Playing The Ugly Stick

Subject: Playing The Ugly Stick
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 03 Dec 12 - 07:06 PM

Any Ugly Stick players out there? Gonna make one when I get roundtoit. Can anyone lend me a boot?
UglyStick
Making One

Subject: RE: Playing The Ugly Stick
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 03 Dec 12 - 09:30 PM

Roundtoits are usually harder to find than an old boot. Being flexible enough to incorporate other toits may make it easier to get the job done. Gettoits are among the rarest, but can make some of the finest examples of the art if one can be found and properly used.

We had a fairly extensive thread on the subject of the ugly stick not too long ago, but they've been called so many things (%!#@$^! or &%^$%#? come to mind) that I apparently don't remember the term(s) applied there, so my initial search failed to produce a useful result.

Maybe someone with a better memory (or at least some memory ...) can tell us where to find it.

John

Subject: RE: Playing The Ugly Stick
From: Gurney
Date: 03 Dec 12 - 10:37 PM

Called in Australasia a 'Lagerphone,' for obvious reasons.
Called by the police 'An Offensive Weapon,' on occasion.

Subject: RE: Playing The Ugly Stick
From: Beer
Date: 03 Dec 12 - 11:15 PM

Sandy you brought back memories and I am definitely going to get in me workshop tomorrow and make one. Thanks so much.
Adrien

Subject: RE: Playing The Ugly Stick
From: Beer
Date: 03 Dec 12 - 11:17 PM

Oh!! and I have been saving my bottle caps for the past 10 years or so. I have buckets of them. Now i can start a business. Yahoo!!!
ad.

Subject: RE: Playing The Ugly Stick
From: Leadfingers
Date: 04 Dec 12 - 04:37 AM

Also called a Zob Stick in some circles ! I think they actually originated in Oz , and also get called Fosterphones if that is your preferred bottled pop .
A complication is to have a row of notches in the shorter stick for a 'better' Rhythm application .

Subject: RE: Playing The Ugly Stick
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 04 Dec 12 - 08:57 AM

Thanks for the links, Sandy. I had never heard of this instrument.

Here's a chap exploring its full potential:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_ffZNaL4pc

Subject: RE: Playing The Ugly Stick
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 04 Dec 12 - 09:33 AM

Previous thread at:

Lagerphone build recommendations please!

May have information and discussion of interest. This thread ran from approx June 2010 to June 2012. There has been discussion/comment in at least a few other threads, but I think this was about the most complete discussion within the recent past.

Occasional comments about, or references to, these instruments appear in threads related to Morris Dancing, and also where associated with jug bands, washtub basses, tea chest basses, washboards, and other "found instruments" or other musical "accidents of nature."

John

Subject: RE: Playing The Ugly Stick
From: Girl Friday
Date: 04 Dec 12 - 11:57 AM

Lagerphone or jingle stick... we made one out of a laburnum branch. Too heavy for us to use though. Gave it to a friend who Morris Dances.

Subject: RE: Playing The Ugly Stick
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 04 Dec 12 - 12:38 PM

Now I remember seeing this instrument played by polka bands in Pennsylvania. I suppose that's why it's called a Lagerphone at times.

And don't I recall hearing something similar in Andean music? It was on a recording of a famous "Gloria Dios" in Spanish, but based on Andean tradition. Perhaps someone else can recall the name of that famous composition.

Subject: RE: Playing The Ugly Stick
From: vectis
Date: 04 Dec 12 - 05:29 PM

This is an all English "boozerphone being played with The Seaford Residents band.

http://www.seafordfolkclub.com/

Subject: RE: Playing The Ugly Stick
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Dec 12 - 06:33 PM

Here's a you tube ugly stick lesson from Share Cropper Mike.

Subject: RE: Playing The Ugly Stick
From: GUEST,GUEST
Date: 25 Apr 13 - 02:53 PM

I saw a band playing in Blackheath back in the 70's who used both an Ugly Stick and a washboard (played with thimbles).

Subject: RE: Playing The Ugly Stick
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 26 Apr 13 - 02:11 AM

In 1952 the first Australian Bush Band, The Bushwhackers introduced the lagerphone to public consciousness & they have been a feature of bush band ever since. Bush music is the songs & tunes of 19th & early 20th century Australia that our ancestors played & listened to before the radio took over. It also included traditional style songs & tunes.

album - The Lagerphone - old & new Follow the link to the lagerphohe site for it's history in Australia. Check out the pink girly one on page 4 & Frank's wasp-waisted example on page 2 which has been in use for 50 years & replaced one he made in the mid 50s.