Who makes the giantest cowbell?

[cworrick]

View attachment 613718

LET'S ROCK!!!!!

 

[RogersLudwig]

Oxley’s BIG cowbell

 

[jmpd_utoronto]

Sort of a left field suggestion but there was a company (maybe Mano percussion?) that made/is making plastic cowbells. Obviously not as resonant or as loud as a traditional metal one but it’s the lowest “cowbell” sound that I have.

Edit: it’s this one https://www.denismusique.com/en/mano-mp-cb9p-plastic-cowbell-9-purple-mp-cp9p

 

[tradrad]

If you can find a very large JCR bell, they are amazing, but be prepared to pay a pretty penny. I bought a ton back in the day and have parted with many of them, but the ones I have left aren't going anywhere.

amen to THAT...cali's bells are/were unsurpassed...and his big timbale bells are the ticket! every time i think about selling some of mine (i have about a dozen) i recoil in horror...
there's always pete lugo (worked with cali back in the day)...i think he's in CA now...but i've had a hard time getting hold of him.

 

[varatrodder]

Morfbeats Ultra Mega Marvin:

That thing is basically a David Lynch sound track.

 

[Skyrm]

Tony Oxley, British drummer

GREAT album!

 

[Vintage Old School]

I also seem to recall that somebody sort of took over for Cali with the JCR legacy, but I can't find that contact at the moment. If you can find a very large JCR bell, they are amazing, but be prepared to pay a pretty penny. I bought a ton back in the day and have parted with many of them, but the ones I have left aren't going anywhere.

Cali Rivera passed away in 2017 and apparently closed shop in 2016 due to health issues. All his instruments were handmade to order. His instruments were highly sought out. I own two of his cowbells and have no plans of letting go of them.

His Facebook page (JCR Percussion) is still up l up but the most recent post was in August of 2022. Here's the last known contact info for his shop:

JCR Percussion
948 Ogden Avenue
Bronx, New York 10452

 

[EyeByTwoMuchGeer]

amen to THAT...cali's bells are/were unsurpassed...and his big timbale bells are the ticket! every time i think about selling some of mine (i have about a dozen) i recoil in horror...
there's always pete lugo (worked with cali back in the day)...i think he's in CA now...but i've had a hard time getting hold of him.

Pete Lugo was the name I was looking for! Good call!

 

[Tarkus]

Mountain - Mississippi Queen

Corky Laing on a large cowbell:

Whole video here:

I saw them on this tour, and still remember that cowbell. (Corky told me a funny story about it).

 

[TheDrummerFromAmsterdam]

Pete Engelhart and Matt Nolan can probably make any size cowbell if paid enough, and it would sound great,

 

[FatBoy46]

Bonky. Low. Mountable. Like, very low.

ACE Hardware- small trashcan..

 

[Deafmoon]

The very best bells I ever played were Jopa out of Brazil. They were imported into the USA back in the 70’s and 80’s. They are long gone in the USA today; but I am told they are around periodically for resale in Brazil. JCR were cool too, out of the Bronx, but they are gone too and now people think they are worth your left lung. They are good but I’ve heard some LP’s that are just as nice. In fact I had a Blue LP Mambo Bell that I removed the paint from and tapped it lower to bring out a nasty low sound. I sold it long ago. If you can find some Big Yak bells from Tibet, you will need to remove the internal striker but they can sound decent taped up. They just may not be low sounding enough for you though.

 

[Jay Epstein]

Who is this? I can't recall seeing anyone play antique, tacked head toms in a live setting. He also has great Erector Set chops.

Oxley’s BIG cowbell
View attachment 613790

I'd read that Oxley had this made for him, don't know by whom.

 

[Sambo84]

This is my go-to cowbell for a low bonky sound:

LP Rock Ridge Rider

LP LP008-N Rock Ridge Rider Cowbell w/ Self-Aligning Mount

Shop for the LP LP008-N Rock Ridge Rider Cowbell w/ Self-Aligning Mount and receive free shipping on your order and the guaranteed lowest price.

www.guitarcenter.com

I think the plastic strip helps give it a bonkier and less metallic/tinny sound. Great to mount on the bass drum hoop.

 

[Blue Zurich]

I'd look at 'Brass Lasagna', they are doing amazing things.

 

[Vintage Old School]

The very best bells I ever played were Jopa out of Brazil. They were imported into the USA back in the 70’s and 80’s. They are long gone in the USA today; but I am told they are around periodically for resale in Brazil.

JOPA bells are indeed good. I learned early on if you see something that you really like you should buy it because you never know if you'll have another opportunity to purchase it. I snagged my chromatic JOPA set in the mid-80s at a Texas drum shop. Still hanging onto them.

 

[KCJazz]

I'd read that Oxley had this made for him, don't know by whom.

They started in 1902.

 

[tradrad]

Pete Lugo was the name I was looking for! Good call!

yup...pete's got a periodic FB presence but, for all the times i've messaged him, we never really connected he is making some BADA-- looking bells though...all the cats that 'know' (that i know about) go and have bells made by him now.

 

[DavedrumsTX]

 

[robthetimekeeper]