Patent ID: 8748722

Claim:
A percussion instrument comprising: a body having a longitudinal axis extending from a butt end to a striking end thereof and at least one hole extending through the thickness of the body substantially along and/or through an axis that is different from the longitudinal axis; a grasping mechanism having a first grip plate at a first end thereof and a second grip plate at a second end thereof, at least one shaft extending from the first grip plate through a first hole of the at least one hole in the body to the second grip plate, and a releasable connection between the first grip plate and the second grip plate such that the grasping mechanism operates to be positioned in the first hole of the at least one hole and the first grip plate and the second grip plate operate to be disconnected from each other and/or connected/re-connected to each other such that the grasping mechanism operates to be positioned or re-positioned in the at least one hole; and a compliance mechanism disposed between the first and second grip plates, enabling the first and second grip plates to be moved closer together in response to a compressive force applied to the grasping mechanism, wherein the at least one hole extending through the thickness of the body is disposed at an angle other than ninety degrees with respect to the body.