Signed Les Claypool Whamolas Are Coming to the Claypool Gold Tour
If you’re going to see the Claypool Gold Tour this summer, you might want to save a little room in the car. Pachyderm Instruments has announced that a small run of Whamolas will be available at the merch booth. The limited tour version will be signed by Les Claypool.
The Whamola is a unique one-string bass instrument that Claypool began using over 20 years ago. It’s featured on the song “Whamola” by Claypool’s Frog Brigade as well as the South Park theme song variations and the Robot Chicken theme.
“It features a single string stretched between two points across an aluminum body, over a finished hardwood fingerboard, and is played by using a combination of whammy bar-style pitch bending, finger-plucking techniques, and hitting the string with a stick,” Pachyderm Instruments explains. “The Whamola produces a distinctive, growling sound that combines elements of traditional bass tones with a wide range of pitch modulation. Its design and sound allows for expressive and experimental playing.”
The Whamola Tour Edition is available during the Claypool Gold Tour, which began on May 20th and will continue through July 4th. Claypool is pulling triple duty on the run as it features the Fearless Flying Frog Brigade, the Claypool Lennon Delirium, and Primus. Check here for the full tour dates. The Whamola has a regular price point of $649.99. Pachyderm says the signed ones will go for slightly more at the merch booth.
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
