Wooden bones handmade by our store's general manager and bones player, Brennan Kuhns! Made of hardwoods, often repurposed. Size can vary, but are generally large, around 7" long with a gentle curve.
Which wood should I get? Some thoughts from Brennan:
When considering the wood of rhythm bones, it’s important to remember the cut and playing style affects the tonal and rhythmic results just as much as the source species. With all other factors being even, the denser woods (rosewood, ebony, padauk, etc.) generally will bring a snappier, brighter strike tone, and less dense woods (maple, poplar, cherry, etc.) will have a slightly lower pitched tone.
In almost all cases, the perception of these differences is subjective, and a preferred tone for one player is not the same as another. The relative tone also loses significance when a single set is played in one hand, with no other rhythm bones for comparison or context, whereas two-handed players can either play matched sets or contrasting ones.
For beginners, it may be best to use a heavier wood, such as rosewood or oak. This allows your hand to feel the inertia while playing, reinforcing the motion of playing. In general, lighter woods, like pine and cedar, are more difficult to start playing on, although they can produce an intrinsically quieter and smoother tone.
Some makers, like Steve Brown, use a tapered profile, so that one end of the instrument is thinner than the other. The two thicker ends struck together yield a more robust tone, and the two thinner ends struck together a sharper click.
M.T. Pockets bones are often made from reclaimed and repurposed wood, so the exact species is not always guaranteed. The best educated guess is made based on grain, source, and density. They are inspected and play tested before being brought for sale.
