Reviewer: Jamie Moyer
e-mail: not publicly available
Date submitted: October 12, 2004
Purchase Price: $1000
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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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These bells are by far the best sounding, best constructed orchestra bells I have ever played. this includes old Deagan's Leedy, Malletech and Fall Creek.
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Design & Construction
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Rating:
| 10
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Comments:
| The case of this instrument is the most beautiful I've seen. The bar rails are solid oak with solid brass pins, case is aok panels with sides in African Bubinga wood. Soild Brass handle, all screws and hardware solid brass as well. The bars are nickle plated in a stain finish, teh sound is incredible with no noise and amazing scale.
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Appearance
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Rating:
| 10
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Comments:
| Nothing matches the craftsmenship of this instrument.
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Customer Support
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Rating:
| 9
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Comments:
| Doug works almost by himself on these instruments to gurantee top quality. This requires longer wait times for delivery and any retunings needed.
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Overall Rating
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Rating:
| 10
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Comments:
| This instrument can easily be compared to the best bells in anyone's collection. However, DeMorrow no longer will make orchestra bells as he is unsatisfied with the carbon steel being produced today. An interesting note since other companies focus on how "great" their steel is?
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Reviewer: James Walker
e-mail: survey@malletjazz.com
Date submitted: June 4, 2002
Purchase Price: $500, bought "used" in 1993
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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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I love this instrument.
I have been a big fan of Doug DeMorrow's instruments ever since I first played one in 1987 - the first marimba he made for Gordon Stout (which I played while a student at Ithaca College). Doug's instruments consistently sound good and feel wonderful to play.
I've heard from a mutual friend of mine and Doug's that Doug has discontinued production of orchestra bells, since he can no longer obtain the preferred metal for his bars. That's unfortunate, because these are some of the nicest orchestra bell bars that I've ever played - so if you get the chance to buy DeMorrow bells used, do it! They sustain for (seemingly) forever; in fact, I have taken the old felt damper strip from my vibraphone and trimmed it to set between the upper and lower manuals of the instrument, to cut down on the sustain of the bars. Otherwise, it would be impossible to play certain excerpts (Sorcerer's Apprentice, Magic Flute, etc.) - the sustain would just create a wash of sound. Still, it's nice to have to cut down on sustain, versus pining for sustain that isn't there.
The intonation is excellent, and even when played at higher dynamic levels, the sound does not grate on one's ears they way other bells can.
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Design & Construction
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Rating:
| 9
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Comments:
| Doug's woodworking skills are outstanding - even those who are not fans of the sound of his instruments acknowledge how beautiful they are to look at. These bells come in a natural-finish wooden frame/case (I believe it's oak), with the bars resting on felt strips.
The instrument is quite heavy, however; so when transporting it, I remove the bars and transport them in a separate soft case, rather than carrying them and the case in a single package. I would recommend obtaining a separate case for transport (like the flight cases that Bill Youhass offers for his glockenspiels - altho I'm not sure if any of Bill's cases would fit Doug's bells) if one is touring with an orchestra or doing any significant amount of traveling with the instrument. It would be a shame to see Doug's woodwork scratched and dinged in transport.
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Appearance
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Rating:
| 9
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Comments:
| As noted above, Doug's instruments are gorgeous, and this set is no exception.
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Customer Support
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Rating:
| 9
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Comments:
| I haven't spoken with Doug in years, but he was always very pleasant to deal with over the telephone, and always very helpful. The only reason he doesn't rate a "10" is because he doesn't have any web presence to speak of. Come on, Doug, get a web site!
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Overall Rating
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Rating:
| 10
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Comments:
| I bought these bells from Gordon Stout about ten years ago, and given that Doug doesn't make them anymore, I don't expect to ever part with them. I don't do many orchestral gigs anymore, so my use for the bells would be in my classical voice/percussion duo or for recording, but still, I don't see myself selling these.
(Doug also made a set of bells with a damper pedal. I'd kill to get my hands on those...)
Given that these are no longer in production, I'd recommend the KP3/Malletech bells (which I've played, and I like) or the Fall Creek glockenspiel (which I've not played, but I admire Bill Youhass' work) as a comparable alternative; I've not yet played Nico vanderPlas' orchestra bells; when/if I do, and if they are comparable to Doug's, I'll post that information here in another reply.
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