This was funny to me because I have stood there in HarborFreight twice this month making sounds with that cowbell trying to decide whether to buy one for percussion use. Mounting it was the thing that made me set it back down. People in the store were all "'ta hayl he doin' wit' dat?".
The HF cowbell is an ACTUAL cowbell, meant for the purpose of mounting on a cow, not a drum kit. Keep that in mind. Is it an "according to Hoyle" authentic cowbell?..YES!!
Honestly, I so much prefer the sound of the HF one over the other 3. It just sounds that much better, especially because doesn't have the high pitched ring the other 3 have.
Honestly, it has a really cool sound. I don't think it sounds bad. There's a Harbor Freight in my city, I may have to go pick one up. It's all about the context it would be used in.
+rdavidr the wife bought me one a few months back... before i found your channel. how did you get the clapper out? your hand was in the way. plus, it'll sound decent if you wrap some electrical tape around the end to kill the ring a little
I didn't know they sold cowbells. I went and bought one after seeing this video. I mounted it on an old guitar stand and put a moon gel inside of the bell. It doesn't sound bad. Thanks
It works pretty well when used handheld and struck with a dedicated purpose cowbell beater like the one made by Meinl. You actually get a lot of control over the tone by using it this way, but it doesn't fit into a drum kit like that.
I bought one of these a long time ago, and after I took out the clapper, I used the little metal strip that was inside, bent it, and now use it as brush rack.
i would totally play it it actually sounds great. ya know 50 60 years ago its not like they had 21st century factories and lazer trimmed metal sheets with perfect pitched shells they used whatever they had at the time and it probably wasnt great quality. so if you want an authentic cheap sound of latin american music of the mid to early 20th century this is it.
The Harbor freight sounds the best to me.I have a old LP cowbell (estimate late 70's, early 80's era)&it's sounds dope.I bought it at a garage sale. Very patina.I was going to sand& paint it,but my girlfriend put about 3 or 4 coats of clear on it.Everybody likes the way it looks & sounds
Another idea for a vid: A subkick ala Yamaha. Old drum shell + second hand speaker. You´ll get tons of views ´cause there´s no lot of vids on how to make one diy style... :D
I would absolutely use it IF the mount was setup with an eyebolt. The thing about cowbells is they come in all shapes and sizes and with that, different sounds. It's like a cymbal stack. You take some bad cymbals, stack them up and get a cool sound.
Yeah, I think with a little muffling that would sound fine. I was given a Ridge Rider a long time ago. A touch over rated, yes. But that piece of plastic really helps with the excess ring. Works wonders with your sticks, too.
They make special little clips to mount this sort of thing to a standard percussion rod. I got a cowbell for christmas from an aunt a long time ago which did not have a mount, and I bought one of those little clips from my neighborhood drum store for a few bucks. Works pretty well. I am surprised you didn't experiment with any muffling on it. I like the low sound, just a bit too ringy. Some duck tape or a gel would cut down on that probably
For what it's worth at Harbor Freight, I'd by a few and modify them for use as metal jam blocks... if I even go that route. By itself, that cowbell isn't the greatest sounding instrument, until it gets "masked" during a drum jam... During your drum jam, as you played it the cowbell had a decent high "ping" after-tone that sounded really good in between the tom syncopation- that's what I meant by "masked". Nonetheless, as I always say, awesome drummers can make any cheap instrument sound good. You're Awesome!
Harbor Freight rules for tools! I would probably stay away from the drills and saws stuff like that but everything else is super cheap. When ever i work on my car and can't find a specific tool i nees i run to Harbor Freight the very next day. I would use it as a subtle cow bell sound, i have a real one that i got from my brother and it's a little to loud for me
hey David, you should used a U-clamp instead of drilling a hole. Gibraltar makes one that is only $3 to $6. That is how all cowbells used to be mounted. I always have a few extra. They are surprisingly useful in a lot of situations to attach rods/legs/cymbal arms with other things.
+Matt "Musician X" Falter I have a cow stand next to my kit in order to maintain authenticity of the mounting of the cowbell. That is how they will sound best.
I am an electronic musician that's new to drumming. My plan is to have interesting and unusual drums/percussion to go along with the normal sounds of my drum machines. I have been having so much fun with my practice pad that decided to order a set of small Roto Toms and an LP Trash Snare. I can't wait for them to arrive. I am into DIY and plan on getting thrift shop items to mount to symbol stands. I may have to visit HF to pick up a cowbell. For the price it's worth experimenting with. Maybe drill a bunch of holes in it to make a trash bell. Or put jingles on it. All kinds of possibilities.
You could weld the seemes intirely to prevent the 'buzz' , and an inforcement strip of some kind, on the hitting edge. If you want a higher pitch, grind it shorter.
Your actually hitting the cowbell in a way that would damage and ultimately break any cowbell. If you wish to prolong the life of any cowbell, it is best to hit in "sideways". Instead of facing the cowbell towards you, with the lip facing you, turn it sideways, and play the cowbell with the shaft of the stick along the wide portion of the bell. This will keep your cowbells lasting longer, and sounding the same for a much longer period of time. Also, it makes your cowbells louder, because it is projecting the sound out, rather than into you.
I'm thinking it sounds good. When I do percussion for a big event, I may put up as many metallic things as possible, just to get different sounds. I like how deep it is. Maybe attach the mount to the handle???
Maybe you could experiment with putting a plastic piece on the striking edge like some that are out there (don't remember which co. makes them). That would be a pretty fun video!
I NEED more cowbell. I'm really surprised how good that HF cowbell sounds. I've paid real money for the pro instrument cowbells, which are good, but not cheap. I think the HF cowbell has much deeper, more pleasant management of not-so-rockin overtones that those other small ones have. I'm thinking of shopping for and buying one (Tractor Supply is much closer--gotta love that they have a selection!!). I think it would be a hoot to use a hardware store cowbell, but just not sure I'd ever find the time to work on a good mount. But could be fun to leave the clapper in and use it as handheld percussion. We have a Wednesday night jam, and when I have to relinquish the drums to another drummer, it's fun to hit one and three by shaking an actual from--a-cow cowbell (with clapper) and play tambourine or bongoes with the other hand. Consider keeping that clapper in, fellow drummers, if you're going for an affordable cowbell. For me it would third or fourth cowbell I want to add to my kit, so the raspiness from the clapper could be a cool effect. Did I hear someone say Industrial? Agr-Industrial? New genre?
I was actually surprised at the way you held it, with your not even on it. IDK if you know this, and maybe you did it intentionally, but you generally hold a solid amount of the bell. That way, that ringing you hear in the video is gone and you get a more solid hit. Again, maybe it was intentional, but just wanted to say something. Great work man!
Hey David! If you've still got this thing, and don't use it, do a give away contest... like a drum battle... but with cool cowbell groove songs! Really random comment, I know 😁
Seems good enough for someone who is a beginner I guess lol. I wouldn't use this though. I have an LP one, sounds good with some tape but hey, whatever floats your boat can sound good in the long run haha
For anyone watching this in the future (like me lol), you can buy a Stagg cowbell for like, $8 and it sounds almost as good as the LP/Rhythmtec ones. Shop smarter, not harder.
the issue here is you're judging it on the merits of a percussive instrument. it isn't. it's an actual cowbell- as in a bell for a cow. that's what the clanger that you removed from the inside was for. i get what you're doing, and i applaud it. but you have to judge all things on their own merits. now, a tip for you; put a piece of felt (or just cloth) inside, push it to the bottom where the mount meets the base, and stuff it in tight til it only fills about 1/4 of the inside. this always makes a cheapy cowbell sound much more percussive and musical. it'll take the high end ring right out of it, and you'll be surprised how good it is for Samba/Latin/Clave rhythms, beats and patterns
Everyone else: hoarding toilet paper during a pandemic. ME: HOARDING $4 COWBELLS FROM HARBOR FREIGHT. 🤣 Save the cowbell clapper for use as a fishing weight, or for other percussive toys ;-)
What would you say about plasti-dipping a cowbell? Changeable muting, with visual treatment as well. You should maybe do a challenge "Will it plasti-dip?" You have sticks, shells and heads (waiting more on that topic) already covered, so cowbells, cymbals and who knows shat else could come next. Cheers!
I'm picking up 5 or 6 of them. A welder, a grinder, some tuning. You got yourself a cowbell tree. More for the Latin percussionist than the rock drummer, but useful. Weld the seams shut, yada yada.
I don't suppose you would make some Octobans out of PVC pipe? Modern Drummer or Drum! magazine had instructions on how to build a set but I am poor and have no money to buy the materials.
Take this with a grain of salt because I think unusual sounds are music's last hope, but the cheap ass cowbell sounds far more ethnic and special than any of the others to me. Of course mic and mix could reshape things but right out of the mic this thing has nice dark character.
![ILLSLICK - THE KING'S LANDING [Freestyle]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/feIJJnNkTfk/mqdefault.jpg)
This was funny to me because I have stood there in HarborFreight twice this month making sounds with that cowbell trying to decide whether to buy one for percussion use. Mounting it was the thing that made me set it back down. People in the store were all "'ta hayl he doin' wit' dat?".
The HF cowbell is an ACTUAL cowbell, meant for the purpose of mounting on a cow, not a drum kit. Keep that in mind. Is it an "according to Hoyle" authentic cowbell?..YES!!
Honestly, I so much prefer the sound of the HF one over the other 3. It just sounds that much better, especially because doesn't have the high pitched ring the other 3 have.
Honestly, it has a really cool sound. I don't think it sounds bad. There's a Harbor Freight in my city, I may have to go pick one up. It's all about the context it would be used in.
I'm still trying to figure out why Harbor Freight sells cow bells...
+LanceCampeau Right? They also sell kitchen stuff like pots, pans, and cutting boards lol
+rdavidr make a cymbal out of a pan!
+LanceCampeau ALOT of Farmers shop at HF.
+LanceCampeau you do know what the original intent of a cowbell is right?
they're for cows. lol
... Cowbells are bells worn by cows. Hence the name "cowbell". A cowbell for drums is literally a cowbell without the metal inside piece.
Would you buy one?
+rdavidr one? i would probably buy 2 jaja ;)
I actually liked the sound of it. Mic'd up and in a mix that could sound really good!
+rdavidr the wife bought me one a few months back... before i found your channel. how did you get the clapper out? your hand was in the way. plus, it'll sound decent if you wrap some electrical tape around the end to kill the ring a little
As a practice cowbell/ to experiment with.
I GOT A FEVER, AND THE ONLY PREACRIPTION IS PLAYING MORE COWBELLS
I didn't know they sold cowbells. I went and bought one after seeing this video. I mounted it on an old guitar stand and put a moon gel inside of the bell. It doesn't sound bad. Thanks
I may be crazy, but I dig the deep tone on the $4 bell.
The 4$ one is my favorite tone out of the ones you have
It works pretty well when used handheld and struck with a dedicated purpose cowbell beater like the one made by Meinl. You actually get a lot of control over the tone by using it this way, but it doesn't fit into a drum kit like that.
I'd buy it, I've paid more for parking ffs.
Sounds pretty decent to me!
I bought one of these a long time ago, and after I took out the clapper, I used the little metal strip that was inside, bent it, and now use it as brush rack.
i would totally play it it actually sounds great. ya know 50 60 years ago its not like they had 21st century factories and lazer trimmed metal sheets with perfect pitched shells they used whatever they had at the time and it probably wasnt great quality. so if you want an authentic cheap sound of latin american music of the mid to early 20th century this is it.
I think Corky Laing shopped at Harbor Freight.
Do you know what this video needs more of?
Views
Each one is just a tad more annoying than the one before it.
The Harbor freight sounds the best to me.I have a old LP cowbell (estimate late 70's, early 80's era)&it's sounds dope.I bought it at a garage sale. Very patina.I was going to sand& paint it,but my girlfriend put about 3 or 4 coats of clear on it.Everybody likes the way it looks & sounds
Another idea for a vid: A subkick ala Yamaha. Old drum shell + second hand speaker. You´ll get tons of views ´cause there´s no lot of vids on how to make one diy style... :D
I bought one way back before I started watching your channel, its pretty good for a cheap cowbell.
I would absolutely use it IF the mount was setup with an eyebolt.
The thing about cowbells is they come in all shapes and sizes and with that, different sounds. It's like a cymbal stack. You take some bad cymbals, stack them up and get a cool sound.
Yeah, I think with a little muffling that would sound fine.
I was given a Ridge Rider a long time ago. A touch over rated, yes. But that piece of plastic really helps with the excess ring. Works wonders with your sticks, too.
of the bells tested, the Harbor Frieght one was my favorite. I love great big cowbells
I like Congo line #3. Yes, I would use it and experiment with attaching things that jingle inside and out.
This video needs more Cowbell.
This cowbell needs more video.
They make special little clips to mount this sort of thing to a standard percussion rod. I got a cowbell for christmas from an aunt a long time ago which did not have a mount, and I bought one of those little clips from my neighborhood drum store for a few bucks. Works pretty well. I am surprised you didn't experiment with any muffling on it. I like the low sound, just a bit too ringy. Some duck tape or a gel would cut down on that probably
I have one and I think it sounds really good. Deep midtone, nice sound.
Maybe you could do a Lance Campeau and hand hammer some tone into it, then weld a mount on properly? It sounds like a cheap mambo bell
You're the first person I've seen that also watches his content, lol. That's a good sign for him.
First off I love you're video's.. I would use it because the tone fits the very well in the genre I play, so thanks for the tip....
For what it's worth at Harbor Freight, I'd by a few and modify them for use as metal jam blocks... if I even go that route.
By itself, that cowbell isn't the greatest sounding instrument, until it gets "masked" during a drum jam...
During your drum jam, as you played it the cowbell had a decent high "ping" after-tone that sounded really good
in between the tom syncopation- that's what I meant by "masked".
Nonetheless, as I always say, awesome drummers can make any cheap instrument sound good. You're Awesome!
U got a real gem there in that JCR!
Im pretty sure this cowbell will sound pretty good with some hand hammering. I hope they had thoses stores in Canada.
wow you played just the same songo beat that I was thinking, kinda shocking but cool. sound pretty well! keep it up
Do you have a Tractor Supply Co. in your area?...they have multiple styles and sizes of cowbells.
+Hans Grueber yeah theres one in the town next to me, I was actually thinking about doing a video on one of them. next time im there ill grab one
Yep, I'd use it! I'm all about being creative and being budget friendly too!
Harbor Freight rules for tools! I would probably stay away from the drills and saws stuff like that but everything else is super cheap. When ever i work on my car and can't find a specific tool i nees i run to Harbor Freight the very next day. I would use it as a subtle cow bell sound, i have a real one that i got from my brother and it's a little to loud for me
For my use... This thing is totally worth it, I'd totally use it for a show.
The fourth Cow bell was great.
hey David, you should used a U-clamp instead of drilling a hole. Gibraltar makes one that is only $3 to $6. That is how all cowbells used to be mounted. I always have a few extra. They are surprisingly useful in a lot of situations to attach rods/legs/cymbal arms with other things.
+Matt "Musician X" Falter I have a cow stand next to my kit in order to maintain authenticity of the mounting of the cowbell. That is how they will sound best.
+Hans Grueber: hahaha, man. authentic smells, too =D
I honestly prefer the sound of it over all the other "real" ones you played!
I am an electronic musician that's new to drumming. My plan is to have interesting and unusual drums/percussion to go along with the normal sounds of my drum machines. I have been having so much fun with my practice pad that decided to order a set of small Roto Toms and an LP Trash Snare. I can't wait for them to arrive. I am into DIY and plan on getting thrift shop items to mount to symbol stands. I may have to visit HF to pick up a cowbell. For the price it's worth experimenting with. Maybe drill a bunch of holes in it to make a trash bell. Or put jingles on it. All kinds of possibilities.
actually I like lower tones so I think that one sounds the best. I'd buy one.
You could weld the seemes intirely to prevent the 'buzz' , and an inforcement strip of some kind, on the hitting edge. If you want a higher pitch, grind it shorter.
I would! Lower pitched cowbell the better!
I'm definitely going to try one....I'll keep you posted
+Marc Robin sweet!
I got that exact same cowbell for my kit for Christmas two years ago.
Edit: I don't plan on using it ever again. I ain't about cowbells.
i would use it for sure. sounded great in the mix......
I totally gonna use this .. Maybe put a little tape to take out the overtones/ rings ..great video
Your actually hitting the cowbell in a way that would damage and ultimately break any cowbell. If you wish to prolong the life of any cowbell, it is best to hit in "sideways". Instead of facing the cowbell towards you, with the lip facing you, turn it sideways, and play the cowbell with the shaft of the stick along the wide portion of the bell. This will keep your cowbells lasting longer, and sounding the same for a much longer period of time. Also, it makes your cowbells louder, because it is projecting the sound out, rather than into you.
I'm thinking it sounds good. When I do percussion for a big event, I may put up as many metallic things as possible, just to get different sounds. I like how deep it is. Maybe attach the mount to the handle???
I would use it, a cowbell is a cowbell. Besides, how many times are you going to use it?
Maybe you could experiment with putting a plastic piece on the striking edge like some that are out there (don't remember which co. makes them). That would be a pretty fun video!
Or maybe try cutting some off the open end off to make it smaller? It's so cheap you can't mess it up! Lol
i actually like the sound of that,i actually saw it at the store the other day i should have bought it i didn't know it was only 4 bucks
I would buy it haha. I think it sounds better than the other ones in this video. I like them to be a lower pitch.
If I was still playing and if I liked the cowbell sound. YES
I'm sure everyone knows that the equipment doesn't matter. Its how it's played. The bell sounded sick, because the drumming was awesome.
I NEED more cowbell. I'm really surprised how good that HF cowbell sounds. I've paid real money for the pro instrument cowbells, which are good, but not cheap. I think the HF cowbell has much deeper, more pleasant management of not-so-rockin overtones that those other small ones have. I'm thinking of shopping for and buying one (Tractor Supply is much closer--gotta love that they have a selection!!). I think it would be a hoot to use a hardware store cowbell, but just not sure I'd ever find the time to work on a good mount. But could be fun to leave the clapper in and use it as handheld percussion. We have a Wednesday night jam, and when I have to relinquish the drums to another drummer, it's fun to hit one and three by shaking an actual from--a-cow cowbell (with clapper) and play tambourine or bongoes with the other hand. Consider keeping that clapper in, fellow drummers, if you're going for an affordable cowbell. For me it would third or fourth cowbell I want to add to my kit, so the raspiness from the clapper could be a cool effect. Did I hear someone say Industrial? Agr-Industrial? New genre?
Try out a Swiss cowbell.
ill use it because i like the sound and it doesnt have a long sustain like other cowbells
No joke I asked for a cowbell for my kit when I was younger and my dad went out and bought me this.
I was actually surprised at the way you held it, with your not even on it. IDK if you know this, and maybe you did it intentionally, but you generally hold a solid amount of the bell. That way, that ringing you hear in the video is gone and you get a more solid hit. Again, maybe it was intentional, but just wanted to say something. Great work man!
+Slinky5001 yeah I know, I didnt want to muffle it at all
Hey David! If you've still got this thing, and don't use it, do a give away contest... like a drum battle... but with cool cowbell groove songs!
Really random comment, I know 😁
I like the sound.
needs more cowbell
honestly, i would buy a cowbell like that for making experimental music. at least in my opinion of how to utilized that kind of sound.
Seems good enough for someone who is a beginner I guess lol. I wouldn't use this though. I have an LP one, sounds good with some tape but hey, whatever floats your boat can sound good in the long run haha
I wouldn't use it compared to the pearl cowbell I already have, but I'd prefer it to the ones you have there, just because it is a lower pitch.
Not horrible at all. You can stuff some pannies in it and control the sustain a little bit.
It's worth experimenting with for that price.
Sounds pretty good.
For anyone watching this in the future (like me lol), you can buy a Stagg cowbell for like, $8 and it sounds almost as good as the LP/Rhythmtec ones. Shop smarter, not harder.
the issue here is you're judging it on the merits of a percussive instrument. it isn't. it's an actual cowbell- as in a bell for a cow. that's what the clanger that you removed from the inside was for. i get what you're doing, and i applaud it. but you have to judge all things on their own merits. now, a tip for you; put a piece of felt (or just cloth) inside, push it to the bottom where the mount meets the base, and stuff it in tight til it only fills about 1/4 of the inside. this always makes a cheapy cowbell sound much more percussive and musical. it'll take the high end ring right out of it, and you'll be surprised how good it is for Samba/Latin/Clave rhythms, beats and patterns
I bought one three years ago, don't care much for the sound but hey it was worth the three or four bucks I paid.
Yes I would buy one and use it.
I like the sound of it alot
Everyone else: hoarding toilet paper during a pandemic.
ME: HOARDING $4 COWBELLS FROM HARBOR FREIGHT. 🤣
Save the cowbell clapper for use as a fishing weight, or for other percussive toys ;-)
hey man would love to see your take on a floor tom kick convertion.
Never been much of a cowbell guy :/ ... Nice vid tho. Can you please collab with Lance Campou already haha
+Carlo Loielo You need more cowbell (I had to say it)
+Carlo Loielo Listen to Dethroned Emperor by Celtic Frost
I would buy that in a heartbeat if i lived in USA! I have a LP cowbell and its too high pitched for what i want to use it for.
I like the lower tone so, yes.
Yea I'd use it!
What would you say about plasti-dipping a cowbell? Changeable muting, with visual treatment as well.
You should maybe do a challenge "Will it plasti-dip?" You have sticks, shells and heads (waiting more on that topic) already covered, so cowbells, cymbals and who knows shat else could come next.
Cheers!
I'm picking up 5 or 6 of them. A welder, a grinder, some tuning. You got yourself a cowbell tree. More for the Latin percussionist than the rock drummer, but useful. Weld the seams shut, yada yada.
+Jon Lyksett nice! Ive been meaning to do exactly that to the one I got and add a mount to it.
Sounds good.
Grew up in the 80s hearing drummer's using cow bells I wanted one I bought a harbor freight cow bell and refused to use it. Lol
I don't suppose you would make some Octobans out of PVC pipe? Modern Drummer or Drum! magazine had instructions on how to build a set but I am poor and have no money to buy the materials.
Could you use a steel hammer to make it sound better?
Yes I would use the $4.00 cowbell and I will go buy one at Harbor Freight.
THis handle.
Why did you use this liquid thing to dig out the hole?
And why did the handle bend?
the bells you used to compared it were cha-cha bells. The cheap one sounds like a crappy mambo bell.
Lol So hard to find a cowbell for less than $5!!!!
Truer words have not been said.
I'd buy it and convert it into an electronic cowbell.
the reason i think it doesnt sound like a drum cowbell is cause this was is actually meant for cows😂
this would work well with my Stagg drum kit
The cowbell u clamp from sweetwater. $2.88. Gibralter sc495.
You did not explain what the yellow piece is. I need to mount a cowbell with that same type handle
that would be tape lol
Take this with a grain of salt because I think unusual sounds are music's last hope, but the cheap ass cowbell sounds far more ethnic and special than any of the others to me. Of course mic and mix could reshape things but right out of the mic this thing has nice dark character.
2:51 reminded me of: ....
LOW
RIDE
ER.
the cheap stuff also has lifetime no questions asked replacement though
Yes for the price I would
Not bad amigo. A little more muted tone naturally