Brakka Posted January 7, 2003 Share Posted January 7, 2003 Great pics. And I agree that this is going to be an exceptional instrument. You rock, Hank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Strat Posted January 24, 2003 Share Posted January 24, 2003 Peanut, For cutting the screw eyes, have you tried a cut-off wheel in a Dremel moto-tool? High RPM, low torque, and it's fast. I think Ryobi sells a tool like the Dremel for ~$50, and you'll use it a lot if you do many projects. Just my $.02 BlueStrat a.k.a. "El Guapo" ...Better fuzz through science... http://geocities.com/teleman28056/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Strat Posted January 24, 2003 Share Posted January 24, 2003 Peanut, What are the screw eyes for? Sorry, I haven't been a regular reader of this thread. In fact, I'm not even real sure I know what a marimba is. Are they used to secure the keys? BlueStrat a.k.a. "El Guapo" ...Better fuzz through science... http://geocities.com/teleman28056/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Botch. Posted January 28, 2003 Share Posted January 28, 2003 Hank, have you tried using a spokeshave for carving the keys? It works something like a plane, except it cuts a thin shaving on the pull stroke and has a very narrow bed. Wish I'd thought of suggesting this earlier. They arent' always available at a hardware store, but try here: I'd recommend the Veritas if you want to give them a try. Botch "Eccentric language often is symptomatic of peculiar thinking" - George Will www.puddlestone.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brakka Posted February 4, 2003 Share Posted February 4, 2003 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salyphus Posted February 4, 2003 Share Posted February 4, 2003 Awesome Hank http://www.salorlando.com/smilies/rockdevil.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djarrett Posted February 6, 2003 Share Posted February 6, 2003 Peanut-man! Several things to consider here. The resonators do not only provide volume, throw, and sustain to the overall sound of your marimba ... but, they also ... (hence the name) provide resonance!One of the reasons the abs (or PVC) tubing doesn't sound great to you ... is that the tubing is so think, that there is little ... if any ... resonance.When searching a supplier ... remember that the thinner the aluminum wall of the tubing ... the more the resonance quality of the resonators.Look in your local yellow pages under aluminum suppliers or tubing.If this does not work, let me know. I may be able ask a local windchime maker where he gets his. Hope this helps,DJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Strat Posted February 6, 2003 Share Posted February 6, 2003 Hank, Check in your phone book for local machine shops. I'm sure that they could find a supplier or order it for you, or if necessary they could make what you need from solid bar stock. BlueStrat a.k.a. "El Guapo" ...Better fuzz through science... http://geocities.com/teleman28056/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Strat Posted February 6, 2003 Share Posted February 6, 2003 Originally posted by Hank The Cave Peanut: I did find out an interesting piece of info from the guy I talked to; it seems I can run aluminum through my table saw to cut it; However, I would need to run it backwards, as the blade would crush the aluminum if I ran it through the same way as wood.I wouldn't try using a table saw backwards, that's an extremely dangerous way to cut anything! Sounds like that guy is trying to get you killed! Find someone with a bandsaw. I use my dad's bandsaw to cut aluminum and brass on, and it's nice and safe. Just don't try and cut anything too fast, let the saw do all the work. BlueStrat a.k.a. "El Guapo" ...Better fuzz through science... http://geocities.com/teleman28056/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Botch. Posted February 6, 2003 Share Posted February 6, 2003 I initially questioned Dendy's statement that a resonator provides "resonance", I think it provides the airspace that resonates. Having said that, then the PVC tubes should've sounded OK, and they don't. Still, a guitar's soundboard is very critical to its sound, the sides and back (the resonant space) less so, that's why Ovation can provide a plastic back on a great-sounding guitar. So my previous rambling/theorizing is inconclusive. Is there a way to purchase just one thick, and thin-walled tube, and do a sound comparison? You've put so much time and money into this project so far, you might as well go for the best sound you can. Botch "Eccentric language often is symptomatic of peculiar thinking" - George Will www.puddlestone.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Strat Posted February 7, 2003 Share Posted February 7, 2003 What about copper water pipe or steel tubing? The steel ought to be real easy to get and fairly cheap, but I'm not sure of it's resonating qualities. BlueStrat a.k.a. "El Guapo" ...Better fuzz through science... http://geocities.com/teleman28056/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brakka Posted February 7, 2003 Share Posted February 7, 2003 I have a suggestion, Hank: Try it with one aluminum resonator before buying a bunch, to see if you like it. "Pro" marimbas use aluminum though, so you may be on the right track. "Mistakes" and miscalculations are what makes this diary so great though. Hope that makes sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brakka Posted February 7, 2003 Share Posted February 7, 2003 Also- I'm sure you've seen a million marimba sites already, but here are some more: http://www.marimba1.com/layers/marimbaresonators/marimba.htm ...our resonators are made from heavy gauge, yet lightweight aluminum... threaded tuning knobs allow for simple and precise adjustments in the height of the resonators relative to the bars... http://www.gppercussion.com/html/resonators.html http://www.mostlymarimba.com/techno1.html "Acoustics of Resonators" http://faculty.smu.edu/ttunks/projects/merrill/MarimbaH.html Greg Merrill: "the marimba: scientific aspects of its construction and performance" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Strat Posted February 10, 2003 Share Posted February 10, 2003 You can polish the aluminum with steel wool, #000 should be a good size to finish up with. Start with #1. On the rosewood, I'd think that leaving it unfinished would be OK, it's a fairly oily wood. If it starts to look dry, use a little oil on it. BlueStrat a.k.a. "El Guapo" ...Better fuzz through science... http://geocities.com/teleman28056/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Botch. Posted February 10, 2003 Share Posted February 10, 2003 Originally posted by Hank The Cave Peanut: YES!!! This *IS* the sound I was looking for. That's great news, Hank! Glad the aluminum worked for you. The "Acoustics of Resonators" article that Brakka posted above was extremely interesting, and it talked about aluminum vs. BRASS resonators for marimbas, now THAT would have sent your project to a higher cost, egads! And I agree with bluestrat, I think I'd leave the keys unfinished, or use just an oil finish if necessary (no shellac, polyurethane, lacquer or latex paint here!). Botch "Eccentric language often is symptomatic of peculiar thinking" - George Will www.puddlestone.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brakka Posted February 11, 2003 Share Posted February 11, 2003 I can't wait to hear an audio sample of it. M'na M'na Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
20to20 Posted February 12, 2003 Share Posted February 12, 2003 Hank, Way back when, I made a 'Crystal Marimba' using 1/4"x2" glass for the bars... Perhaps you might consider building such a marimba (utilizing your plastic resonators)... The glass bars need no further processing, after being cut to the correct length... Great sound contrast to the traditional xylo-phone... Just a thought... Congrats on your progress thus far , Bob Phillips 20to20soundesign Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Botch. Posted February 13, 2003 Share Posted February 13, 2003 Originally posted by Hank The Cave Peanut: Yeah, I'm thinking of making something with some of the ABS tubing. If I make something out of the ABS tubing, I'd want it to be an "easy" project... Maybe I might make some sort of mounted boomwhacker thing out of the lower notes. I dunno... Most likely I'll put all of the ABS tubing away for a while and record some music. Hey Hank, the perfect use for your ABS Tubing: http://www.blueman.com/about_bmg/about_music/tubes.shtml If you haven't caught Blue Man Group's act, you should make an effort to do so. Great fun. Their homemade PVC tube instruments are played with rubber pingpong paddles. Their CD, Audio , is required listening for anyone who likes tuned percussion. Botch "Eccentric language often is symptomatic of peculiar thinking" - George Will www.puddlestone.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Botch. Posted February 28, 2003 Share Posted February 28, 2003 Originally posted by Hank The Cave Peanut: I got the remaining bolt eyes in and screwed them into the marimba. There's gotta be an easier way than just screwing these things in by hand... I thought that some sort of bit for an electric screwdriver (with a minature clamp at the end) would would really well, but apparently nobody manufactures anything like that. So I gotta do it all by hand.When I used to hang suspended ceilings for a living we used eyescrews that are probably similar to your eyebolts. We had a special bit for the screwguns that was a solid 3/8" round bar with a slot in the end of it, that worked great. However, I've never seen them (the bits) in hardware stores, but you might check in the suspended ceiling area of your local Lowes/Menards/Home Depot. Botch "Eccentric language often is symptomatic of peculiar thinking" - George Will www.puddlestone.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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