Period Bass Drum Sticks

[zfrederick]

I am a reenactor and play the bass. For the last 13 years I have been using all wood Cooperman bass sticks but a person I play with brought in a stick with a soft leather coated head. I did some searching and finally found a period stick just like that but I cannot find anyone to sell them or on how to make the head properly. Any help would be appreciated. If I could figure how to post a pic I would attach it.

Zach Frederick

[33rdaladrummer]

Zach,

Even though we haven't met yet, it wasn't hard to figure out that the bass drum beater you're talking about was mine! Paul told me he tried out my original at the last practice. I'm glad they busted that bass drum head instead of my beater! He should have used one of the copies he just picked up for me, although I still have to cover them with string and buckskin. The copies were made by Joe Carter, who now has a pattern to make period correct snare drum sticks, thanks to me. You have probably noticed several of the drummers from Liberty Hall playing with the rosewood sticks. Those were made by Joe. I don't know if he made a pattern for the bass drum beaters though. If anyone else is interested, send me a PM and I will find out if he can make more bass drum beaters, although you will have to find someone to handle the leather and twine part if you are afraid to do it yourself.

[zfrederick]

Your right it was Paul who had it. The period one sounded alot deeper when compared to the wood head. It will probaly be a little better on the skin heads also.

[Hardtack Herring]

Haaaa. To funny. I never expected this to make it to the forums. We only tested the sound from the original beater. A couple soft hits. It sounds good. The original beater is still in fine shape. Don't worry Will. Edwins Rosewood beaters did in the bass drum head.

The rosewood snare sticks that Will speaks of are very fine indeed. The bass beaters are looking very good. I know when they are finished they are going to be just fine.

As we all know correct reproduction sticks are very hard to come by. Many thanks to Will and Joe for having these sticks made up. It truly adds adds to our impression.

[33rdaladrummer]

For your amusement, a plain wood beater, possibly from the CW era

And some more examples:

http://www.geocities.com/cwfifedrum/p35.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/cwfifedrum/p24.jpg

[Hardtack Herring]

And another bass beater and cool sling. We have plans to reproduce this sling as well. Anyone have any ideas of where to get the webbing?

The beater in this picture is more like the type Will is reproducing. The exception is this beater has has the fancy design cut into the handle.

[Tertel]

Will, Paul,
Very cool beaters and sling. Just as described in R&H. I know Needle and Thread in Gettysburg has regular white cotton webbing that I have used to make slings. Perhaps they can refer you to other vendors that might carry a fancier pattern webbing.
Can you send me or post pics of the period correct rosewood snare sticks that Joe Carter made for you? I would be very interested in getting them for the Fort McHenry Guard drummers.
Thanks,
Tim Ertel

[markj]

Zach,

I presume you've already seen this thread?

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/...tastic+militia

Regards,

Mark Jaeger

[Hardtack Herring]

Tim, good seeing you the other week.

I tried to take some pictures of the drum sticks but they came out pretty bad. I had to use my sons webcam as I seem to have lost my good camera..... Long Story.

Hopefully Will can post some pictures of the sticks soon. If not I will try to get a camera from a friend and post them as soon as I can.

Mark, I forgot about that thread. I did get that image from E-bay. A very cool sling it is. Our Bass Drummer is slow to fall due to the straps we have for the drum now. We normally have to help him out with it. Hopefully when we make this sling it will solve that problem. It will be a very authentic and unique sling and it will look cool too.

[33rdaladrummer]

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