Music

Simple inexpensive Pik'N Board adds percussion to your music

Simple inexpensive Pik'N Board adds percussion to your music
When attached below the picking area of an acoustic guitar, the Pik'N Board offers players the means to provide their own strum-stroke back beat
When attached below the picking area of an acoustic guitar, the Pik'N Board offers players the means to provide their own strum-stroke back beat
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The Pik'N Board is a mini-washboard attached to the face of a guitar that can be used by players to provide their own percussive accompaniment
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The Pik'N Board is a mini-washboard attached to the face of a guitar that can be used by players to provide their own percussive accompaniment
When attached below the picking area of an acoustic guitar, the Pik'N Board offers players the means to provide their own strum-stroke back beat
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When attached below the picking area of an acoustic guitar, the Pik'N Board offers players the means to provide their own strum-stroke back beat
Sure to be a talking point - the Pik'N Board mini-washboard is positioned below the picking area of an acoustic guitar, players extend the pick stroke to tap or scrape a snare-drum-like back beat
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Sure to be a talking point - the Pik'N Board mini-washboard is positioned below the picking area of an acoustic guitar, players extend the pick stroke to tap or scrape a snare-drum-like back beat
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For many of us, washing clothes by hand is no longer a necessity. Yet the simple ridged device used before the advent of washing machines is still in production today and continues to be used all over the world. Leaving soapy water well behind, the washboard found a new life in the hands of musicians playing everything from skiffle to dixieland, and jazz to blues. Solo guitar players can now provide their own inexpensive snare-like percussive accompaniment, by attaching a Pik'N Board to their instrument. The mini-washboard is positioned below the picking area of an acoustic guitar, with players extending the pick stroke to tap out a latin beat or scrape in some cajun spice.

Looking for a lightweight solution to providing his own back beat, multi-instrumentalist Steve Baker came up with a mini-washboard device that attaches to the face of the guitar and is played with the pick hand in the same stroke used to strum the strings. The Pik'N Board is said to allow learners and advanced players alike to add their own "Latin Maracas or Cha-Cha Cabasa, or Guru beats, as well as country off beats, and solid bluegrass, and rock and roll chunking."

Available now for US$29.95, the Pik'N Board offers players the chance to roll up the spirits of Big Bill Broonzy and Washboard Sam into one instrument, adding an interesting new sonic layer to the solo performance while providing a talking point for those watching.

Take a look at the following video for a demonstration of the Pik'N Board in action:

PIKNBOARD.COM DEMO STEVEN BAKER

View gallery - 4 images
4 comments
4 comments
Terotech
I hate to be negative, honestly, and I\'m not the best guitarist in the world, but after seeing and hearing the demo I am completely underwhelmed....sorry.
kalqlate
I agree with Terotech. This might be useful as a VERY SPARSELY used percussive effect. However, as demonstrated... just plain annoying.
Ed
if didn\'t sound so plasticy and cheezy, it would be OK...it needs to be able to pick up the resonance of the guitar in order to make it a more full sound. As it is now, it has the same tonal quality of somebody cracking their knuckles.
phill
agreed. bloody annoying.