Recent Posts

51

General Discussion / Marimba bar nodes

« Last post by goldnhands on December 14, 2011, 05:05:25 PM »

Hi, seems very little posting on this forum, but here goes with my contribution anyway.
If you take a look at the  Marimba One website, http://www.marimba1.com/marimbas/sound
They say that they start off by drilling the suspension holes at the nodes, and then go on to tune the bars.
This is quite different to the method employed and described in my building guide (Makeamarimba.com) and I would like to know if Marimba One do in fact drill first, and if so what is the effect on the final product?  I know that the nodes do move quite a lot during tuning, and Jim Mc Carthy's method does seem more sensible to me.
I just laid out my first set of bars for the 5 octave model, the nodal lines are all over the place and at different angles, some quite acute.  I think that my "average" line for drilling is going to be a serious compromise and I am wondering what will be the effect on the finished instrument?
Any help or comment will be welcomed.
Barry

52

General Discussion / Presentation

« Last post by zhuzhu on January 11, 2011, 09:36:11 PM »

Hello, 
 
Nice to be registered on www.makeamarimba.com. My little name is maxizhu ;-)

53

General Discussion / Welcome Me!

« Last post by arromipople05 on January 08, 2011, 01:22:23 PM »

I'm impressed!   
New Member here! i must say definitely like www.makeamarimba.com

54

General Discussion / New Member

« Last post by JixToitomot on December 31, 2010, 11:39:34 AM »

Thanks for the approval! I look forward to learning from everyone here, and hope to contribute as much as I can.

55

General Discussion / Re: building and selling instruments.

« Last post by Jim McCarthy on May 31, 2010, 02:13:33 PM »

Hi Jbrave!
No - there are no restrictions at all in that regard. You can build and sell whatever you like even if they are built exactly to my specified designs. The only restriction from buying the guides is that you cannot re-sell or out of reasonable limits share, the guide you buy. The physical results you create are your own to do what you like with. And good luck doing so - great idea!
Jim

56

General Discussion / building and selling instruments.

« Last post by jbrave on May 13, 2010, 10:29:27 AM »

Are there any restrictions on selling an instrument I build if I buy one of your how to plans? I started creating my own instrument based on a few websites by DIY folks, so I'm completely winging it, but I like what I'm doing so much, I think I'm going to try to build and sell instruments as a business. I would like to buy one of your books, but I'm worried that in your purchase process I might have to sign away my rights to build and sell instruments and I don't want to do that. What i'm building would largely be my own design, but I could really use some help from someone who has done it before, thus I want to buy your book.

57

Instrument BARS & tuning / Re: My stroboscopic experience

« Last post by Jim McCarthy on May 29, 2009, 11:39:40 AM »

Jim here again - an update on the Peterson software - Stobosoft II.
I ended up purchasing it - the deluxe version with the tap tuning feature. I can tell you all right away that the software is fantastic, and easily the best tuning tool I've ever used. The tap tuning feature is DEFINITELY reccomended for marimba makers. Now that I've experienced how it works, I can tell you it is a must. SO that means you do need to fork out the extra for the deluxe version - but Oh so worth it. It essentially "freezes" the split second of important reading tone - you don't need much in the way of practise and skill to read this stroboscope - it has the skill for you.

I've been using it for the new 5 octave marimba project - http://makeamarimba.com/5octavemarimba/
Check out the link for more on this topic.

58

Instrument BARS & tuning / Re: Target pitch before drilling string holes in marimba bars

« Last post by Jim McCarthy on February 05, 2009, 05:06:18 PM »

I usually leave about 20 cents of headroom before I drill any holes. In theory the drilling of nodal holes should not effect the pitch of the bar at all!! BUT... that is only if you consider the perfect theory that the hole is perfectly on the node and aligned along the node. Also assuming a hole of zero diameter. Given that even in the most perfect scenario the likelihood is that the angled hole will not align right on, and the hole diameter means that there will at least be SOME material removed inside the exact nodal point.... well then you need to leave a tiny bit of headroom to allow for the potential effect - even if it is very small.

59

Instrument BARS & tuning / Target pitch before drilling string holes in marimba bars

« Last post by MStaples on February 03, 2009, 01:51:29 AM »

When making a marimba bar:

How close to the target note should a marimba bar be sanded before the string holes are drilled and then the bar fined tuned.   Also, how does drilling of the string holes affect the pitch of the bar?

MS

60

Instrument BARS & tuning / Timber for marimba bars

« Last post by Jim McCarthy on January 20, 2009, 12:54:51 PM »

Hi all.
I've been getting quite a few emails recently about cheaper alternatives for marimba bar timber that still sound OK. Obviously we still have the traditional Honduras rosewood (Dalbergia Stevensonii) as the king - and the much cheaper and easier to get hold of African Paduk as a good second...
But...
I'd like to hear people's experiences with other timbers.
In particular other types of Rosewood - botanical names as well appreciated.
Also Cheaper and easier to get hold of timbers - Meranti, Spruce etc.

I'd really like to hear of people's experiences.
Thanks
Jim