What is a SLAPEROO™?

The SLAPEROO™ is a brand-new kind of electric tuned percussion instrument that is going to rule the world soon.. More info HERE.

Where did the idea come from?

It was inspired in 2004 by a long shipping crate with a tightly-wound steel strap around it. The top of the crate was warped, creating a small gap under the strap. Slapping this strap made a heck of a sound, the wooden lid acting as a soundboard. Shortly (about 7-minutes) after making this wonderful discovery, the UPS truck came to pick up the crate. This sudden loss motivated Andy Graham to attempt to duplicate and electrify this concept but by using a lightweight, strong aluminum body. Several years of engineering and tinkering in his secret shop resulted in the SLAPEROO™...which is much easier to drag onstage than a 500-pound crate.

Where did it get it's awesome name?

We wanted to come up with a catchy and humorous name with the word 'slap' in it. We went through many names too embarassing to mention here, or already in use by others. The word Slaperoo came up and ultimatey was decided on by the Internet, or, the fact that both the web domain and trademark were wide-open. As you can imagine, we secured both immediately.

Why is it referred to as electric tuned percussion?

It's electric because it uses an internal pickup (tranducer) to convert the vibrations of the strap into an electric signal just like an electric guitar. It's a percussion instrument because of the manner that it is played: by hitting the strap in various ways with you hands, fingers, face, etc.. It's tuned because of the strap can be open-tuned to a particular key. It is also 'fretted' like a stand-up bass, allowing you to play percussive melody lines.

What kind of amp do you recommend to play the SLAPEROO™ through?

This really depends on how you like to play. If you are just going to record, you can bypass the amp all together. The pickup is designed to catch a full range of frequencies and delivers a strong signal. A keyboard amp will take advantage of the frequency range the best, giving you the most choices. If you want to blow your windows out and scare the cat, a giant bass amp will do just fine.

What about using electronic effects?

This is where the fun begins! You can play the SLAPEROO™ with any electronic effect, looper, or other sound-processing gear. The Digitech RP-1000 is a great multi-effects processor.

Can the SLAPEROO™ be played with a bow?

Yes...and the trippy harmonics sound quite amazing...especially with effects!

I must get one of these! How do I buy one?

To buy your own SLAPEROO™, please click HERE.

Who is this Andy Graham guy?

Andy Graham is a musician, performer, and the inventor of the SLAPEROO™ . Please visit his website to find out more.

Can I carry the SLAPEROO™ in my music store?

Yes! Please contact us at TheSlaperoo@gmail.com .

What is the fastest land animal?

The Cheetah. For more info about the Cheetah, please click HERE.