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Mallet Instrument Database at Malletjazz.com - Form For Submissions Note from the Editor: This forum for the collection of commentaries on various mallet percussion instruments has been created in response to seeing yet another online inquiry to the effect of, "...I've got the chance to buy a (insert name of manufacturer and model here) vibraphone. What's it worth? What can anyone tell me about it? Is it a good instrument?" There is a need for access to information, and it is hoped that these web pages will offer that access. The various comments and ratings on these pages are not meant to reflect my own opinions of these instruments, nor will I censor out any negative comments for any company whose products I use or with whom I may be affiliated. (I will, however, take the liberty of editing out truly offensive or abusive language, given that a number of those who are looking for information on mallet instruments are younger students and their parents. My web site, my rules.) For the time being at least, please limit the scope of your comments and reviews to common acoustic mallet percussion instruments: marimbas, vibraphones, orchestra bells, and xylophones. Mallet MIDI controllers will be added at a later date (either as part of this forum or in their own forum), and other non-electronic mallet percussion instruments (chimes, crotales, etc.) may be added if there is enough demand. Your name and e-mail address are required if you wish to have your comments included in the database. This is to ensure that reviews will not be posted under false pretenses. Anonymous reviews will not be considered for inclusion - comments carry much more credibility when the author is willing to be identified with his/her words. You may choose to have your e-mail address visible to those who view your review, but this is not required; e-mail addresses will be shown only if the reviewer has requested that it be shown. There is a box to check at the end of this form, if you wish to have your e-mail address shown. This is not a forum for listing instruments for sale. Please do not include links to eBay auctions, and please do not use your review to advertise an instrument you are selling. The purpose of this database is purely to collect information about various mallet percussion instruments. Any attempt to advertise an instrument for sale or auction will be edited out of the review in question. (Again, my web site, my rules.) As soon as I receive some reviews, I will construct the remaining pages of the database and post these comments sorted by instrument brand and model. Please be patient if your comments do not make it to the web site immediately, as this is a one-person operation. Thanks for taking the time to participate, and for sharing your thoughts on these instruments. James Walker survey@malletjazz.com

Instructions:

• Rate the instrument on a scale of 1-10, with ten being the most positive rating.
• There are several categories for which you may offer your own comments.
• Please only offer critiques of instruments with which you are quite familiar. "I played one for ten minutes at an audition" does not qualify as "quite familiar." Please only offer a comment if you have owned (or rented) the instrument yourself, have used it as a practice instrument at school for a significant period of time, etc.
• Please specify in what style(s) of music you play this instrument. Jazz mallet players may not have the same preferences as an orchestral percussionist when it comes to a given instrument.
• Please include the model number of your instrument if at all possible. There are many three-octave Deagan vibraphones, for example, on the used instrument market today, and comments on one model of Deagan may not apply to another.
• MANUFACTURERS - please feel free to comment on your own instruments here, or to reply to the comments of others, but please identify yourself as a representative of a percussion manufacturer, even if your company does not manufacture the instrument in question.

Product Information Manufacturer: Please select ... Adams Bergerault Coe Percussion Deagan DeMorrow Fall Creek Gretsch Jenco Kori / Korogi Kosth Leedy Ludwig & Ludwig Malletech / KP3 Marimba One Musser Ross Saito Slingerland Street Vancore vanderPlas Wurlitzer Yamaha Other Other: Model: (Enter the model number, if known). Range: (Enter the range of the instrument). Price Paid I don't remember I don't own this instrument (if you don't own this instrument yourself, please indicate how you gained exposure to the it) $US Other (Please specify currency) Check here if you bought your instrument second-hand. Check here if this is a school-owned instrument which you have played extensively.

Sound & Tone How easy is it to get a good sound out of it? Is the sound consistent throughout the range of the instrument? Are some ranges stronger/weaker than others? Are you satisfied with the tone and intonation of the instrument? Does it respond especially well or poorly to certain types of mallets? What kind of volume does the instrument produce? Does it project well? How well is the instrument tuned? Is the instrument in tune with itself? Rating for this category: Please select ... No Opinion12345678910

Design & Construction Is the frame solid? Is the instrument easy to assemble/disassemble? Does the instrument rattle? Are the rattles (if any) easy to remedy? Is the frame height-adjustable? What quality are the casters? Does the cord fray easily? Is there much extraneous frame noise when playing? Are the bars graduated in width, or all the same width? (for marimba/xylophone): what are the bars made of? (for vibraphones) How well do the motor/fans work? Is the motor quiet? (for vibraphones) How well/poorly does the pedal/damper assembly function? Is the instrument easy to transport to/from venues? Has the instrument stood up to long-term use (i.e., six months or greater)? Rating for this Category: No Opinion12345678910

Appearance Please comment on the cosmetic appearance of the frame, resonators, bars, etc. Rating for this Category: No Opinion12345678910

Customer Support If you have dealt directly with the instrument's manufacturer, were they easy to deal with? Were your problems dealt with effectively? What sort of support does the manufacturer offer in terms of a warranty, bar retuning/replacement, etc.? Rating for this Category: No Opinion12345678910

Overall Rating Are you happy with this instrument? Would you buy this instrument again? Would you buy a different instrument from the same manufacturer? In what genre(s) of music do you use this instrument? Would you recommend this instrument to a student? To a professional? Would it be well-suited for use in the public schools, or perhaps at a University? Rating for this Category: No Opinion12345678910

Your Contact Information Please enter your name and e-mail address here, to allow for confirmation of your review. No anonymous reviews, or reviews posted using another person's name or e-mail address, will be included on this site. You may choose to make your e-mail address visible to anyone reading your review; if you do not check the box below, your e-mail address will be kept confidential. No names or e-mails received on these forms will be shared with, or sold to, any third parties. Name: Email: "Yes, please show my email address with this review, so that others may contact me about my comments regarding this instrument." (NOTE: Even if you do not wish to have your e-mail address available to the public, you must provide your e-mail address on this form, to allow for confirmation. Forms submitted without an e-mail address will not be accepted. Contact survey@malletjazz.com if you have any questions about this.)