Shooting Star Granadillo Bones

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Hand-made, easily played...since 1983.

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Includes FREE illustrated 8-page instruction booklet.
Handcrafted Product: No two are exactly alike.
Thickness and length of each bone might differ slightly.
Width pictured: 1-5/16".
Your item may vary from photos.

Trying to match a set? Welcome to the only store on the planet where you can get Shooting Star bones by exact width.

Why shop here?

Only $25.97 pair

Product Code: 117-17


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Description

Technical Specs

The Inside Story...

Granadillo is a rare exotic wood from Mexico, Central and South America that delivers a strong dull tone.

The wood is dense, tough, exceptionally heavy (it sinks in water) and exhibits a straight grain. Occasional light blonde sapwood is less dense and contrasts beautifully with heartwood. Several resources describe granadillo as "a closely related cousin" to cocobolo. The Ellis acoustic guitar company reports that "Granadillo has a ringing, bright tap tone."

Shooting Star Granadillo Bones demo video. Musical segment features Champagne Charlie from Searching for Frank.

Figures below are approximate (but pretty darn close)

Tonality

Hand-made, easily played...since 1983

I discovered Shooting Star bones in 2003. The place was Bones Fest VII, which was held in Louisville, Kentucky that year. Since then, Shooting Star bones have held a special place among my very favorite instruments.

I vividly recall the first time I tried a pair of Shooting Star bones. Fellow Rhythm Bones Society member Mike Ballard (of San Diego, California) and I were talking about bones in the jam session room when he handed me a pair of Shooting Star bones and said, "Try these." Not only did those bones play extraordinarily well, but the wide width was different from so many other bones I have seen. Fact is, this difference is what distinguishes Shooting Star bones from their competition.

Eventually I bought a few sets. The main reason I favor wide Shooting Stars is because they can produce an amazing dynamic tonal range. This helped me win the 2004 bones contest sponsored by the National Traditional Country Music Association. (The contest is regarded by leading players as the world championship.)

Get the Exact Width You Want
No other store lets you order Shooting Star bones by width. Width varies from batch to batch, but if you are looking to match that old pair of bones, or if you simply want to know what width you are getting, then you have come to the right place.

Every now and then you will hear a Shooting Star owner grumble, "Gosh-darn it, you never know what size Shooting Star bones a music store will send you." Fact is, sometimes a store will send you one-inch Shooting Stars. Or sometimes it's one-inch-and-a-quarter. Order two pairs and they might send you two (or even three) different sizes. I know, because I've been there. So I feel your pain. So what is a bone player supposed to do? The answer is easy. Just get your Shooting Star bones here. We are the only store that meets your match. Yes, we sell Shooting Star bones by exact width size.

Narrow (7/8", 1")
Narrow Shooting Star bones deliver a remarkable tonal range for their size. These bones are perfect for kids, people with small hands, and anyone who enjoys the traditional American (aka minstrel one-finger) style of playing.

Wide (1-1/8", 1-3/16, 1-1/4", 1-5/16", 1-3/8")
These are my favorite Shooting Star bones. If you prefer the Irish (aka European two-finger) style of playing (as I do), then you will love these wide classic bones because they enable you to produce a remarkable tonal range. Not sure which size to get? For me, wider is better.

World's Largest Selection of Wide Shooting Star Bones
Shooting Star no longer makes wide bones on a regular basis. They only produce wide bones by special order - and at a premium price. So congratulations, you have found the only store that offers the entire line of wide Shooting Star bones.

Natural Nontoxic Finish
Shooting Star bones are finished with a wholesome nut-based oil that's safe for you, the dog and your kids. The elastic bands that keep pairs together sometimes absorb the oil and might leave a mark. To replenish the color, simply remove the band and rub the spot to spread the oil, or just dab with a drop or two of vegetable oil.

How Shooting Star Bones Were Born
The idea for Shooting Star bones was conceived in the early 1980s. The place was an English Country dance troupe where Mardeen and Randy Gordon performed at the annual Renaissance Pleasure Faire in Southern California. (Ren faire aficionados will note that this is the original renaissance faire.)

"I made myself a pair," recalls Mardeen, "and promptly sold them to another faire participant." Happily, folks loved the bones and sales were brisk. "Every pair I made for myself was soon snapped up, so I decided to start making them and bringing them every weekend...before I knew it, a new business was born."

Like many of us, Mardeen and Randy enjoy passing along the art of bone playing. Through the years this "star-gazed" couple have helped untold numbers of folks learn to play the bones. "We operated our own booth at the Faire," says Mardeen, "and taught hundreds of people to rattle their bones between dancing performances."

But that was 25 years ago. Now Mardeen and Randy are out of the ren faire circuit. They have sold thousands of Shooting Star bones and still fill orders for your favorite traditional music stores - like Bone Dry Musical Instrument Company - all across the U.S.

Features

Domestic and Exotic Hardwoods: Largest selection on the Web.
Durable Wood: Guaranteed not to crack or your money back.
Proven Design: Hand-made and easily played since 1983.
Includes 8-Page Illustrated Instruction Booklet: Explains hold, tap, triplet, troubleshooting, excercises and etiquette.
Wholesome Finish: Non-toxic nut-based oil.

Average Customer Review:

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| Total Reviews: 1 Write a review.

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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

magnificent, melodic low-end tone	July 5, 2010
Reviewer: E. Collison from Reedsville, PA United States

One of the loveliest-sounding tone woods I've ever come across - like a bassier version of cocobolo. My pair have beautiful harmonics and ring like chimes.

While on the heavy side compared to lacewood, cherry and pine, these will not disappoint if you're looking for a richly resonant sound. (Possibly my favorite of all the Shooting Star bones I own, and I've got plenty.)

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