I know that the cowbell is very 80's. I know that modern drummers tend to use jam blocks. I think that both serve their purposes in their own unique ways but which do you prefer? Bell, block or both?








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It's so important to make best friends in life!

Tama and Medicine Man Drums, Zildjian, Remo, Roc-n-Soc, DW and Pro-mark.

depends on the application. some things the cowbell would sound the best, other places a jam block would sound the best. all up to you.

I use both. I have two jam blocks, both high and low pitch. I also have two cowbells in high and lower pitches as well. My tambourine rounds out the auxillary percussion set-up. Like drummert2k already said, there's just some parts of songs where the cowbell would sound best, and then there's parts of a song where the jam block would sound best. I use the jam blocks as a substitute for cross sticking rim click.








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I'm part of the brotherhood of like-minded individuals who like to bang on things.

I think that calling cowbells "very 80's" is a perception rather than a reality. I've seen more drummers using cowbells than Jam Blocks. My personal rule is, if it needs to sound authentic use the real thing, if not, go with what works best for you and the song.
To me, a Jam Block's only distictively useful purpose is that you can beat the shit out of it without breakage. I have a blue Jam Block, but usually prefer using a real wood block because it tends to sound better. And Jam Blocks seem to have fewer spots to get a good sound than real wood blocks.

Christopher

christopherabruce wrote:

I think that calling cowbells "very 80's" is a perception rather than a reality. I've seen more drummers using cowbells than Jam Blocks. My personal rule is, if it needs to sound authentic use the real thing, if not, go with what works best for you and the song.
To me, a Jam Block's only distictively useful purpose is that you can beat the shit out of it without breakage. I have a blue Jam Block, but usually prefer using a real wood block because it tends to sound better. And Jam Blocks seem to have fewer spots to get a good sound than real wood blocks.

Christopher

Good point. What type or brand of wood block do you use? I would like to check one out and see how it sounds. Later dude.








_________________
It's so important to make best friends in life!

Tama and Medicine Man Drums, Zildjian, Remo, Roc-n-Soc, DW and Pro-mark.

i use a cowbell for combo when we play latin stuff, but for effect percussion in my band i use a jam block and a blast block.








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Speak the rhythm with your hands.

http://www.myspace.com/yjamband



Pearls, Zildjians, Vics, Evans.

i'm in a ska band, so jam blocks are my best friend! no but really they are amazing. i use cowbells every so often. not as often as i could though. don't have much application for the sound i like.

I have great sampled sounds to my SPD-S you can't tell the difference. I have all my aux percussin sampled its so much easyer to set up.

I have a few- an old Chinese rosewood, and LP and a couple generic no-name that I've acquired over the years. I've never bought any new, but I recommend looking at LP, Vaughcraft, Grover and Black Swamp. LP's probably your best bet in affordability and availability, depending where you live.

Christopher
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Good point. What type or brand of wood block do you use? I would like to check one out and see how it sounds. Later dude.

christopherabruce wrote:

I have a few- an old Chinese rosewood, and LP and a couple generic no-name that I've acquired over the years. I've never bought any new, but I recommend looking at LP, Vaughcraft, Grover and Black Swamp. LP's probably your best bet in affordability and availability, depending where you live.

Christopher
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Good point. What type or brand of wood block do you use? I would like to check one out and see how it sounds. Later dude.

Will do! Thanks!








_________________
It's so important to make best friends in life!

Tama and Medicine Man Drums, Zildjian, Remo, Roc-n-Soc, DW and Pro-mark.

id like to get a vaughncraft stave snare someday...

back to the topic, i have a low pitch jam block but i rarely use it. i just dont find that much use for it, and i dont think id find much more use for a cowbell either but i want to get one. go with whichever you like.








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zen_drummer wrote:

Real life doesn't work that way, and one day he's gonna pull a stunt like that and they'll put a cap in him. At that point it won't matter that he was fat in high-school and couldn't get laid.

I'm telling you, you're gonna want that cowbell!

i have a jam block.....but both rock and are usable in different situations equally effective. If i had to choose one over another, it's probably be the jam block due to the pure cutting punch it has.

I say it wouldn't be bad to have both! Very progressive...








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I play drums with the following items: Tama Superstar SK Hyperdrive, Sabian, Paiste, Aquarian Heads, Vic Firth sticks, and Latin Percussion. Nicko McBrain(Iron Maiden) deserves FAR more respect than he recieves!!!

Neither.....cowbells suk