8/18/2009

Mystery solved: LP 320 Tube Shekere


Well the mystery has been solved by Brother Mike from the Funksploitation blog. It is an LP product. The mystery instrument is the LP320 Tube Shekere. The concept is a bit like a homemade instrument a friend of mine proposed "the hebitere", that we fabricated a while back, a pandeiro shekere hybrid thing. I'll post about that instrument next. For now I leave you with the LP literature on the ignonymous LP320.

The shekere's history begins in Africa where this unique instrument serves as a shaker, a rattle, and a drum. Traditionally made from hollowed gourds wrapped in a lattice of stones, the instrument was, and is, played by shaking or twisting it to get shaker and rattle sounds or by hitting the bottom of the body with the palm of the hand to get drum like bass notes.
LP has created a number of different versions of the shekere all with excellent durability and a variety of sounds. Synthetic cord provides a great deal of flexibility allowing the beads to move freely, but controlled. This is great for faster playing and the execution of more complex rhythmic patterns. We also use very different materials for the bodies of our shekeres. Whether metal, plastic, or fiberglass, we have a shekere for every need.

The LP Tube Shekere takes much of its patented design from the original shekere concept but goes a step further. A lattice of glass beads surrounds the metal shell delivering crisp, tight shaker sounds. Its tubular shape makes it easy to grasp and play shekere bead patterns faster than with the original instrument shape. Long tails on both ends of the tube add to the stage presence of the LP Tube Shekere.

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