Vibraslap

Vibraslap

A vibraslap manufactured by Latin Percussion

The vibraslap is a percussion instrument consisting of a piece of stiff wire (bent into a U-shape) connecting a wood ball to a hollow box of wood with metal “teeth” inside. The percussionist holds the metal wire in one hand and strikes the ball (usually against the palm of their other hand). The box acts as a resonating body for a metal mechanism placed inside with a number of loosely fastened pins or rivets that vibrate and rattle against the box. The instrument is a modern version of the jawbone.

The vibraslap was the first patent granted to the instrument manufacturing company Latin Percussion.

The vibraslap was invented by Martin Cohen in 1967. Cohen was told by percussionist Bobby Rosengarden, "If you want to make some money, make a jawbone that doesn’t break." About the inventing process Cohen remembers, "I had never seen a jawbone before, but I had heard one on a Cal Tjader album. I found out that it was an animal skull that you would strike, and the sound would come from the teeth rattling in the loose sockets. So I took that concept and invented the Vibraslap, which was my first patent."

The vibraslap descended from the African "jawbone". This is the lower jawbone of a donkey or a zebra which has loose teeth that rattle when the instrument is struck. The Instrument was carried by slaves to South America where it became known as the Quijada.

The vibraslap comes in a variety of sizes and materials and is sometimes marketed under the name "Donkey Call", "Vibraphone", "Bloodsnake", "Donkey Rattle" or "Rattleslap."

The Vibraslap can be heard very clearly on the 1967 US No. 1 hit single "Green Tambourine" by The Lemon Pipers and is frequently and prominently used in the music of the alternative rock group Cake. It can be heard on a number of famous rock songs like "Crazy Train" by Ozzy Osbourne, "Sweet Emotion" by Aerosmith, "Orange Crush" by R.E.M., "Paranoid Android" by Radiohead, and "Feelin' Alright" by Joe Cocker. Also notable: Brian Jones of The Rolling Stones played the vibraslap in the Jimi Hendrix song "All Along the Watchtower". The Vibraslap is also used in the songs "Billionaire" by Travie McCoy, "You're In" by Kimya Dawson and "I Don't Like It, I Love It" by Flo Rida. It can also be heard in "Asesina" by Okills. The instrumental theme to the television show "Room 222" featured the sound of a Vibraslap at regular intervals throughout the song. The 1992 hit "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang," by Dr. Dre and Snoop Doggy Dogg, also prominently features the sound of the vibraslap.