Reviewer: Dan
e-mail: not publicly available
Date submitted: August 9, 2006
Purchase Price: not given
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Sound & Tone
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Rating:
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4
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Comments:
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This marimba when i had first recieved it, I was very excited and when I played on it, it had an excellent tone (or so I thought). The sound of my marimba was pretty bad because they messed up the tuning of my bars, instead of 442 I had 448. (Yes, it really was 448). The intonation of my bars, although very sharp, is very consistant through the whole thing. I have issues with the padauk responding to my softer mallets. The resonators must not be tuned well either because they dont resonate like they're supposed to. This isturment cuts through fairly well. I used it for a solo with an orchestra, and it was well heard. Tuning is very poor, i've had this insturment for 2 months and it's adjusted to the climate here and went down in pitch to 447.
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Design & Construction
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Rating:
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9 |
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Comments:
| The frame of this insturment is solid ash wood. When transporting this insturment the ashwood makes it difficult to go through a standard size doors (isnt it the same with most other marimbas too) and it is heavy. The frame is height adjustable but it is certainly a 2 person job because if you're not careful the insturment is heavy and you could end up pernamentaly damaging your resonators. The casters of course are made of the highest quality plastic. I'm sure they'll never break off (yeah right...) This insturment is extremely easy to transport, i've only transported it 3 times but it was easy. (30 minute set-up TOPS)=(1 person)
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Appearance
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Rating:
| 10
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Comments:
| The insturment is a beautiful insturment, the contrasting colors of the dark stained bars and the ashwood frame look great. Similar to the Marimba 1 and the Adams, they have the wave like effect with the resonators
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Customer Support
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Rating:
| 2
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Comments:
| I tried to let the manufacturer know that my marimba bars were poorly tuned and the resonators were bad, but they never responded. it's alomost like they didnt want to deal with the problem.
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Overall Rating
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Rating:
| n/a
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Comments:
| It's a really nice insturment, and i'm sure i'd love mine more if it came in better shape, it's a great started marimba and i'd recommend it to almost anyone.
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Reviewer: Gary H.
e-mail: not publicly available
Date submitted: March 8, 2005
Purchase Price: $2,200
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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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Great open sound and good resonance. Excellent tuning and consistency of tone from bar to bar.
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Design & Construction
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Rating:
| 10
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Comments:
| SOLID Ash frame. NOT vinyl covered plywood like some others....height adjustable frame, manual, best to use 2 people to adjust, though can be done by 1. Beautiful resonators styling ala Marimba 1 style.
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Appearance
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Rating:
| 10
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Comments:
| Excellent
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Customer Support
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Overall Rating
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Rating:
| 10
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Comments:
| GREAT value for $$$. COmpared to Adams, Yamaha and Musser at PASIC and purchased a Vancore. VERY happy with purchase, can't beat at this price point1
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Reviewer: Lauren
e-mail: not publicly available
Date submitted: August 28, 2004
Purchase Price: $2,300
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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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It is very easy to get a good sound from this marimba because this is an all around great insrument. The sound sustains beauty from low to high. I am extremely satisfied with the tone and intonation of the instrument. It responds especially well to the M75 mallets I have bought from Vic Firth, but i prefer bass sounding solos such as Ghanaia. If you're planning to do higher octave work, you would want to buy a harder mallet. The instrument's projection is amazing. You are able to hear the tone and make out the song from a distance. The instrument is tuned excellently, i was told by the sales man to tune this instrument every 13 years.
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Design & Construction
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Rating:
| 9
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Comments:
| The frame is excellent. When i got it home, it was very easy to assemble because it has a very basic but beautiful structure. The height is adjustable, but it is very hard to do alone. While adjusting the height, you will most likely need 2 people. The cord has not frayed yet and i have had the instrument for almost 6 months. There is no extreneous noise while playing. The bars are made of African Padouk wood. The instrument is easy to transport because of the steady frame and the manouverability. The instrument has stood up to my performing for about six months.
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Appearance
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Rating:
| 10
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Comments:
| The bars are beautiful with a drak wood stain. The resonators are a bronze color with a spongued finish. The resonators also have the wonderful marimba one effect. The frame is built from metal and wood and is great for viewing as well as transporting.
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Customer Support
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Overall Rating
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Rating:
| 10
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Comments:
| I am overly satisfied with this instrument. I would definately buy this instrument again, and would recommend it to future buyers. I use this instrument in classical compositions. I would recommend this instrument to anyone looking to learn about music because it is a great instrument with beautiful viewing features as well as beautiful overall sound.
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