Alec Fraser-How to make a brushbass drum attachment-part two

Alec Fraser http://www.biggiolarecords.com/alecfraser.html

I played bass in The Jeff Healey Band for his last eight years. He was a great friend and bandleader.If you have something nice to comment on Jeff, feel free.I'm also a part of an acoustic trio called Brokenjoe. http://www.brokenjoe.com/music http://www.myspace.com/brokenjoemusic Here`s a wacky little contraption that I put together that allows me to play a beat while playing the stand up bass using a snare brush through my fingers. Lightning Chance and Ernie Newton amongst others used to use something similar back in the 40`s & 50`s on the Grand Old Opry shows when they wouldn`t allow drummers there. Theirs was a big old skin with a frame permanently screwed right to the belly of the bass, I didn`t want to do that because it would obstruct me from going up the neck if need be. My addition to this was to come up with a quick removable one that had more tension to it like a real snare and to also put in a condenser mic/pre amp that I can send to the P.A at festival gigs.It takes a while to get the hang of the brush being through the fingers but it`s worth it. At first I used it all night on duo and trio gigs playing every kind of music just to get the hang of it but now I`ll just pull it out for two or three songs a set for effect. It`s volume is turned up higher on this video so you can hear its tone. Normally it would be a bit lower in level.Also you MUST roll of all of the bass and mid-range on the Gazinkey's mic and increase the the treble to almost maximun on the mixer channel. This will give you a snare brush sound with no thud.

Unfortunately there isn`t much literature on these old pioneer bass players of Nashville and very few still doing this technique. If you know of anyone that does this brushbass style please put me in contact with them.

I don`t use this in the Jeff Healey Band because we have Al "baby" Webster behind the kit but a trio like Brokenjoe has the perfect instrumentation with banjo, harmonica and bass where the chop comes in handy at times.

Here are some friends and influences of Brokenjoe worth checking out. Dock Boggs, Charlie Poole, Charlie Angus and the Grievous Angels, Bill Munroe, Lester Flatt,Willie Nelson, Earl Scruggs, Uncle Dave Macon, Robert Johnson, Morgan Davis, Hank Williams, Hank Snow, Jack de Keyzer, Danny Marks, Rick Fines, Fruteland Jackson, Roscoe Holcomb, Fred Eaglesmith, The Weber Brothers, Jeff Healey, Mark Haines and Tom Leighton, Junior Brown, Matt Masters, Bob Wills, Wendell Ferguson, Billy Connolly, George Carlin, James Jamerson, Paul McCartney, Pinetop Perkins, Jimmy Rodgers, Murray McLaughlin, Gordon Lightfoot, Stomping Tom Connors, The Carter Family, Chubby Wise, Lightning Chance, Webb Pierce, Ray Price, Julian Fauth, Julian Fauth, Taj Mahal, Keb Mo, Grandpa Jones, The Chieftains, Merle Haggard, Dale Watson, Danny Brooks, Asleep At The Wheel, Ray Benson, Dan Whiteley, Jenny Whiteley, Cris Whiteley, Jimmy Bowskill, Steve Strongman, Finis Tasby, David Rotundo, Loretta Lynn, Tom Waits, Mo' Kauffey, Harry Manx, Doc MacLean, Long John Baldry, Mose Scarlett, Rick and the Biscuits, Matt Minglewood, Trouble and Strife, Ken Whiteley,Tim Williams, Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, Harrison Kennedy, Steve Earle, one man bands and especially Electro-fi records. Do a google search, you won`t be disappointed.

The Brokenjoe CD " LONG WALK TO NOWHERE" is available for download at iTunes,
Rhapsody http://www.rhapsody.com/brokenjoe/longwalktonowhere,
emusic http://www.emusic.com/album/Brokenjoe-Long-Walk-To-Nowhere-MP3-Download/10980...,
Audio Lunchbox http://www.audiolunchbox.com/album?a=77659,
Yotta music http://www.yottamusic.com/albums/Brokenjoe/Long-Walk-To-Nowhere/
musicload http://www.musicload.de/item.ml?releaseid=1878032_2 and other fine on-line stores.

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[RavenRP]

Sorry to be posting again already, I wanted to let you know I am trying you idea but as I didn't have an old snare head sitting around I tried some sand paper and I think it's working brilliantly. I also tried an old crappy ¼ inch plug vocal mic with a switch, but the jury is still out on that one. Anyway this is fun, Thanks.

[Magublican]

Let me know how it goes. I did consider sandpaper for the sound but feared that it would wear out too soon and be flaking sand all over my bass and in peoples drinks. A new Ambassador coated drum head is very cheap and will last a long time.The mic you use should be fine as long as it's light and you roll off ALL the bass and midrange and boost the treble on the PA.Fun,fun,fun.

[kcfraser]

Suction cup for a show? I think not Alec Fraser (if that is your real name. I remember seeing Roxy Raven, miss nude Red Deer 1978, wearing them with tassels during her shows.

Keef

[Magublican]

If we put a great big suction cup on your head Keef we could hoist you down from the belfry on to your drum chair ya pervert :)

[Magublican]

@Magublican I got a Piezo and gave it a try. The tone was like hitting a tin can so I still prefer the mic so far. I'll experiment some more with it though.

[luckyhorsecinema]

fantastic ! love that , thanks for sharing - i'm gonna try it out with a boundary mic, wishyou could've played a little bit on it so people could hear more of what it's like, but at any rate judging by when you did tap the sponge it seemed to have a really good sound about it.

[Guitarchaeologist]

Alec is the best one man rhythm section in the world!

[Magublican]

An AKG B9 is a pre-amp. Sax players would use one attached to their belt with a volume control for the mic they had on the bell of the sax. It also supplies phantom power for condenser mics.

[RavenRP]

I nominate this for a Harvard award.

Way Cool!

I want to do this for my upright.

[rx321j]

...this guy is great!!!!