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Whamdiddle Rosewood Bones

Whamdiddle Rosewood Bones
Handcrafted from Rosewood hardwood by a master luthier with a graduate degree in Physics.


 
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whamdiddle pamphlet
  • FREE illustrated instruction pamphlet packed with each shipment: If you want more pamphlets (for example, 3 pamphlets or no pamphlets), then just enter "3 pamphlets" or "0 pamphlets" in the Order Comments text box during checkout (step #4).
  • Handcrafted Product: No two are exactly alike.
  • Thickness and length of each bone might differ slightly.
  • Style pictured: Classic Long (reg width).
  • Your item may vary from photos.

  • Welcome to the only store on the planet where you can get Whamdiddle Classic Style bones in 3 lengths and 3 widths.

    Whamdiddle Length
    Short: 7" (17.8 cm)
    Favored by players with small hands.

    Traditional: 7-1/2" (19.1 cm)
    Preferred by most players.

    Long: 8" (20.3 cm)
    Whamdiddle's original style. Based on a design by Hank Tenenbaum and still popular after 40 years, the 8-inch length offers extra leverage & power many players demand.

    Whamdiddle Width
    Narrow: Less than 1-1/16" (27.0 mm), min 7/8" (22.2 mm)
    Perfect for smaller hands or players who prefer narrow instruments.

    Regular: 1-1/16" to 1-1/4" (27.0 mm to 31.8 mm)
    Great for most hand sizes.

    Wide: More than 1-1/4" (31.8 mm), max 1-3/8" (34.9 mm)
    For medium and large hands. Massive & bulky—delivers brawny wallop.
    Rosewood is a rare exotic heavy dense wood that delivers a high sharp tone.

    It varies in color from shades of brown to red or chocolate to violet, and is irregularly streaked with black. The grain is typically straight, but occasionally wavy. Its texture is medium to rather coarse and the wood has large pores that are quite irregular in size and position. The surface is slightly oily or waxy in appearance, somewhat gritty to the touch, and very resistant to decay and insect attack.

    When cut, rosewood releases a fragrant aroma similar to roses. The fragrance has also been reported when the wood is burned (but you are wise not to mention this aspect to your detractors). Rosewood has a distinctive taste, I am told - and I will just take their word for it.

    None of the charts I found rated rosewood with a specific gravity greater than 1.0. This surprised me as rosewood is a very hard and dense wood. So I tossed a pair of Whamdiddle Rosewood bones into a tub of water to see what happens. As I expected, they sank. So regardless of what the Technical Specs below say, the specific gravity of this truly hard dense wood is more than 1.0.

    Whamdiddle Collection


    Item# Item Name Only Qty Add
    110-23-CLR Whamdiddle Rosewood Bones, Classic Long: 8" (reg width)
    $35.97
    (Out of Stock)
    110-23-TR Whamdiddle Rosewood Bones, Traditional 7-1/2" (reg width)
    $35.97
    (Out of Stock)
    Check the items you wish to purchase, then click


    Features:
    • Solid Rosewood Hardwood: Excellent for musical bones.
    • Practical Design: Handcrafted by a master luthier.
    • Quarter-sawn Lumber: Creates stable tone, won't warp or crack.
    • Includes Instructions: Shows how to hold and play bones.
    • Hand Rubbed Finish: Non-slip easy grip.




    Specs:
    Figures are approximate (but pretty darn close)--
    • Length: Short, 7" (17.8 cm)
    • Length: Traditional, 7-1/2" (19.1 cm)
    • Length: Classic Long, 8" (20.3 cm)
    • Width: Narrow, less than 1-1/16" (27.0 mm), min 7/8" (22.2 mm)
    • Width: Regular, 1-1/16" to 1-1/4" (27.0 mm to 31.8 mm)
    • Width: Wide, more than 1-1/4" (31.8 mm), max 1-3/8" (34.9 mm)
    • Thickness: Thin, 1/4" (6.4 mm)
    • Thickness: Regular, 3/8" (9.5 mm)
    • Composition: Exotic Rosewood hardwood
    • Camber (arc): 28 degrees
    • Weight: 2.1-3.65 oz
    • Color: Reddish orange to dark chocolate brown
    • Specific Gravity: .96 (Stronger Tone)
    • Density: 60 pcf (Strong Tone)
    • Hardness: 2720 Janka (Sharper Tone)




    Story:
    Handcrafted By a Master Luthier with a Graduate Degree in Physics

    Whamdiddle bones are magnificent instruments. They are handcrafted from domestic and exotic hardwoods by Rick Fogel. Rick is a master luthier in Seattle, Washington who holds a master of science degree in Physics. This winning combination of top-grade material, brilliant artistry, and scientific expertise explains why Whamdiddle sound as good as they look.

    Great Looks, Solid Design, Superior Tone
    Take a close look at the marvelous color and fascinating wood grain of Whamdiddle bones. That gorgeous appearance comes from quartersawn wood, so the look is no accident.

    The designs are special too. For example, the Whamdiddle Classic Style is less oval than minstrel style bones, yet rounder than flat style bones. This unique design bridges the gap between minstrel and flat styles. You can expect the Classic Style shape to fit especially comfortable in your hands. After all, the design has stood the test of time for more than 40 years. But the first thing you notice when you grab a pair is their substantial heft. Even the lightweight Classic Style bones feel full in your grip.

    On the other side of the spectrum are Whamdiddle Flat Style bones. Not only are they agile and thin, but they fit any size hand and deliver a remarkably dynamic range of tones.

    Whamdiddle Minstrel Style bones are a blast from the past—perfect for living-history musicians who demand authentic reproduction instruments.

    But no matter what style you choose, Whamdiddle bones deliver a rich full range of tones that make you proud to rattle them.

    Crafted From Quartersawn Lumber, the Prime Working Stock for
    Quality Musical Instruments
    Why do Whamdiddle bones reveal spectacular grain patterns, warp less, and generate better tone? "Because," Rick explains, "they are made from quartersawn lumber."

    Rick described the technique to me but it is a bit complex. So I looked up the term in a technical report from the U.S. Forest Service. They indeed confirm that quartersawn lumber "shrinks and swells less...splits less...and figure patterns and wavy grain are brought out more conspicuously." Another expert source reports that quartersawn wood "helps prevent warping and also provides the best vibration patterns acoustically." And yet another authority tells us "quartersawn wood helps ensure that an instrument's sound remains as invariable as possible."

    So yes, musical bones made from quartersawn lumber are decidedly prime quality instruments. But the ultimate test, of course, is to try them yourself.

    Largest Selection of Whamdiddle Bones on the Planet...plus those Famous Laminated Bones.
    Welcome to the largest selection of Whamdiddle bones on Earth! No other store offers you a larger choice of Whamdiddle bones. In fact, most of the Whamdiddle bones we offer are designed exclusively for Bone Dry Music and available no place else in the universe.

    Please note that each carefully matched pair is expertly hand-crafted, but no two pairs are exactly alike. (i.e. Some pairs might vary slightly from another in length, width and thickness.)


    Where does Rick find the exotic, rare, and domestic species of wood for these gorgeous bones? "It's scrap wood left over from the dulcimers I make," he says. So if you see something you really like, get it now. Because when a species of Whamdiddle bones get sold out, they might be gone forever.

    Can't Decide Which Bones to Choose?
    Check out this handy guide: Bone FAQs



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    Bone Picker > Tone (find bones by tonality) > Tone by Specific Gravity > Stronger Tone (.90-.99 SG)
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    Bone Picker > Tone (find bones by tonality) > Tone by Density > Strong Tone (60-69 pcf)