Reviewer: Nick Robinson
e-mail: not publicly available
Date submitted: Jan. 4, 2003
Purchase Price: $5000
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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 Malletech marimba has the best sound of any instrument I've played and heard. The instrument is strong and consistent throughout the instrument. With the adjustable resonators you can alter to sound to best fit the room. Even without much "tweaking" this instrument sounds great in any room (large hall to small practice room). This instrument responds really well to all types of mallets. (For example: It sounds warm, dark, and full with little contact sound when rolling chords with Steven's soft mallets LS5 and then can have a big, bright, attacking sound with Friedman mallets.) This instrument has a great volume range with a high quality at all levels. The instrument projects extremely well (is a great solo instrument but also cuts through in loud group settings). The tuning is wonderful. I've had it for eight years (without tuning - though I will go in next year for a tune up) and it still sounds great.
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Design & Construction
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Rating:
| 10
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Comments:
| The design of this instrument is incredible. It has "raised the bar" on marimba design (at the time I first saw it at PAS in the early 90's I had not experienced anything like it). Because such an incredible player designed it there are many significant improvements from a players perspective. One of the greatest things is that is a completely quiet. There is never any noise from the frame/resonators. I also enjoy that one person can take this instrument apart easily. It is extremely heavy (especially the resonators) but the rewards make it worth the trouble (sure I only have the 4.3 - maybe I would feel differently with the full 5 octaves!). The bar sizes, which are very large - especially at the low register, are absolutely wonderful. When I play a Musser (which I respect greatly having learned on those instruments) or a Yamaha I cannot believe it - I feel like I am playing a xylophone! The large bars really help with accuracy. The instrument is not height adjustable (though some newer models are) which is a big drag for me (6'2"). I have been using blocks to raise it but might investigate having the end pieces altered (??). They would have made me a custom one for my size at the time and I was an idiot not to do this. The cords have been fraying on me but I learned a better way of transporting it from Malletech which should improve this. I had been using regular cord from a hardware store (which I was told was fine when I first got the marimba) but recently bought one of their cords (for $30+ dollars - YIKES) so we will see if its that much better. The instrument has remained consistent for the entire eight years.
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Appearance
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Rating:
| 10
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Comments:
| This instrument is absolutely beautiful - Solid oak frame and brass resonators. Everyone who sees it is in awe. It is like a really great antique or art piece.
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Customer Support
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Rating:
| 10
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Comments:
| The customer service has been really fine. I recently had to replace a bar and was surprised (maybe I am extremely naïve!) that I had to pay for it (first bar replacement ever). Next year I will take it down to be retuned, also at a cost (which I would expect). My only complaint is that I was not answered on the two emails I sent the help desk on the new website. It could have been a technical problem - who knows.
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Overall Rating
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Rating:
| 10
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Comments:
| I feel that I have the absolute best marimba. I am completely satisfied with this instrument. The size and transportation is now a problem (I now live in New York City - in Ohio it was easy to transport) but I do take it out to gigs (though now using my KAT for more smaller gigs). I am playing solo gigs (original tunes) and with rock/improvisation bands. I would recommend this instrument to a serious player (as I wouldn't recommend a Bosendorfer for a public school!) I give this the highest rating possible.
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Reviewer: Bill Bittmann
e-mail: not publicly available
Date submitted: Dec. 6, 2002
Purchase Price: $5250
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Sound & Tone
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Rating:
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7
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Comments:
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A good sound is only achieved in a large and resonant room, definitely not a good practice instrument. The bars are almost uniform in sound except for a few that are a little different in sound quality. The bars are fairly large and wide, sometimes light and soft mallets cant produce enough body of sound from the bars. Tuning is perfect. The tunable resonators can make or break the sound of the instrument. They must be constantly adjusted for changes in conditions. Not easy to work with if you are a beginner or just want to play.
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Design & Construction
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Rating:
| 8
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Comments:
| 2.5" thick endboards, strong design and construction all around. No frame noise at all. Very heavy to transport (250 lbs.) A small army of educated roadies is needed to assemble the instrument in under 20 minutes. However, the frame design and materials are all top notch.
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Appearance
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Rating:
| 10
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Comments:
| Very beautiful oak frame with brass resonators, truly a sight to behold.
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Customer Support
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Rating:
| no opinion
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Comments:
| I havent dealt with Leigh on a customer service problem yet, but he seemed to be very helpful at the factory while instructing me on the care and feeding of my instrument.
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Overall Rating
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Rating:
| 8
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Comments:
| Asthetically beautuful, Definitely a solo instrument. The Malletech is a professional instrument that needs professional attention to sound right. With the right resonator settings, the Malletech can sound incredible. If you put it in a practice room, you will not enjoy it nearly as much because of the sound it produces in closed settings.
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