Talk me out of a foot cowbell

Duck Tape

Duck Tape

Platinum Member
To mix things up over the past few years I’ve bought a few cowbells and jam blocks and dedicated a small amount of time each week to playing a few patterns. I don’t want to be Horacio Hernandez, just play some basic things like quarter notes on upbeats/downbeats and some bossa’s etc, I have found it really enriches my playing.

I have been tossing up whether to get a foot cowbell mount, I think they call them a “gayjate” so I can play 1/4 notes while playing the ride or something just to vary a section but I’m worried it will be one of those pieces you buy but it ends up collecting dust, like a cable hihat I bought.

is it worth the spend? If so, would you recommend one model over another?

Some pictures below if the LP, LP pro, Gibraltar and the pearl

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worth the spend? how much are they these days?? I bought the Lp Agate (Sp?? when they first came out. It was 20$?.... and It's a Blast! I use it once or twice a year ; ( but seriously it does transform the whole set
I like it. Lp Gajate

They changed a few details it didn't need it..
The First one you pictured is great plenty enough
 
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the simple basic one
is a blast with a cowbell
tambourine* or plastic wood block

I see it's an $80 item these days that's ok It's worth it
it's made out of iron : ) indestructible last 100 yrs.

*cyclops mounted tambourine (but cowbell any cowbell is best

Then just hook your spare pedal and go-go-go
It's light small easy to transport and changes the whole dynam /sound/ texture of the set +/-
It's just Gajate grrreat
 
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Do it!

I got one basically just for one song: Future times/Rejoice by Yes. Love to play the cowbell polyrhythm on that! (During the keyboard solo of Rejoice)
 
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A PSA from Al's Drum Hang concerning what you should do anytime you ask yourself, "Should I buy... ?"

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Do it! It's a blast. You can pick up a cheap Chinese one for $30-40 bucks on Amazon. Mine works just fine. Takes a little bit of technique to get used to as the feel is different than HH or LF bass drum pedal. I found that at first my foot made the beater bounce on the cowbell causing double beats. Also going from 2 to 3 left foot pedals took some time for my foot to figure out where everything was. Between two pedals was easy. Finding the middle of the three took some acclimation.

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It's hard to think of another small uncomplicated pocket size item that changes the landscape of the set as much

for those 2 times a year
; ) it'd be nice to have a setting where one would always have it with them..
 
I've broken two Gajate Pro and two Gibraltar brackets with the Latin band over the last three years. They always snap at the right angle on the mounting arm. Granted, I'm using a wood block for clave things, and was using a wood beater on a piccolo jam block, so the impact is stronger than a felt beater on a cowbell. I'm currently using a red-size stealth jam block and a felt beater, which I wish was a little louder but doesn't seem to be stressing the arm as much.

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I'm currently using a Gajate Pro. This is my third. LP have gone above and beyond for me, and have replaced the brackets I've broken. But it would be nice to get a little extra reinforcement on the mounting arm...

Lefty pedal is the slave side of a lefty 5000 double pedal. No obstructions!

But I think I like the Gibraltar bracket design a little more. The arm is weaker (though longevity isn't really very different) but the base has better spikes and doesn't move around as much, even though it weighs half as much.

The old LP is the only one where you have any chance of finding a replacement L-arm in the wild, though...

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you beast ;)
But good that you're using it ..hard!
 
mine...
Gajate bracket 014.JPGGajate bracket 015.JPGGajate bracket 016.JPG

super-duper early version
as soon as that VHS of Can't Think of His name Modern Drummer festival came out 1996?
 
who was the Latin Drum set fusion-y player I'm thinking of who 'blew away' the Modern Drummer festival around 1996 ; he was "before" Antonio Sanchez...
 
Closest I can come to talking you out of it is to stress the idea that you should like the sound of something you actuate on your set.

if you like the sound, no talking really matters.
 
Latin stuff....is pretty much all I practise to. E-kit.
The left hat foot does clave, cowbell etc.
The independence challenge is so worth it.
Getting out of all of those hi-hat habits is well......hard....and fun.
The separation of hands and state......i mean feet.
Yes...get it......muffle the ****** out of it.
And enjoy the independence Sir.
 
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