Percussion Axiom TV: Episdoe #49 "How well do you know your marimba?" - Part II

[tburritt1971]

Thanks for the comment Joe!

[JoeRobson92]

This was awesome. We have a ton of Malletechs at my school. I've seen the professors tuning the resonators before but i didn't really know what they were listening for.

[ngnjr1229]

I play on a Yamaha 5100A. It's a nice marimba and I wish I would have seen this video before I got out of classes a few weeks ago. The low F# wasn't out of tune but I didn't like the sound of this one bar. With the help of my professors I learned that the higher overtones were speaking too well and then I just messed with the resonators and learned that I have some form of tuning. You presented a lot of good info.

Have you thought about advertising in the PAS Mag for your broadcasts and vids?

[tburritt1971]

@ngnjr1229 Thanks for the comment! If the tube is round, try blowing over the aperture of the tube. It should sound back the f#. If the pitch you here is low, the tube is too long, if the pitch is sharp, the tube is too short. Adjust accordingly and you should be all set.

Advertising in PAS is very expensive... so please spread the word for me and tell all your percussion friends. Thanks!

[wohcnil]

hi tom

i am curious now.. i play on an adams 5 octave and the resonators are actually rectangular at the lower registers. what is your opinion on that? there is some form of adjustment scew that narrows the top opening of the resonator. not sure if that is actually doing anything.

great information, but too bad i cant adjust those dang resonators like you can. i got a a really dead low Bb.

[tburritt1971]

Thanks for the comment! I used to play Adams and kept sending the low F# back, eventually I found it was actually a tube problem, not the bar. As far as I know, that adjustment screw attempts to do the same thing as I demonstrate in this video (lengthen or shorten the tube). I messed with that same mechanism and also found it did little to change the sound. Adams makes great instruments... these issues are apart of my sound, and I think an audience could probably care less about these issues.

[PostojnskaGodba]

It is nice, that you have finally made a video, where you talk about your marimba and I hope there will be more episodes like this. Either ways, I build marimbas at home, so that is why I am interested in marimba's technical aspect. Keep on the good work.

[tburritt1971]

Thanks for the comment. Interesting feedback and I'm so glad you are finding it helpful.

[mmcau]

We have tunable resonators on our yamaha 6000 as well. It definitely made the transition from the practicing in studio to performing in the recital hall much easier.

[mmcau]

I mean harpsichordists tune their own instruments. imagine what would happen if they can't.

Same thing with marimba, the instrument is simply out of tune when the resonators aren't doing its job correctly (eg. the note sharping/flating at the end of decay).

It is such a simple mechanism to make, so i don't understand why there aren't more manufacturers making these.

Anyways, thanks for the video Tom

[tburritt1971]

Thank you for the comment! I agree, however, great expense is involved in making tunable plugs. They are difficult to design so there are no air-leaks. And if you think about having to put about 60 on every marimba, that could get costly. That could be why many companies won't do it.

[crpederson]

I think Marimba one does not do this? Am I correct? Their resonator shape at the bottom is much different than most marimbas.  I think for the money Malletech makes the most adjustable best marimba.

[tburritt1971]

@crpederson If you mean that the marimba one doesn't have tunable plugs, yes you are correct. I agree with you last statement. Thanks so much for the comment!