Reviewer: Daniel Stollsteimer
Date submitted: November 30, 2005
Purchase Price: $6000
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Sound & Tone
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Rating:
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10
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Comments:
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The sound of the instrument is simply wonderful. Especially the lower register produces a full, warm sound, but the instrument sounds and projects very good in every register, with various kinds of mallets. I'm also very satisfied with the tuning. Special feature: Tunable resonator caps in all resonators allow fine-tuning.
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Design & Construction
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Rating:
| 9
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Comments:
| The frame is very solid, but not heavy, which makes it easy to transport. The instrument can be assembled in no-time by a single person, if necessary. The resonators are split up in the middle, so you have four parts that are easy to pack and lift. The frame on my instrument is height-adjustable with two handles on top of the frame, which can be folded or removed completely, bt the instrument is also available with a single-handle-system. The bars are all high-quality. The frame doesn't produce any extra noises while playing. I don't know if it stands regularly transports, cause I haven't tested this, but the whole thing is really solid.
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Appearance
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Rating:
| 10
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Comments:
| Wow! If you like the style, you'll find no other marimbas like Coe's (Honestly, I don't think you won't, anyway). It's up to you what your marimba should look like, Matt Coe will try his best to realise it. My marimba has black powder-coatet resonators and a redish kind of wood for the frame. I think the brass-resonators look really great, too, but they cost a bit more. The front row of the resonators has no dummy resonators like many other brands, but I like the look of that, too. No kidding, they look very different from many other brands.
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Customer Support
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Rating:
| 10
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Comments:
| Dealing with Matt Coe is very easy and comforting. He builds the marimbas all by himself, so you can tell him exactly what you want. He answered all my questions really fast, doing everything to make sure I'm happy with my instrument. You can replace every bar you don't like for a full year, although I didn't find one. He will also come to your home and retune your instrument, if necessary.
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Overall Rating
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Rating:
| 10
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Comments:
| I'm proud to say that I own the very first Coe Marimba that reached European Ground. I'm perfectly happy with the instrument, and there is much more I would've liked to say if my english was better. This instrument is great for students, professionals and everybody else who wants to own a great instrument!
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