Annoying Twit Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 Is it possible to buy a kazoo that is a proper instrument, not the cheap plastic or metal toys that you can buy from Amazon or ToysRUs? Would such an instrument have sound quality significantly higher than the toys? (if played properly) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiOgon Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 (edited) Yeah - you have to look for one that says Fender on it & a USA will sound much better than a MiM but the MIJ's are OK Edited March 19, 2014 by KiOgon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted March 20, 2014 Author Share Posted March 20, 2014 (edited) Believe it or not, this was a serious question. I was curious about having an instrument to 'lead' myself while improvising bass lines. Learning harmonica might distract me from bass, so I thought a kazoo might be worth a try. There's a company called "Elderly Instruments" in the US that sells a variety of kazoos, including some <kiOgon>Made in the USA,</kiOgon>http://elderly.com/search/elderly?terms=kazoos&x=8&y=9 Hohner make a kazoo, but it seems to be difficult to find.http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chesbro-Music-KC50-Single-Hohner-Plastic/dp/B001OPEZYW Of course, they cost a lot less (only 63 pence) in the USA.http://www.guitarcenter.com/Hohner-Kazoo-420558-i1133577.gc If we want to make analogies from bass quality, then perhaps a Stagg kazoo isn't the best choice.http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stagg-STAGG-plastic-Kazoo-1C-SR-HP/dp/B000OR2DBS/ref=pd_sim_sbs_w_h__5?ie=UTF8&refRID=1QB0RP3GCG6XEV8MY52M A further analogy from basses is that at any price point, a Yamaha is usually very good value for money and well designed. I've heard that extends across their very wide musical range. But, I had a check and it seems that Yamaha doesn't make a kazoo. These instruments mostly cost about £1.50-£4. I was just wondering whether if I was prepared to pay an order of magnitude more money than that, whether there was something around that was of a higher quality than the toys. Somebody in Germany called "Christalos Design" seems to fulfil the Jon Shuker role, with handmade zebrawood (and other woods) kazoos.https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/174178231/wooden-kazoo-kazoo-made-from-zebrano?utm_source=google&utm_medium=product_listing_promoted_en_gb&utm_campaign=music_low At £24 something plus presumably postage, they won't break the bank. Edited March 20, 2014 by Annoying Twit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingBollock Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 There's nothing wrong with the cheap metal ones you find in tubs on music shop counters. Especially if they also sell the replacement reeds. You can also experiment with them, by fixing different materials onto the ring of a worn out reed, to get different sounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted March 20, 2014 Author Share Posted March 20, 2014 Thanks, I'll get one of them. I can always buy a hand-crafted walnut wood kazoo at a later time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 This thread made me laugh when I saw it as funnily enough I was saying to KIOgan earlier that I should take up this or the recorder as it would be cheaper than fiddling about with basses lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingBollock Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 (edited) [quote name='Thunderbird' timestamp='1395352095' post='2401588'] This thread made me laugh when I saw it as funnily enough I was saying to KIOgan earlier that I should take up this or the recorder as it would be cheaper than fiddling about with basses lol [/quote] I've got a recorder but I can't play it, it's just no fun. But I have got a few penny whistles that I adore, and they're a lot cheaper than recorders. If you want something similar sounding to a recorder but is easier and more fun to play, you could try an ocarina. I love mine, but a decent sized one can be expensive, mine is less than 3 inches across and cost me £12. It's small enough to leave on a cord around my neck, say if I am camping or something, and I can just grab it and play it. Mind you, you probably need long hair and a tie-die t-shirt to really pull it off... Edited March 20, 2014 by KingBollock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Saint Posted March 23, 2014 Share Posted March 23, 2014 The only difference I've found is that the metal ones seem easier to play, as the plastic ones get sloppier the longer they stay in your mouth... There really ain't much difference in the sound, just try a few till you get one you like. Wooden ones tend to have a deeper tone. I grip mine in my teeth (this reply is getting seedier by the second) and the metal ones just seem easier to hold. OK, confession being good for the soul, I'll continue by saying that I find it best to use one of those harmonica cradles (think Bob Dylan) so that you can take a short breather between solos. And just to complete the picture, I only play kazoo when playing in my ukulele band...... I now wait to see if I'm ever allowed to post on this forum again. Graham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarah thomas Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 I have an old plastic Hohner kazoo which is the best kazoo I've ever owned. I might dig it out again just to annoy the sax player ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlapbassSteve Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 A lad in my band plays a kazoo attached to the end of a ukulele like a trumpet. I've suggested he looks into something fancy but apparently the best kazoos money can buy are between the 50p and £3 mark, anything else won't sound as good or will damage your bank balance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Riffed Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Saw this, thought of you. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002GI55PY?pc_redir=1401512239&robot_redir=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 [quote name='Thunderbird' timestamp='1395352095' post='2401588'] This thread made me laugh when I saw it as funnily enough I was saying to KIOgan earlier that I should take up this or the recorder as it would be cheaper than fiddling about with basses lol [/quote] Have you seen the price of bass recorders? I've got a nice Soprano and a nicer alto, but couldn't really justify the cost of going any lower in pitch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 A band I was in used to play a cover of Right Said Fred's 'Deeply Dippy, and come the brass break, the guitarist and I would both whip out kazoos to play it. Oh how the audience laughed, or perhaps would have done if they had found it as amusing as we did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oggiesnr Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 You can, I'm not sure where but I'll ask around. The genesis is in girls marching bands in the North East (and around here) who have drums, xylophones and a trumpet like kazoo. There are competitions etc for them. I know someone who helps with one so I'll ask. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oggiesnr Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 OK so here you are [url="http://www.grevillehodgson.co.uk/jazz_band_.html"]http://www.grevillehodgson.co.uk/jazz_band_.html[/url]. Now you a different definition for "Jazz Band" Have fun Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westie9 Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 Steve, you just beat me to the site... Would recommend them... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gelfin Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 (edited) Get your whole band to use them, then you can sound like a load of vuvuzalas Here's some sheet music for you. [URL=http://s970.photobucket.com/user/gelfin5959/media/Vuvuzelasheetmusic_zps5f93940b.jpg.html][IMG]http://i970.photobucket.com/albums/ae181/gelfin5959/Vuvuzelasheetmusic_zps5f93940b.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Edited August 12, 2014 by gelfin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 [quote name='gelfin' timestamp='1407879511' post='2525084']...Here's some sheet music for you...[/quote] Sorry, can't read music from a score. Do you have a 'tab' version, please..? [size=4] [/size] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skankdelvar Posted August 15, 2014 Share Posted August 15, 2014 It is a little-known fact that Nazi Reichsleiter Martin Bormann was an accomplished Kazoo player. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iiipopes Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 (edited) A serious answer to a serious question: [url="http://www.kazoos.com"]http://www.kazoos.com[/url] - get a metal one The most famous use of a kazoo is by Sir Macca on Ringo's cover of "You're Sixteen" on his 1973 "Ringo" album. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQYGrm-Yf4w[/media] The kazoo solo starts at 1:10. On the album cover, the credit is "mouth organ." Edited September 15, 2014 by iiipopes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingBollock Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 (edited) I prefer it's use on the early Macc Lads stuff, especially Barrel's Round from the Bitter, Fit Crack album. I shan't be linking to any of it from here. Edited September 21, 2014 by KingBollock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted September 27, 2014 Author Share Posted September 27, 2014 Sorry, I didn't notice that this thread was still running. Still don't have a kazoo, I might as well pick a cheap one up today. I had a look at buying a 'french horn kazoo' from www.kazoos.com, but shipping would have been US$45.90, which is a bit much. I've just had the thought that Sheehans in Leicester might have something interesting, I'll email them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingBollock Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 [quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1411814313' post='2563007'] Sorry, I didn't notice that this thread was still running. Still don't have a kazoo, I might as well pick a cheap one up today. I had a look at buying a 'french horn kazoo' from www.kazoos.com, but shipping would have been US$45.90, which is a bit much. I've just had the thought that Sheehans in Leicester might have something interesting, I'll email them. [/quote] Ohh, I used to love that shop! Wish there was somewhere around here like that place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted September 27, 2014 Author Share Posted September 27, 2014 (edited) No reply from Sheehan's email. Surprising as I thought they were good at answering emails. Their website shows only one kazoo, a plastic one for £1.20. I bought one from Intasound in Narborough road after SWMBO sent me out for shopping at Tescos. Only a standard plastic one, but I want to look into getting something upmarket. EDIT: Sheehans answered, but they don't have anything special. Edited September 29, 2014 by Annoying Twit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSiberian Posted September 29, 2014 Share Posted September 29, 2014 [quote name='The Saint' timestamp='1395607586' post='2404338'] And just to complete the picture, I only play kazoo when playing in my ukulele band...... I now wait to see if I'm ever allowed to post on this forum again. Graham [/quote] Why not posting again? I also wear my 5711 when I play kazoo. Best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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