Reviewer: Ginny Bear
e-mail: gbear@peacehealth.org
Date submitted: May 30, 2003
Purchase Price: $750 (purchased used)
|
Sound & Tone
|
Rating:
|
9
|
|
Comments:
|
This instrument has a beautiful, rich, full sound, consistent across the octaves. I purchased it 30 years ago, and it was 40 years old then... there are a couple of bars which need retuning at this point. They are not glaringly out of tune but they aren't perfectly in turn like all the other bars.
|
|
Design & Construction
|
Rating:
| 9
|
|
Comments:
| The frame for this instrument is just one step up from the most minimal Deagan frames- no extras. Likewise, there are no dummy resonators. Over the years, the metal parts of the frame have oxidized considerably, and the wood has suffered from various mishaps. I call the instrument fragile to other people, but it's actually well built. It is easy to take apart and put together again (though the resonators are pretty heavy). It is not height-adjustable, it doesn't rattle, the bars are Honduras rosewood, and they are graduated in width and length.
|
|
Appearance
|
Rating:
| 5
|
|
Comments:
| This instrument was designed for sound, not appearance. If I really cared about the appearance I would send it to Century Mallets for a restoration.
|
|
Customer Support
|
Overall Rating
|
Rating:
| 9
|
|
Comments:
| I am as delighted with this instrument today as the day I found it in the classified ads of the Los Angeles Times. I would recommend it for any purpose except one which required it being moved around alot. It's not built for abuse.
|
|