Has anyone noticed the tone that their cowbell makes? The good ones ring loud and clear the ****** ones are like thud, thud, thud and are probably half the decibels of the good ones. Is it too hard to ring your cowbell one time before you buy it?? Can you work out your arms just a little bit so that you can hang on to the bell by the handle instead of gripping it around the bell? It is a major pet peeve of mine to hear these bells that sound like a spoon inside a soup can.
Regarding COWBELLS
- Thread starter LightninInside
- Start date
I rang my bell really loud. And the people around me just stared at me. And I stared back. And they turned around. And they mumbled. And all the other clarinet players just cheered.
The cheap, knockoff, made-by-slave-labor-in-China cowbells (like the ones they sell at the Campus Stores or by vendors on gameday) are the ones that sound like "CLANK! CLANK! CLANK!" They're not welded all the ways up the sides, or, if they have welding, it's a couple of tacks.
A high-quality cowbell is welded all the way up the sides. It makes for a truer, longer lasting ring.</p>
I bought a cheap, knockoff cowbell in 1982 just before the Herschel Walker Georgia game. It sounded like crap. Later that Christmas, mom and dad gave me a fully-welded cowbell, which I still have.</p>
If you want to carry a cowbell to games but are afraid of getting confiscated, take in the knockoff bell. If you don't give a ****, or don't mind getting kicked out of a game (especially during the 2003 season), bring in the high-quality bell.</p>
A high-quality cowbell is welded all the way up the sides. It makes for a truer, longer lasting ring.</p>
I bought a cheap, knockoff cowbell in 1982 just before the Herschel Walker Georgia game. It sounded like crap. Later that Christmas, mom and dad gave me a fully-welded cowbell, which I still have.</p>
If you want to carry a cowbell to games but are afraid of getting confiscated, take in the knockoff bell. If you don't give a ****, or don't mind getting kicked out of a game (especially during the 2003 season), bring in the high-quality bell.</p>
The ring inside the soft metal clapper things out and the clapper flies out. Sources for replacement clappers would be appreciated.
A nut would be bad. Sharp edges would be bad for the bell. A fishing weight would be ideal but I've not seen one as big or heavy as the clapper inside the bell.
A nut would be bad. Sharp edges would be bad for the bell. A fishing weight would be ideal but I've not seen one as big or heavy as the clapper inside the bell.
FlabLoser said:
My clapper flew out and hit an old lady in the head at the 1987 Egg bowl. Later, Dad just drilled a hole in the middle of the lead clapper and tied the wire. No problems.</p>
I ring the crap out of my bell and I admit it is loud but I am careful to hold it high and not ring it in someone's ear, but give me a break with the stare downs. Stand up, make some noise, and get into the game. By the way, mine is the standard issue large cowbell that you get at the bookstore. It isn't one of those home made monstrosities. (which I like)
And they are welded all the way up both sides. But what you say makes perfect sense. If it is just tack welded, then it should ring "hollow". It doesn't excuse the hand around the bell circumstance, but that might just be drunken laziness. I admit I catch myself doing it on non critical moments.
Is in the design of the bell. I did a Google search after reading the topic and you can actually choose between sharp and dull tones when selecting your bell. Not sure of the origins of this, but it inferred that the dull sound could be heard from farther away. All in all I guess it comes down to what ole Bessie prefers.
He said, "Look, if it wasn't about creating an advantage, you leghumpin' necks could come up with a cowbell made out of composite that would not emit sound beyond the decibel range emitted by thundersticks. Y'all just want the advantage."
Putting aside the stupidity of a composite bell, he does have a point.
Putting aside the stupidity of a composite bell, he does have a point.
the people that use thundersticks (the name of which is beyond ghay -- not that there is anything wrong with that) want an advantage, as well. So, does the TN AD adminstration who puts all those speakers around the field so that it sounds like all 100,000 of those hillbillies are actually singing rocky top.
But, beyond the noise advantage, there is the pure obnoxiousness of the bell that most people ringing one secretly enjoy.
But, beyond the noise advantage, there is the pure obnoxiousness of the bell that most people ringing one secretly enjoy.