Cajun - double base machine -picture????

Subject: Cajun - double base machine -picture????
From: GUEST,Mr Red at Stroud FM studios -
Date: 01 Feb 11 - 05:50 AM

I remember seeing a picture of a cajun travelling one-man-band with several intruments one of which looked like a pedal driven Double Bass - bicycle pedals. I think his hands where playing accordien.

Can anyone out there put a name to the artist &/or the instrument?

Or point me in the direction of a web based image? Arhoolie have no images on their site (CD or LP) - not that I remember the record label. I played tracks from it on Radio Access (Wellington NZ) in 1987/8, so it pre-dates that time. The picture would have been 30's vintage probably.

TIA

stroud FM website

Subject: RE: Cajun - double base machine -picture????
From: Bobert
Date: 01 Feb 11 - 08:02 AM

Go to Cigar Box Nation website and ask around there... Seems that site has become a haven for (OMB) One Man Band players...

I also perform as a OMB... I just use a single bass so that my other foot can play high hat and snare... Heel & toe... Of course there arer foot pedals that allow you to play bass with a second pedal that has linkage from one to the other... Musician's Friend sells them but the real estate around the left foot is so tight that I can't see trying to squeeze a third pedal in there would be of any value... There are also beaters with linkage that would allow one to play two basses with the right foot (left if you are a leftie) but no way to get them to alternate without lifting the right foot to another pedal which is cumbersome...

B~

Subject: RE: Cajun - double base machine -picture????
From: GUEST,Grishka
Date: 01 Feb 11 - 10:29 AM

This is the first time I read about such an instrument (though your question is eight years old). Can you describe what you saw on the photo? An ordinary double bass with a belt-like endless bow, or with a hurdy-gurdy wheel? And a lever to change to another (open) string?

Subject: RE: Cajun - double base machine -picture????
From: Mr Red
Date: 01 Feb 11 - 11:36 AM

I remember a bow. The Double Bass was full size to his right (left of picture).
the performer was sitting with the seat fairly high up and I feel sure he was on accordien, it might have been fiddle - you know how memory plays tricks. I don't visualise a guitar.
The set-up was next to a barn, on grass or dirt and I see the performer in a hat which might have been what we call in the UK a bowler hat.

I wasn't sure how it changed strings, but sort of assumed it tilted the bow to choose one from four. I doubt it was sophisticated enough to double stop. It didn't look like there was any fingering to be done, so four notes tuned as required seems the best guess.

Subject: RE: Cajun - double base machine -picture????
From: GUEST,Grishka
Date: 01 Feb 11 - 03:24 PM

Thanks, Mr Red, now I roughly got the idea. It doesn't sound as if the instrument were fit for mass production and therfore needed a name, but that's exactly the "selling point" of an attractive OMB. A double bass is certainly not required to perform double stops, and three notes such as A, D, and G may suffice for the purpose.

Bobert seems to think of a double pedal machine for a bass drum - syntax matters!

Subject: RE: Cajun - double base machine -picture????
From: PHJim
Date: 01 Feb 11 - 09:06 PM

This reminds me of Jesse "Lone Cat" Fuller's "Fotdella", a bass operated by pedals made from an old piano.

Subject: RE: Cajun - double base machine -picture????
From: Bobert
Date: 01 Feb 11 - 09:34 PM

Well, yeah... Being a percussionist in addition to playing geetar, double bass is drums???

What???

Subject: RE: Cajun - double base machine -picture????
From: GUEST,Grishka
Date: 02 Feb 11 - 04:58 AM

Bobert, but what do you do with the bicycle pedals? I just invented a drum machine shaped like those ancient bikes: a bass drum for front wheel, a snare (exactly half the size) for rear wheel. The OMB cycles in a circle, so that the snare is triggered twice as frequently as the bass drum.

You're welcome.

Subject: RE: Cajun - double base machine -picture????
From: Mr Red
Date: 02 Feb 11 - 06:47 AM

And the drumseat only has to support one bum (UK & US meanings apply)

Unlike the usual role for drummers.........

I'll get my coat.

But I will be back - this question has been bugging me for years. I think I will try on a Cajun forum as well. Now anyone care to translate my question into a patois of French?

Subject: RE: Cajun - double base machine -picture????
From: Mr Red
Date: 02 Feb 11 - 06:48 AM

'praps I should have said "drum role" - the best jokes are those you think of an hour later!

Subject: RE: Cajun - double base machine -picture????
From: GUEST,Grishka
Date: 03 Feb 11 - 05:55 AM

Here is my patois:

Bonjour à tous,

Je me souviens avoir vu une photo d'un homme-orchestre cajun avec plusieurs intruments, dont l'un ressemblait à une contrebasse à pédales de vélo (à savoir l'archet). Je pense qu'avec ses mains, il jouait de l'accordéon.

Quelqu'un peut-il me dire le nom de l'artiste et/ou de l'instrument?

Ou me diriger dans la direction d'une image sur le Web? Arhoolie n'ont pas d'images sur leur site (CD ou LP) - je ne me souviens même pas du label. J'ai diffusé quelques morceaux de ce disque sur Radio Access (Wellington, Nouvelle-Zélande) en 1987, alors il est antérieur à cette époque. L'image semble être des années 30.

Merci.

I guess all Cajuns who have computers will also be able to read English, so it may be wiser to use your own language (make sure to introduce yourself as a non-American ;-))

Subject: RE: Cajun - double base machine -picture????
From: Mr Red
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 05:46 AM

je ne parle plus, une petit pas.

But Thanks for the translation. I may post it on a Cajun forum now.

Au revoir - pour l'instant. (thanks to Wikiled)