Reviewer: Philippe BRIAND
e-mail: not publicly available
Date submitted: Dec. 2, 2002
Purchase Price: 6684 euros
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Sound & Tone
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Rating:
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8
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Comments:
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This vibe has a clear, powerful tone. The sound is perfectly consistent throughout, and responds especially well to heavy mallets (I like to use the DS18 model by Mallettech). The volume can be extremely loud. Yet, in my opinion, the grain of the sound is not as warm as the M55's. I use it for jazz, but I'm sure it's better suited to symphonic music. It's the type of sound that would cut through The New-York Philharmonic
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Design & Construction
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Rating:
| 8
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Comments:
| This is a heavy, luxury instrument, comparable to Musser's Century Vibe. The frame is solid and well-constructed, and I hear no rattles, except from the pedal. The pedal is actually a bar which is as long as the keyboard itself, and hangs on two leather strap fixed at either end of the centre rail. When the pedal is free, and no pressure is exerted on the leather straps, the shockwaves from the mallets tend to reverberate through the whole pedal system. This is noticeable mostly when playing solo, hitting hard, ans as I said, not using the pedal.. The frame-height is not adjustable, the casters are excellent quality, as is the instrument as a whole. It is a very-well constructed vibraphone. The bars are graduated in width. The cord is cotton, and frays rather easily. Then a new one has to be ordered from the factory at some cost. The bars (with a gold finish) are extra-thick : 15mm instead of the usual 12. The sound is therefore more powerful than what you get from other vibes, but perhaps also more "bell-like". Still, I would call it a rich sound. On the model I own (I bought it in 1996)the motor is not very good, and there is a definite hum on it. But I believe the newer models come with a silent motor. The instrument is really one that you can hardly transport to gigs. It is very heavy, hard to dismantle, and it would soon be ruined by transporting. It is more suitable for a music school or a theatre. Mine never left my home, and I use my M55 for gigging. I've had this vibe for 6 years. I have played it every day, and it's as good as new.
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Appearance
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Rating:
| 8
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Comments:
| I repeat, it looks very much like the "Century Vibe" by Musser. Same kind of "classic" design, black wooden sides and gold resonators.
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Customer Support
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Rating:
| 7
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Comments:
| I bought the instrument directly from the factory. It took three months to make, and was delivered at my home free of charge (I live in France, though; I don't think they would send it to California free of charge)I have had no problem with the bars, they are perfectly tuned (the piano-tuner who takes care of my piano checked it). The only problem was with the motor. The factory offered to install the new motor for something like $600. I declined the offer, and I will live with the hum, which, let's be fair, is not perceptible when you are roaring through "cherokee".
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Overall Rating
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Rating:
| 8
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Comments:
| I have finally decided to get rid of this instrument. Not that I don't like it, I do, it's a good instrument, but I don't have any need for it anymore. I would not recommend it to a jazz professional as a road instrument (Bergerault make another "traveler" model, same bars, same sound, but foldable and transportable) For its powerful (but beautiful) sound, I would definitely recommend it for a symphony orchestra.
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