I've been a drummer a hell of a lot longer than I've been a whip artist, and I have some very distinct opinions about cymbals. Cymbals are the punctuation marks in the language of drums. It's a common thing for drummers to have at least two identical crash or splash cymbals mounted on either side of their set, (so they can easily reach them depending on which side they are facing.)
I never did that. If I'm going to take up the "real estate" around my drum kit with cymbals, I want as much diversity as I can get. Two identical cymbals create redundancy and limit the variety of punctuation I can use. If I want THAT sound, I'll hit THAT cymbal...I don't need a second.
I tend to feel the same way about "Matched Pairs" of whips, (for those not yet in the know, matched pairs of bullwhips and stockwhips are whips that are as close to being identical as the maker can get them. They are typically made simultaneously so that the maker can get their weight, flow, and particular behaviors as identical as possible. When you're talking about something ENTIRELY handmade, and in the case of leather whips out, made out of natural materials, that's a LOT harder than it sounds! They are popular with whip artists who do complex double-handed "Australian Competition" style routines. For some AMAZING examples of this, check out YouTube videos of Adam Winrich, Todd Rex, and many others.)
While I admire not only the craftsmanship required in producing matched pairs of whips, and the incredible skill required of double handed routines, neither have ever really EXCITED me as something that I wanted to focus on myself. If I am going to invest in a whip, or have it take up space in my whip bag, I want it to have a very tangible difference to the whips around it.
That said, I'm still VERY picky, and look for SPECIFIC things in my whips. So, when Bobbi HolyOak and I were talking about two new bullwhips for me that would have much the same mechanical stats, (both 7 foot, 14 plait with 10" handles,) I had some very distinct characteristics that I was looking for in each one separately.
I don't know how Bobbi managed to weave my mad ramblings and desires into these two amazing bullwhips, but she amazed me as usual. These two whips are twins, but fraternal rather than identical.
This is a full review of the first of these two whips. The second review is already shot, and coming down the pipe soon! (Special appearance at the end of this video by my lovely wife, Jennifer...who graciously provided the still pictures below this review!)
I never did that. If I'm going to take up the "real estate" around my drum kit with cymbals, I want as much diversity as I can get. Two identical cymbals create redundancy and limit the variety of punctuation I can use. If I want THAT sound, I'll hit THAT cymbal...I don't need a second.
I tend to feel the same way about "Matched Pairs" of whips, (for those not yet in the know, matched pairs of bullwhips and stockwhips are whips that are as close to being identical as the maker can get them. They are typically made simultaneously so that the maker can get their weight, flow, and particular behaviors as identical as possible. When you're talking about something ENTIRELY handmade, and in the case of leather whips out, made out of natural materials, that's a LOT harder than it sounds! They are popular with whip artists who do complex double-handed "Australian Competition" style routines. For some AMAZING examples of this, check out YouTube videos of Adam Winrich, Todd Rex, and many others.)
While I admire not only the craftsmanship required in producing matched pairs of whips, and the incredible skill required of double handed routines, neither have ever really EXCITED me as something that I wanted to focus on myself. If I am going to invest in a whip, or have it take up space in my whip bag, I want it to have a very tangible difference to the whips around it.
That said, I'm still VERY picky, and look for SPECIFIC things in my whips. So, when Bobbi HolyOak and I were talking about two new bullwhips for me that would have much the same mechanical stats, (both 7 foot, 14 plait with 10" handles,) I had some very distinct characteristics that I was looking for in each one separately.
I don't know how Bobbi managed to weave my mad ramblings and desires into these two amazing bullwhips, but she amazed me as usual. These two whips are twins, but fraternal rather than identical.
This is a full review of the first of these two whips. The second review is already shot, and coming down the pipe soon! (Special appearance at the end of this video by my lovely wife, Jennifer...who graciously provided the still pictures below this review!)