"Where's me (electric) washboard?"

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As washboard's go, this one's a hottie
As washboard's go, this one's a hottie

You might be forgiven for thinking that the musical potential of washboards was pretty much exhausted during the British skiffle explosion of the 1950s. You'd be wrong. You might also be forgiven for suspecting that it's a slow news day. You'd be... ahem.

"That wah-wah pedal does something to [the sound of a washboard] that God never intended. There's something really, really vulgar about what the wah-wah pedal does. It makes it sound like oral sex, somehow."

That's a bold claim for a Monday morning, but it can be found in the press release we received this morning announcing the Woogie Board: the world's first production electric washboard.

Launched by St Blues Guitar Workshop in association with Cody Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars, for $249.99 the Woogie Board features enclosed dual-piezo pickups, a three-way switch for pickup selection, a volume control knob and a high quality output jack all housed in a Telecaster-style control plate built into the leg. Which is more than can be said for your Zanussi washer-dryer.

If the video above tickles your fancy, you can find more clips and info here on the official Woogie Board website.

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Chris Vinnicombe

Chris Vinnicombe worked with us here on the MusicRadar team from the site's initial launch way back in 2007, and also contributed to Guitarist magazine as Features Editor until 2014, as well as Total Guitar magazine, amongst others. These days he can be found at Gibson Guitars, where he is editor-in-chief.