Good sound !
There's a problem with the cymbal mounting system! It's hard to secure it so it doesn't move during a performance. There's also a screw missing from the woodblocks! Considering the price, it's a bit of a letdown.

I love my Big Ol Rusted Cincinnati Washboard, and have attached many fun additions, playing over 100 shows a year with my band MoonCats! We perform all over the USA with plenty of washboard songs in our catalog! Before this one, I went through many others that would break and I wound need a quick replacement. Thanks to Cincinnati I've been able to keep the same board which is huge for me. Pro tip-keep in a hard shell luggage case for travel.

I'm a drummer by trade.
A friend pointed me to your website, https://cincinnatiwashboards.com.
I watched a few videos and was quickly impressed.
After unpacking it, I naturally wanted to try out the board as soon as possible.
I took it to a rehearsal that evening.
Playing and experimenting with the board is instantly fun.
Since then, I've been using it as often as I can at jam sessions, and it's already planned for future band projects.

Thank you! It's a blast!

Best regards, Reinhard from Vienna

I had a long wait to get my Road Trip Washboard due to customs and some shipping mishaps, but Tim was quick to respond to my emails when I let him know there was a problem he would need to resolve. Excellent customer service!

When I unpackaged my washboard, one of my bells was inconsistent, but I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was to unscrew the top, adjust the beater, and put it back together. This gives me confidence that the instrument is easy to repair and maintain if any issues arise down the road. +1 for a user/player-friendly construction.

Onto the actual washboard. The sound is excellent, with a tone that is both dark and bright, the bells are full and resonant, the two woodblocks are bright and punchy, and the cymbal is great for hits or to ride on. The neck strap is easy to adjust, there is a little bag for your thimbles, and a couple of spots where you could easily mount another item. Plus a carrying bag!

5*, can't recommend enough.

I’ve been using the Classic Big Boss Bundle from Cincinnati Washboards and picked up the Small Lil’ Rusted Washboard to add a contrasting voice—and it does exactly that.

The smaller surface shifts the playing approach toward more wrist and finger articulation, making it ideal for tighter patterns, ghost notes, and dynamic control. The “rusted” texture isn’t just visual—it produces a drier, more compressed tone with a pronounced midrange and sharper attack compared to the fuller, more open response of the Big Boss.

Articulation with thimbles is especially clean, with great tactile feedback for nuanced sticking (drags, flams, syncopation). It sits in the mix more like an auxiliary snare—focused, controlled, and texturally distinct—rather than a full wash.

This isn’t a replacement for a larger board, but a highly musical complement. If you’re looking to expand your tonal palette and gain more precision in articulation, it delivers.