be a superhero, you might as well take advantage of it and get the nifty car!
Hmmm… Insane vitals??? Could Curtis be about to wake up???
It seems as if he’s really trying to.
I’m suddenly thinking of the Dr. Seuss book about the monkeys drumming on a drum Drum ditty drum ditty drum ditty dum
I haven’t read that one but it sounds AWESOME.
What Bearman said. I want to hear that baby. Do the video.
Have a terrific day.
Bearman likes to request video around here.
I have no idea how to make a video.
I almost got our audio working and then the monitor died.
That sentence doesn’t make a lot of sense but… it’s true!
Audio soon!
Video… eventually.
I’d probably be able to sleep through this too
Haha! You must sleep very soundly indeed Mongoose.
There’s just no stopping you, man. You are truly a force to be reckoned with.
Thanks George! I’m more like a wreck to be forced on with! What? I don’t know either! Hahaha!
I think maybe I’ve been captured by aliens too, as my vitals went insane many years ago.
I don’t really understand some of the technical points, but those drums look pretty neat. The drum shield is really good. You could be a drummer super hero. Music Man: Making the streets safe for musicians & buskers everywhere!
Thanks Binky! Quite a few of us have had the insane vitals. The insane part at least.
The alien experiments are what cause baldness too.
I’ve done more than my share of busking and I’ve had very few problems. I always thought I’d get mugged or worse but… nope. Maybe no one wants a face full of bongo! Kidding.
Looks like MC is about to brake through unconsciousness!
Love your drum inventions!
Thanks Hjörtur!
It looks like you could play the drums and make coffee at the same time. You are serioulsy creative. I can’t wait to hear it.
I hate when I’m having a bad dream and can’t wake up!
Thanks Nancy! I guess I could probably figure out the coffee making. I definitely end up multitasking a lot. I guess we all do anymore.
Isn’t there a super hero who has a bingo shield? B-flat
A bingo shield?
now you need top create a drum stick with a sword handle and it will be complete
Or a sai. Sai would be cool and also Jite.
Very dramatic strip today. Nice contrast between the real and the imagined. It’s also cool to see the tools of your other trade, MC, thanks for sharing!
Thanks Mark!