Made a Palito today! - ...or bamboo crafts at home

[bongosnotbombs]

Chopsaw? Your upscale, all I had was a handsaw!

but the burning smell from the drill bit was a bit off, then there's that
Linseed oil lingering for a few days..

[Gallichio]

Is anyone selling one? I would like to purchase one.

[Chupacabra]

Pay the cost of shipping and I'll give you one of mine.

[Gallichio]

How much would shipping be to - Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 U.S.A.



Edited By Gallichio on 1202015879

[Chupacabra]

I'd have to pack it and take it to the post office for them to rate it. Probably not very much - don't forget customs duties. I would say the whole deal would be around $10, but that's just a guesstimate.

[Gallichio]

Chupacabra,
Can you send me an e-mail at MGallichio@sbcglobal.net so we can work it out. Thanks

[bongosnotbombs]

I've been finding timbale sticks and drum sticks a little long for sit down playing of my gua gua, so I chopped down some cheap drum sticks.

These are about 11 3/4" now. The shortest I had before were 15 1/2" timbale sticks. Much more manageable for seated playing, at least for me.



Edited By bongosnotbombs on 1202273255

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[Chupacabra]

I've found that my krin sticks are doing pretty good. I also cut them down a couple of inches.

[Gallichio]

Chupacabra,
I received the instrument you made for me today. It is awesome and sounds great! That was very kind of you do do this.
Thank you.
I have sent you an e-mail to confirm your address so I can send a check.



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[Congadelica]

BBB one day I may call on you to make me one of them there palito gua gua cata whatever you want to call them

How will you play it mike seated or stood . Im curiou which stand may be usefull I have a meinl bonga stand a quick modification and I think would work.

Nice work BBB.

[Gallichio]

Congadelica,
I will try all different ways to play it. But so far I really like the sound with my Calato, Regal Tip Fan Thai sticks on my lap. Mounting on a stand would be a cool idea but I don't know how tough the bamboo wood is. Chupacabra did a great job making this instrument for me.



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[Chupacabra]

I've seen those Fan Thai sticks before and wondered how they can be used. Guess where I'll be going after practise this Saturday! I had wondered if there was a way to soften the sound a bit while playing it, especially to contrast the sound of the clave, and this could be the answer.

I'm glad you like the cata/guagua and may it provide countless hours of palito playing for you!

For now, I just clench it between my knees; eventually I will make a stand for mounting a cata and a krin with some other doo-dads which will hold them within playing reach above the 3 congas or bougarabous that will be held in the same stand. Kinda hard to describe, but I have a couple of drawings I've been working on. And yes, the system will mostly be made from good ol' bamboo!

[bongosnotbombs]

Thats a really interesting piece of bamboo there, I like it.

I also prefer playing it held between my knee's. Mostly because it makes it easier to pass around in a rumba.

I like these cut down drums sticks for a full on session, the shortness makes them easier to handle.

I use the Vater 7/16 maples stick in the picture for home practice because they are not as loud, they sound good too.

This particular guagua made it through 4 hours of rumba last week I was so proud. On the flip side, a freind of mine was playing a different guagua I made with claves instead of sticks, and he was hitting it hard so it split. So they are pretty strong, but not invincible.

The trick is getting sticks that are loud enough but not so big your gonna bash the bamboo in.

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[Chupacabra]

When I've been playing mine I have the holes on the bottom, facing down. Is that why a couple of people were looking at me kinda funny?

I was trying to sand it down to get it to a nicer finish and was wondering: "Why I was going through so much sandpaper?" Then it dawned on me that bamboo is full of natural silica, which is what sand is made of. I decided to go with the "Rugged Look".

[bongosnotbombs]

I think the sound comes out of the holes a little better when they are either on top or kind of towards the top.

I see people playing them all sorts of ways though.'

I only sanded the holes a little, and the ends so they are not as sharp against the legs.