Toward a 'Pop' Gun Effect.

I've become interested in what would, many years ago, have been described as 'contraption' devices. Sound makers included in the early drum or 'trap' kits.

I already own several of these instruments. Duck call, siren whistle, cuckoo whistle, ratchet, wash-board, a temple block, and various other hilarious novelty sound makers.

I wanted something that went 'POP!'

A professional orchestral 'Champagne-Popper' would cost around £130. I'm mad, but I'm not that mad.

Having thought about the subject for a couple of days I realised an old bicycle-pump with a cork stuck in the end would probably do the trick.

Down the market I bought a pump for 0.99p:

I sawed the end off:

I stuck a cork in it:

Success!

It needs a better fitting cork with a restraining string fitted so I don't spend inordinate amounts of time retrieving the cork from under various items of furniture.

 

 

 

Jazz, Delicious Hot, Disgusting Cold (The Bonzo Dog Band). Interpreted By OSM.

In search of the 'sound' I currently on the hunt for I've been listening to The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band's album Gorilla.

There are many stand out moments on this 'transitional' Bonzo's album, but there's one I keep retuning to time and again.
Jazz, Delicious Hot, Disgusting Cold.

The story goes:

• This Gorilla cut found the Bonzos savagely parodying their early "trad" jazz roots. Founder member Neil Innes recalled the story of the song to Uncut magazine: "It was decided to do this as a dada track, one take, and whatever happened that was it. Viv (Stanshall) picked up the trumpet, which he'd never played before. Rodney (Slater) took up the trombone, which he'd never played before. Roger (Ruskin Spear) moved over to clarinet. And we steamed into this 32 bar sequence, as you hear it on the record. It makes me laugh every time I hear it."

The Bonzo's version is based on a common 32 bar sequence in Bd which I 'drilled' into my fingers before changing it to C in the hope I may have been able to add the bass harmonica.
(I'll have to practice that a bit more.)

I gave it a go:

I laughed till I cried.