Tom Waits, musician and actor, describes the sound of a Waterphone as:
“A cascading crystal waterfall of light amidst the songs of a whale.”
I have long had a fascination towards the waterphone instrument and have used it in many of my solo concerts, writing projects and concerti performances including the concerti by Michael Daugherty and Tan Dun. It is difficult to put into words the description of the sound because it is forever fluid and changes in ways that are totally unpredictable thus allowing the performer the experience a truly never-ending journey of fascination. Richards Waterphones require only a small amount of physical effort to coax a sound from the instrument but for me the respect of allowing the instrument to 'speak' is of the utmost importance. Richard crafts his Waterphones with such care, which is why they are of the highest quality. It almost feels as if the instrument is a living thing, always communicating in ways that are ethereal and wonderful. I am delighted to be the proud owner of a varied collection of Richard's Waterphones and other inventions. Dame Evelyn Glennie
If I had to live on a deserted island and could only have one musical instrument it would be one of your waterphones! After 30 years of exploring the waterphone there are still new territories to find. Todd Barton
I thank you again for the polite and great job and kindly price. I had a chance to play the cheap imitations of waterphone. They are like junk, very bad fishish, bad materials..... and very different sounds - no natural echo, no superball mode sound, no sympathy, no cool rod sound etc. I was asked about a waterphone via myspace, then I recommended to contact you. A friend of mine has 2 imitations; #1 sold at EBay- a very cheap materials and bad finish. Bowing sound is noisy, no natural echo, no rod sympathy sound. Superball mode works but cheap/dirty sound. #2 gold one - a bit better finish than #1 but material is too thick. Superball mode doesn't work well. No natural echo/reverb, no rod sympathy sound. *I mean "rod sympathy sound" is the special sound made by some of rods by sympathy. A bit difficult to explain in English.... Comparing with these imitations, your work is very very polite and greatly tunes w/selected rich materials. It's different instrument from these imitations. OK, I'll let you know when I finish the CDs. I am a guitarist/ keyboarding (main job is composing) but now I play the waterphone mainly! Thanks again,
Toshi Hiraoka
I received my MegaBass today safe and sound. Man is it a beautiful thing!! Wow, like night and day from that ocean harp I have. I don't know why I waited so long to get one of yours but I'm glad I finally did. - The real deal. I will let you know when I use it on any specific projects of note when that time comes. Thanks a million for your workmanship and I'll catch up with you later, Brian Emrich
We're now in possession of the Waterphone. What a magnificent instrument, it has caused quite a lot of interest here in the development studio. I'm amazed at it's tonal power and have been experimenting in a sound proof booth with different microphones. The high frequencies it produces are amazing. It takes a lot of patience to capture the fantastic sustain...the first session had me sweating! (note to self....go easy on the water!) :) Martin Oliver
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. Marc Lee
Thank you thank you Richard. The Waterphone is just out of this world! I am completely in love. I'm like a little kid when people came into the room wanting to show her off. Her? hmmm... That just rolled off the tongue. Will report more once I've played on stage this Sunday but I know the response is going to be a lot of dropping jaws! Imogen Heap
Just wanted to drop you a line about the waterphone, Richard. 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
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. Glick Rieman
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 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! :)
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. Christopher White
I must tell you, if ever there was an instrument to reflect my psychotic...no, psychological nature it would be the Waterphone... The more i play this metallic molusk, the more enamored i become... i am getting some very interesting ... qualities i'll say... my first public performance will be on Feb. 28, with a well known local accordionist. i have adapted some Ken Nordine vignettes for the occasion.... yep right up here in North Idaho... someone has to... and thanks to you... i guess. it's me.... thanks... Marc Clarke
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). http://www.oddmusic.com Richard Waters (Waterphone Inventor) responds: The MegaBass pans having a larger diameter can handle lower and a wider range of response to the tonal rods. In addition I added a little 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).