Your cart is empty.
Your cart is empty.Timber Drum Co. is a small workshop located in Nashville, Tennessee dedicated to crafting MADE IN U.S.A. instruments with locally sourced materials. The Slapstick, sometimes called a Whip, is a special effect percussion instrument that mimics the sharp sound of cracking a whip. Our design allows you to play this slapstick with one hand while keeping your other hand free to play other instruments. It is made of solid, locally sourced Tennessee Hickory that produces a sharp attack and is also extremely durable (most drumsticks are made of hickory). We hand-finish this wood using a natural oil that darkens the wood grain to bring out a rich appearance. Using two pieces of solid Tennessee hickory, we shaped and sanded them to exact proportions to get a real whip crack effect, NOT the sound of clunking two pieces of wood together. A skinnier 7 mm bottom piece and thicker 1 cm top piece give you a smoother cracking sound with reduced sharp attack. This saves your ears while giving you a more authentic and musical tone that blends, whether you're playing in an orchestra or providing sounds for a holiday musical. The 18” overall length produces plenty of volume that will easily fill any concert hall or theatre with a whip crack effect. A strong and flexible nickel-plated steel hinge gives you total freedom over how much sound you want, along with a seamless feel. Add this unique, American-made instrument to your collection and be ready with the perfect effect for the Christmas standard "Sleigh Ride," Benjamin Britten's "The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra," Aaron Copland's "Rodeo (Buckaroo Holiday) Symphony No. 3," as well as many other classic and pop pieces. Made in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A.
Old Lute
Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2025
I was impressed at the quality of the Slap Stick. It is very well made and certainly works fine. I plan is to only use it for fun things to surprise people rather than in a music show but I can see it lasting a very long time and sounding great .
Bellkatz
Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2023
We did Sleigh Ride for a Christmas concert and this was perfect for the whip crack. It is easy to use and feels very sturdy. Nice smooth handle grip. Craftsmanship is excellent!
Raevynn Davis
Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2023
This was perfect for our Christmas ensembles for our percussion sections. Our students have loved adding it to their sound effects.
Debbie Baker
Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2023
This is beautiful wood and handmade. It’s more like a work of art, signed and really pretty. I would prefer one without the spring but this will work nicely for that once a year song we all sing.
RSJ Airzee
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 3, 2020
This is a very well made slapstick using quality materials. It has an sharp, crisp 'slap' and is easy to use.
Victor H. Agresti
Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2018
Hickory Slapstick - 18-inchYears ago, I made two large slap-sticks for the concert bands I'm in -- both are about 32" long -- using 3/4" x 3.5" maple or oak -- they have handles and air holes so you can smack them together fast. The resulting "crack" sound resembles a bull whip’s tip breaking the sound barrier – up to 118 decibels – close to the pain level on decibel charts.In my testing, this slap stick can be as loud as 111.9 decibels – which is “very loud” in decibel charts. For the most sound, hold it with the hinge side on top, fling it down sharply and just as quickly raise it back up. I bought this one as a gift for friend’s elementary school band; it is small enough for a child but not quite as loud as a larger slap-stick.If you need the loudest possible bull-whip sound (e.g., a concert band or symphony), try a different product or make your own. For everyone else, this one should suffice.The two pieces of hickory didn’t align properly on mine, so one star off...
white stilettos
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 27, 2017
A really well-made musical (?) instrument, perfect for special effects in our Ukulele Group - especially "Deadwood Stage" (think Doris Day!) and in December, "Sleigh Ride." In fact this is so popular, we have to take it in turns to play the "whip!" Easy and comfortable to hold, and substantial sound.
Breanne Dodds
Reviewed in Canada on July 18, 2017
Fantastic quality and sounds great.
kbread
Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2016
I do not have anything to compare it since this is the first time I have purchased a Slapstick before. I need it for a sound effect for the Christmas song "Sleigh Ride." I tried it immediately. I liked the construction, the price, how easy it was to use, the realistic sound, and the craftsmanship (the spring was tight, but not too tight). This company seems to be very "personal." I will definitely check out Timber Drum Company again when I need another percussion product.(And also, I am the type of person who rarely gives a perfect score. I can't imagine any product where there isn't room for even some small kind of improvement--therefore they pretty much got the highest rating I ever give.)
SusiMatt
Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2016
I was looking for a slapstick for a musical and comedy group called "Jewels of Venice" performing at Renaissance Festivals.Having a few good noise-makers in a group is a wonderful crowd-pleaser.This arrived yesterday and I couldn't be more pleased! It's a quality instrument and a lovely thing as well,It offers a nice crisp *slap* and is made beautifully; lovely smooth-grained hickory wood finished (as my wood-working father used to say) "soft as a baby's behind" and joined with a solid metal hinge. Good craftsmanship in something this simple is a delight.And it's AMERICAN made with no plastic in the shipping materials, not even zip tie! That is impressive and I'm not that easily impressed.This will be fun to use in performing!
Craig Heath
Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2016
I am collecting a number of sound effect instruments for the upcoming performance of my short commedia del arte play. I'd bought a bulb horn, triangle, slide whistle, etc., but I need a good slapstick for one key part. I thought I'd just buy the first cheap one I found, but then I saw this beauty. It's not much more expensive than others made of pine but the difference is "striking" (sorry :p). Great wood, beautifully grained, solid and heavy, good hinge, and a big sharp sound. I couldn't resist.Then I saw that the company makes only a few wooden percussion instruments and I ordered. The slapstick is great and as advertised. The experience was topped off by a plain card tied to the handle with a jute string, signed by the crafts-person who made it! (see pic). Thanks Sam and the Timber Drum Company - I'll be back!
Recommended Products
