Musician, actor, Tom Waits, describing the sounds of a Waterphone:

“A cascading crystal waterfall of light amidst the songs of a whale”

From Marc Lee,
I received the MegaBass Waterphone yesterday in the post. I couldn't have received it sooner since I've been away in Lisbon visiting friends. I have now become acquainted with the instrument over the last day. I cannot tell you how grateful I am you, it is a marvel and the most beautiful thing I've ever held or played. A simply stunning sculpture which casts a powerful, overwhelming spell over me. A big thanks to you once again Richard, I think that what you do is incredible. 

Hey Richard - Just wanted to drop you a line about the waterphone. I wish you could have been at some of the shows we played and seen the reaction from people when it was used. Every head in the room turned, all conversation stopped, and musicians and others have constantly been asking me about the instrument. The range is awesome, and it's a sound that's both beautiful and eerie.

I'm still learning to play it, and I'm positive I will still be finding new tones years from now. I'm extremely happy about this instrument. If I need an indescribable sound that immediately evokes an image or mood -- either from a crowd or for a studio recording -- I know what I'm reaching for.

Thanks again for such a unique and beautiful instrument.

Sincerely,

Dan Kuemmel

Eric Glick Rieman wrote:

I'm really enjoying getting to know my new Waterphone. It's a deep and complex instrument, as well as being easy for a novice to play in a pleasing manner.

From Dave Wright:

I have been an avid user of a bass Waterphone for about 8 years now. It was given to me as a gift with no information about it whatsoever. Before then I had only heard the instrument in movies, TV shows, etc... I really never found out much about the instrument until the past three years. When learning more about it I never thought to look for information on the Internet! Recently a friend of mine informed me that he was buying one from you!What good news to hear! I wanted to write you to just say thanks for creating such a great instrument! It has brought much enlightenment and joy into my life! I have really yet to find anywhere near the amount of sonic possibilities it can create! I have found it to awe audiences over in seconds, totally make people stop what they are doing and just enjoy the good energy it produces. I have used the Waterphone in countless experiments - from straight, to with digital and acoustical effects... going as far as playing it live through a Talk Box and singing it (enochian style) to playing it underwater at pool parties. It has shown up on about 12 releases from my band >>>Not Breathing<<<. as well as had been taken to countless live performances including 4 U.S. Tours (w/ bands such as Einsturzende Neubauten, Test Department, Pigface, DVOA, Cluster, Scorn, etc... ) and used in local Butoh Fire Dance performances. All the best to you!

Dave Wright

p.s. - a funny Waterphone story. one time i was watching Telemundo (Spanish television) one night at about 1 in the morning. it was a special news report - but i couldn't figure out what it was talking about... then all of a sudden the camera goes into a dark dark warehouse, all you can see is smoke... and the whole time someone is playing the Waterphone very badly (probally a looped sample) and then the camera zooms into a big COCK FIGHT! it was an anti cock fighting segment! Yet it was so haunting with the Waterphone background.... just thought you should know that! :) Dave <<<

And from Christopher White

Wow! the (Bass) Waterphone is so beautiful. i have been using it with some of my live looping devices and it is truly truly wonderful to hear a repeat of the bass tones washing washing away is sonic heaven. i am able to move from serenity to utter chaos in a matter of seconds with the waterphone. i have found that chopsticks are a good way to move from bass to some higher end percussion, capture that in a loop and it becomes a spinning death trance and than i pull out the bow and move back into the world of black water. i use my vibrating and walking toys and allow them to dance on the resonate plate which is also quite nice. thanks alot for this piece. now i can access my drone/swarm world in a fashion closer to what i wish.

Question -from OddMusic List/Internet:

Hello--How is this (MegaBass Waterphone) different than the regular Bass Waterphone?

John Pascuzzi responds:

Richard can explain the physical, but the Mega-Bass is one major ass kicking mo-fo, fat with rich sympathies, microtones, harmonies, subtleties, and Bass-ities. This thing talks back to you, with authority. Buy one, buy many. I have to call Cal-Tech, here in California every time I want to play the thing, as it causes so much seismic activity in the region, it's been known to cause earthquake scares. Have I said enough? No, I can't say enough about it, but I'll stop now, for Richard's technical specifications . . . .I kiss my wife, I pet my dog. . . . . . . I massage my Waterphone (but only after asking permission) - John Pascuzzi

http://www.oddmusic.com

Richard responds:

>>><< Hello--How is this different than the regular bass Waterphone? >>

Rob,

The MegaBass pans having a larger diameter can handle lower and a wider range of response to the tonal rods. In addition I added alittle length to the neck and to the tonal rods and I used a heavier gauge stainless tubing for the neck which drives more sound into the pans. On an audio level there are more sympathies between the rods and the prime tones of the pans so you get this swelling of sound somewhat like a French Horn. All of the flat models of Waterphone have this kind of re-enforced tonal thing but the MegaBass has much more of it. These pans are the same size as I use on the RSGs (Revolving Sound Generators) and have a wide response range. Due to the larger diameter of the MegaBass there are more tonal rods and consequently more sonic information on the perimeter. In the world of Waterphones bigger is better if you are thinking low end and wide range. The MegaBass bottom pan makes a good water gong type drum as well as being excellent for Superballing those other worldly sounds. I use to play a Bass but after hearing the MegaBass I sold it and now play a MegaBass because it has the best sound (richest), the lowest sound (deep) and the most sound (very wide range). Richard Waters - Inventor of the Waterphone<<<

Richard Waters - Multi Media Artist
Gulfport, Mississippi