Build your own Vibraphone - comparing the PV with a Musser

[gamertooth17]

With adjusts, such as no pedal, less bars, special frame, and no motor or anything like that, would I be able to make one of these an outside-usable marching vibraphone? Like one that I could put on a harness and march around with for marching band.

[percussionclinic]

Well sure - of course. You would definitely need to make adjustments though. You would want to make the frame timber beefier and as you say... provide harness attachments etc. Playing vibes with no pedal is tought though.. you will get a lot of ring - it would be good to have SOME dampening mechanism - even if it was an adjustable static one.

[gamertooth17]

@percussionclinic Ah. good. Because i'm in 7th grade and if I ever become a band director i want to march everything and have no pit. :p and i found marching bells, xylophones, marimbas, and even timpani online that are buyable. I just couldnt find vibes. thanks. :D

[wiliscool]

it would be a perfectly fine practice instrument, but i would never use that in a performance.

[23CONA]

pretty sure that marimba is in the drum room at woodcroft college :)

[percussionclinic]

Hi there - Yes indeed! The vibraphone shown in this vid eventually went to Woodcroft College. As did the prototype P2 marimba actually - that one to the Junior school I believe. I certainly don't have room to house ALL the instruments I build... :)

[23CONA]

@percussionclinic haha thats awesome :D i think i had you as my drum teacher until Danny Leo came

[the09conradz]

How did you know where you needed to place the vibrator?

[percussionclinic]

Well the butterflies - or fans - are discs that rotate inside the open mouths of the resonators - they have to be there to work - they need to open and close the tubes as they rotate. Placement of the motor is wherever is structurally convenient as long as the drive pulley lines up with those on the ends of the fan shafts. Does this answer your question?

[the09conradz]

@percussionclinic sure.

[the09conradz]

@percussionclinic sure. does it take less longer making a vibraphone than it does on marimba?

[percussionclinic]

Depends on the size marimba! Definitely a vibraphone is a little more complex and tuning aluminium takes longer than timber. A five octave concert marimba may still take a little longer than a three octave vibraphone though - especially if you finish the bars to a high polish!

[SteveArpo]

Thanks for taking the time to give an insight into this great instrument.

[Paitsch]

Nifty.

[Lp3DMAnime]

what was the solo or song called when you played with the vibe rattle effect on

[the09conradz]

@Lp3DMAnime He just improvised his own solo, it really wasn't a specific song.

[dogger305]

you could tell us that your book has a price

[wcd47]

Awsom......Tell ya great from the USA

[renkupmiba]

man apparently nobody wabts to know how to make a vibraphone

[Shrantic]

@renkupmiba It would be valuable knowledge if I had the time, skill, and competence to do so. But alas! I haven't.