KAZOO! The ultimate instrument

15 Oct 02 - 10:45 PM (#804044)
Subject: KAZOO! The ultimate instrument
From: GUEST,clueless guest

What with the complaints about guitar threads started by 53, it is time to turn our attention to an instrument which has probably been played by more North Americans than any other- the peerless KAZOO!
Just ran across this advertisement in a catalogue that came to my door. My nostalgia is a-rising, and about to overflow!

THE ORIGINAL TIN KAZOO
"This is he original American kazoo, still made by the same factory using the original presses that were first installed in 1916. To play a kazoo you hum into it, you don't blow in it. The kazoo amplifies your hum and adds a unique supporting tone [just like bagpipes?]. And, of course, you can get several people together to create a kazoo orchestra. One of the world's most economical instruments. Measures 5" overall. 45K15.39 The Original Tin Kazoo- $3.95."

For the experts out there, I have several technical questions. Has anybody modified their KAZOO by customizing the holes? What mouthpiece is most adaptable? What is the best amplifying system to use with your KAZOO? James Galway has a golden flute. Do any of you play a 14 karat KAZOO? (Please furnish address). Do you provide your instrument with a velvet bag, or is a hard case preferred? What are the problems a KAZOO may have when acting as soloist with a Tex-Mex conjunto? Do airlines allow you to bring your KAZOO on board in hand luggage?
I have many more questions- about fingering techniques, repertoire, and et cetera!
I will re-post and refresh as thoughts come to me.
Enthusiastic amateur hoping to become a professional musician; anxiously awaiting your advice!

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15 Oct 02 - 11:29 PM (#804075)
Subject: RE: KAZOO! The ultimate instrument
From: Bee-dubya-ell

There is a recent thread on kazoos here. Many of the questions you ask were answered on it. However, regarding the question, "Do airlines allow you to bring your KAZOO on board in hand luggage?", the answer is, "No! You can't bring any kind of deadly weapon on board a commercial airliner! If they allow kazoos today, it'll be banjos and accordions tomorrow."

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16 Oct 02 - 05:32 AM (#804225)
Subject: RE: KAZOO! The ultimate instrument
From: Nigel Parsons

Ideal instrument for that Glen Miller cassic about a girl called Alma:

"I got a girl in Ka-alma-zoo" *GDR*

Nigel

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16 Oct 02 - 08:08 AM (#804284)
Subject: RE: KAZOO! The ultimate instrument
From: GUEST,sooz at work

I taught my three year old great niece to play one when she visited me. She was so good at it, I let her keep mine to play in the car on the way home. (Only about an hour but the family aren't speaking to me yet!)

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16 Oct 02 - 09:06 AM (#804319)
Subject: RE: KAZOO! The ultimate instrument
From: Snuffy

At Banbury Folk Festival last week I sang Nelly The Elephant with the accompaniment of no less than THREE kazoos played by members of Shellback Chorus and The Laners. Wonderful (Trump Trump Trump)

WassaiL! V

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16 Oct 02 - 09:19 AM (#804331)
Subject: RE: KAZOO! The ultimate instrument
From: 53

Takamine maybe.

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16 Oct 02 - 11:09 AM (#804417)
Subject: RE: KAZOO! The ultimate instrument
From: GUEST,greggle87

What is peoples obsession with kazoos on this site??????

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16 Oct 02 - 11:14 AM (#804421)
Subject: RE: KAZOO! The ultimate instrument
From: MMario

The kazoo is the ultimate instrument after all! AND it's as close as I can come toplaying an instrument, because it is so close to singing...

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16 Oct 02 - 11:21 AM (#804435)
Subject: RE: KAZOO! The ultimate instrument
From: GUEST,Hagbardr

And besides, you can replace the diaphragm with a piece of screen and smoke pot out of it..... not that **I** would ever do that.... *cough* *cough*

--Hagbardr

Then you put the diaphragm back in and can play it again.

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16 Oct 02 - 01:22 PM (#804576)
Subject: RE: KAZOO! The ultimate instrument
From: EBarnacle1

It's also small enough to carry a couple in my concertina case so I can get some of the audience to come in on songs.

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16 Oct 02 - 01:24 PM (#804580)
Subject: RE: KAZOO! The ultimate instrument
From: Kim C

Mister plays a killer kazoo solo on Sheik of Araby. :-)

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16 Oct 02 - 01:27 PM (#804590)
Subject: RE: KAZOO! The ultimate instrument
From: Fibula Mattock

I mentioned on the other thread that I'd just bought a friend a kazoo for his birthday (he did say the sound of it "brought tears to his eyes" so I thought he'd really appreciate such a thoughtful gift).
Anyway, I've discovered that a kazoo is indeed more evil than an alarm clock when enthusiastically played into your eardrum at 6.30am after a night's drinking. The bastard.

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16 Oct 02 - 01:27 PM (#804594)
Subject: RE: KAZOO! The ultimate instrument
From: Wesley S

If anyone should come across a pre-war { II - not the next one } kazoo in good condition please let me know. I'd prefer an O size. But I'd consider others in good condition.

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16 Oct 02 - 03:00 PM (#804684)
Subject: RE: KAZOO! The ultimate instrument
From: John MacKenzie

A CLOSE friend then Fib? In which case it surely should be LUCKY BASTARD *DARF*
Failte.....Giok

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16 Oct 02 - 03:12 PM (#804694)
Subject: RE: KAZOO! The ultimate instrument
From: GUEST,Hille

Yeeay! Kazzos love 'em - we did a Christmas special finale of Whole Lotta Love segueing into Little Donkey - Stomping! Of course one does need tuned kazoos for this, I usually play a G. And metal (not plastic) the choice of connoiseurs ...

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16 Oct 02 - 03:48 PM (#804736)
Subject: RE: KAZOO! The ultimate instrument
From: Leadfingers

Working on an arrangement of'CanI Kazoo You up the River'

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16 Oct 02 - 09:09 PM (#804982)
Subject: RE: KAZOO! The ultimate instrument
From: Abby Sale

Have a look at the kazoo guy. I saw much of his stuff at the Winter Park Street Art Festival. Unfortunately I didn't get to hear them since he was out having a pee when I got to his booth. But they were entered as wood art and were very much attractive. He also makes some fine looking dulcimers. (He uses black garbage bags.)

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16 Oct 02 - 09:18 PM (#804986)
Subject: RE: KAZOO! The ultimate instrument
From: Donuel

New uses for the kazoo
Replacing the reeds or mouthpieses in woodwind and brass instruments.
ie. the kazoo-bone or kazoo-asson

New kinds of kazoos:
Yazoo kazoos, achoo-kazoos, bazookazoos.

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16 Oct 02 - 11:01 PM (#805037)
Subject: RE: KAZOO! The ultimate instrument
From: GUEST,Dale

Allen
Brothers (The Chattanooga Boys) at CDNow Then there is the "old fashioned" way of making links.

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16 Oct 02 - 11:07 PM (#805044)
Subject: RE: KAZOO! The ultimate instrument
From: GUEST,Dale (last one)

No need to "explain" it all to me.   I got it figured out ~~ all by myself. It has to be the automatic line breaks.

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27 Jan 12 - 11:17 AM (#3297252)
Subject: RE: KAZOO! The ultimate instrument
From: motleyjust

for lots of kazoo information
http://kazoologist.org

for a bunch of kazoo enthusiasts to discuss with
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Kazooz/

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