Question about the bones

Subject: Question about the bones
From: GUEST,Leila
Date: 12 May 01 - 03:37 PM

Hello oh wonderful forum!

I have a question for anyone who plays, or knows anything about bones. I have an old set of bones that belonged to my grandfather. The thing is they are actually made of bone (I don't even want to know whose...) instead of hardwood which is more common now. I'd love to play them, but after being stored for two years when I went back to school, I'm afraid that they are a bit brittle. I'd be horrified if they broke. Does anyone know about treating old bone 'bones' to keep them safe from shattering?

If this doesn't make any sense please just reply with clarifying questions, I'm not so sure how much sense I'm making with the question.

Cheers, Leila

Subject: RE: Question about the bones
From: Musicman
Date: 12 May 01 - 03:48 PM

Hi Leila..

well, i play a set of beef ribs which i retrieved from my local butcher shop about 20 years ago....... I have played them on and off for this time, and they have sat around sometimes for years without being played... never had a problem, never been concerned with them being brittle....

maybe take them to your local butcher and see if there is any concern about them, or it's just an aging process????

don't know more than that.. sorry.....

enjoy playing them, you get some great looks while playing them from people who have never seen them before, and more importantly, they are the only instrument that i've found that you can play and drink at the same time!!!

enjoy

musicman

Subject: RE: Question about the bones
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 12 May 01 - 03:56 PM

Linseed oil lightly rubbed into the bone helps. Yours, Aye. Dave

Subject: RE: Question about the bones
From: TishA
Date: 12 May 01 - 04:43 PM

Maybe warm them (not hot!) in the nuke or oven before applying the oil.

Chip A.

Subject: RE: Question about the bones
From: Hollowfox
Date: 12 May 01 - 05:24 PM

Do you live near a natural history museum (it doesn't have to be a big one), where you could ask a curator? Jewelers (more the lapidary types than the metalsmiths) and carvers also might be a good place to ask. If there's a renaissance fair in the neighborhood this summer, you might find an artisain to answer your question. Good luck.

Subject: RE: Question about the bones
From: Naemanson
Date: 12 May 01 - 06:58 PM

I have been making and playing bones for the last few years but mine are all wood. My father uses a lot of bone in his carving and scrimshaw. He soaks fresh bone in a lye solution and then polishes it with successively finer sand paper and uses toothpaste for the final polish.

One possibility is a solution of white glue and water. An old friend of mine used to make sand daollar jewelry and his first step was to soak the sand dollars in a white glue solution. I have seen him drop a large sand dollar on a concrete floor without harm to either the sand dollar or the floor.

I don't think the bone will be too brittle. I say go ahead and play them.

Subject: RE: Question about the bones
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 12 May 01 - 07:08 PM

But watch out for dogs in sessions in pubs. Some of them, being optimistic by nature, even go for the wooden variety, but they're normally willing to give them back, and a few teeth dents don't really nmatter. But retrieving real bone bones might be more of a problem.

Subject: RE: Question about the bones
From: Ebbie
Date: 12 May 01 - 07:15 PM

I have a friend who plays moose bones- from a moose he 'bagged' himself. He's quite proud of them actually; as he says he barbecued the moose and ate it but a part of it will always remain. He has kept them 'raw'.

Subject: RE: Question about the bones
From: GUEST,Mike Billo
Date: 12 May 01 - 08:51 PM

I have played Bones made of all types of materials for years. Go ahead and play. I don't forsee a problem. For more info on on bones and "boners"(I wish we could get rid of that name) go to http://www.rhythmbones.com

"May your bones be with you".

Subject: RE: Question about the bones
From: GUEST
Date: 12 May 01 - 10:07 PM

I don't want to throw cold water at you, BUT, if they seem like they are getting brittle, they may well be.

I work in a museum and I can tell you that bone will get dry and brittle and there is little that you can do to prevent it. Linseed oil is a very bad idea. This will make them look moist, but will in time further weaken the material. If the bone is looking dry and brittle, set them aside and get a new pair of real bone "bones".

In talking this over with our research specialist (who used to dig nd cataloge bones) she said that they will dry out and loose much of their ability to absorb shock. Glues will help for a while, but later they can cause other problems that may make the bones no longer fit for use or even for display.

You best bet is to put them in a safe place where they can be admired, and then play the new copies.

Subject: RE: Question about the bones
From: Paul Mitchell
Date: 13 May 01 - 06:13 AM

I had a go at getting to grips with bones a fair while back, using "How To Play The Bones" by Sue Barber... Never quite got the hang of it. Anyone got any straight forward pointers to help out?

Paul

Subject: RE: Question about the bones
From: Naemanson
Date: 13 May 01 - 07:25 AM

I went to NEFFA where I attended the workshop on playing the bones. I can't pull the workshop leader's name out of my foggy memory just now, I think his first name was Steve.

Anyway, he had a room full of people, some of whom had never even heard of musical bones before. By the middle of the workshop he had them all successfully making some kind of regulated, controlled sound with the softwood sticks he handed out. He has been instrumental in setting up http://www.rhythmbones.com so I will go look there for his name.

By the way, it takes time to get to where you can play the bones. A friend showed me at a festival near my home once upon a time. I ran home, made up a set of bones and started trying. whenever I was alone in the car I would put a tape of fast fiddle music in the tape player and try to play along. My vindication came when my friends who make up Castlebay asked me to play bones on one of their CD's.

Subject: RE: Question about the bones
From: paddymac
Date: 14 May 01 - 05:21 AM

I suspect that thousand-year-old bones would be "new" to an archeologist. I don't think two years in storage would be a factor worth worrying about. If the greatest part of their value is that they were your Grand-dad's, it would probably be good for your peace of mind to just put them away as a keepsake. It might be that the sweat and oils from you hands are the biggest threat to them, just as with guitar strings.

Subject: RE: Question about the bones
From: GUEST,Louisa
Date: 14 May 01 - 05:27 AM

My dad was quite well known for playing the bones and teaching bones workshops in the UK. He died last year. There is a previous thread on him, 'Len Davies the Bonesman' which includes some tips on bones playing, Paul.

What he did recommend was use bones made from wood as they sound better, and play with two fingers (middle finger and the one next to the thumb) between the bones, rather than one. Quite a radical departure I know, but there are good reasons. Firstly it creates 'a sound box' of your hand and it improves the sound you make, and secondly, it enables you to twist the bone between thumb and forefinger to get a different 'pitch' by the bones hitting each other at different angles.

I still play double handed as my father taught me, and if anyone wants to learn his method and will be at any UK festivals and I'd be happy to meet you to give you a few pointers, in my father's memory.

Finally, I have never heard the expression 'boners' to describe a bones player and agree that is awful!

Louisa

Subject: RE: Question about the bones
From: Naemanson
Date: 14 May 01 - 06:21 AM

I have a bone belt buckle my father made for me back in 1981. I have been wearing it constantly since then. the scrimshow of the USS Constitution is wearing thin but the buckle is structurally sound after 20 years of abuse.

Now this is not quite the same as rhythm bones. this is from a leg bone and there is a wood core glued in where the marrow used to be. However, I have dropped that buckle on a variety of hard surfaces and it is still doing fine. Play d'em bones!

Subject: RE: Question about the bones
From: GUEST,Mike Billo
Date: 14 May 01 - 10:09 AM

Louisa; When the rhythm bones society was first formed in '97 we voted to change our name to "Bonists" rather than the offensive 'boners".

In America, the two-fingered method recommended by your Dad is considered the proper way to play and is the way that I learned.

I wish I could have met him.

Subject: RE: Question about the bones
From: GUEST,Louisa
Date: 14 May 01 - 10:51 AM

Mike,

After posting in this thread I looked at the rhythm bones society's web site, and found it very interesting. I emailed some information about my Dad to the site. Wonderful to hear there are so many 'bonists' in America. I'm only sad that I've only just discovered its existence and that it is too late for my Dad to meet you all. Hopefully I'll try and make it to one of the Bones Festivals in the future.

Glad to hear you use the two fingered method - definitely better! Lots of players in Ireland still use the one finger method. However I think the legacy of hundreds of my Dad's workshops is that the two fingered method is seen more frequently in the UK!

Thanks for the info

Louisa

Subject: RE: Question about the bones
From: GUEST,Mike Billo
Date: 14 May 01 - 04:16 PM

We too, are sorry we never met your Dad. I'll email the society and see that the info you sent about your Dad is posted so that we can learn moe about him.

Keep up the two-handed, two-fingered playing (in America, this is caled "Minstrel Show style).

Best, Mike

Subject: RE: Question about the bones
From: Kim C
Date: 14 May 01 - 05:38 PM

Oh golly! I am self-taught and just use one finger. Maybe I'll try it the other way...........

If these have a lot of sentimental value, I agree with the others who said put them away safely and play something else. If they turned up missing you would be very disappointed.

Subject: RE: Question about the bones
From: Benjamin
Date: 14 May 01 - 06:45 PM

I was taught to use both 1 and 2 fingers. You get different tones. I was never told that one was better than the other.

Subject: RE: Question about the bones
From: Naemanson
Date: 14 May 01 - 10:57 PM

This thread is the first time I ever heard of holding the bones with two fingers between them. I'll have to try that.

At NEFFA there was a fellow who played with 3 bones in each hand. I thought that was pretty slick but then decided the sound was too mushy. Personal opinion.

Subject: RE: Question about the bones
From: GUEST,Louisa
Date: 16 May 01 - 06:10 AM

Hi

I guess whether you play with one or two fingers between the bones is down to personal preference. I find you have more control with 2 fingers. Didn't want to suggest that one way is better than the other.

A fiddle player I know knew someone who played with four bones in one hand. Seems a bit excessive to me and definitely a mushy sound, I would imagine.

Anyway, thanks to Mike for all your interest in my Dad. I'll look forward to seeing the info I sent on the bones website.

Louisa

Subject: RE: Question about the bones
From: Deckman
Date: 16 May 01 - 10:08 PM

I bought my first pair, actually two pair, of bones in 1953. These means that they are old. They are bone, and play as brilliantly and crisp as when I got them. I love the variety of tones I can get by varying there pairs and positions. I have NO concerns about their duarabilty. They are real bone, and like me, brittle, crisp, with wonderful tones. CHEERS. Bob(deckman)Nelson

Subject: RE: Question about the bones
From: Benjamin
Date: 16 May 01 - 11:23 PM

Mike, you say that 2 fingers is standard. You also said (on the site you gave us further up) that your first introduction to the bones was J.C. Burris. Watching the only footage I've been able to find of him (shot by I believe Pete Seeger) it looks to me like he's using one finger. He has amazing control though.

Subject: RE: Question about the bones
From: hesperis
Date: 16 May 01 - 11:50 PM

I get to play link fairy! http://www.rhythmbones.com

Subject: RE: Question about the bones
From: GUEST,Matt Kilroy
Date: 24 May 01 - 10:05 AM

This was great everybody. Now I do not feel all alone!