'Thwock', finding the cube woodblock

[Simon B]

I want to add a wood-block operated by a foot-pedal to my set-up. I have seen at least two players use a large cube-shaped block of wood (with a hole in the middle?) attached somehow to a kick pedal: beautiful sound, much richer tone than these plastic 'jam' blocks and usual strip wood-blocks. Two percussion suppliers I have spoken to today say they don't know what I mean.

Can you buy this thing or would it be home-made?

Simon B

[Mark Schlipper]

probably not homemade.  they are often called temple blocks instead of wood blocks cause they are based on the asian round wood blocks used in buddhist temples.  they are typically set up in a sort of pentatonic scale.  toca makes 'em nowadays and you can probably find older or more ethnic ones around as well, though the mount would be tricky, and they are usually round instead of square.

you can find 'em at interstate as "toca tone blocks"

as for the kick pedal mounts LP makes one called the gajate bracket (after percussionist richie) and pearl makes one as well, i think for about $10 less.