Reviewer: Bruce Wells
e-mail: not publicly available
Date submitted: September 21, 2004
Purchase Price: $2999.00
|
Sound & Tone
|
Rating:
|
9
|
|
Comments:
|
Sound is very easy to obtain from this instrument but you must strike in the center of the bars (true of most vibes). The closer to the nodes, the flatter or duller the sound eventually resulting in a clunk. Volume and sustain produced depends on player experience with adjusting permanent damper spring and pedal height.
Your choice of mallets will ultimately have to do with the sound, tone and volume also.
|
|
Design & Construction
|
Rating:
| 10
|
|
Comments:
| The frame is very solid. AFter assembling a few times it becomes very easy. Easy to disassemble. However, you must lay instrument on it side (on the end rails). There is no protection for these ends which are merely painted like the rest of the instrument. That part of the instrument can look old in a very short time if you gig alot. It is advised that each player devise some sort of protection without ruining the look of the instrument. Also, if you assemble incorrectly for what ever reason, this set CAN collapse. You can easily mistake which end of the foot pedal brace to insert at each end brace node. I did this once and somehow managed to survive. But now I know. Do it correctly and you have probably the most solid vibe on the market. When done correctly it WILL NOT rattle. The height is easily adjustable. The casters are great with huge break pedals. The cord seems to fray easily. The springs require you to tie multiple knots in order to keep the strings secure. I personally do not understand why Ross uses this concept in the spring.
The bars are graduated in length and are wonderful. The fans work well but if you listen close, the fan assembly does make some noise even though the metal rods run through plastic enclosure rings. NO oil required. The motor itself is quiet and is in standby (red light indicator) until you activate a "turn on" push button (green light indicator). Fan speed ranges from 0 to pretty darn fast. Pedal assembly works fairly well but securing nut under bottom of foot pedal comes loose. You must keep adjusting it from time to time. You must use WD40 or something to prevent squeaking of pedal assembly.
Instrument easy to transport if you have trunk space or bed space in van. Two resonators, foot pedal/brace assembly and body of vibe. Essentially four pieces and Wahla! I've only had instrument six months. New
|
|
Appearance
|
Rating:
| 9
|
|
Comments:
| While this vibe does not look like vibes of the past, (large arching false front etc., it is a good looking instrument.
|
|
Customer Support
|
Rating:
| 4
|
|
Comments:
| Communication with customer support (my experience) was very bad. Nothing else to say.
|
|
Overall Rating
|
Rating:
| 10
|
|
Comments:
| I am very happy with this instrument now that the break in/learning the nuances period is over.
I would buy this instrument again.
I use this instrument in jazz.
I would not recommend this particular vibe to a student, only if he were an advanced student considering to play professionally.
To a professional, yes.
|
|