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Topic: Tuning a Marimba |
Bobby Lee
From:
Cloverdale, California, USA
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Dave Grafe
From:
Hudson River Valley NY
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Posted 26 Jul 2005 9:51 am |
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That's pretty deep stuff, b0b, all I knew about it was that you shorten the key to raise the pitch and shave the underside cut to lower it. I see from this article that there's an entire world of physics to contend with, not to mention whether you have to temper or tamper with the tuning of the individual keys and their harmonics!
I wonder what a thread about tuning looks like on the marimba forum.... |
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Charlie McDonald
From:
out of the blue
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Posted 26 Jul 2005 10:55 am
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| Good heavens! Worse than a piano. |
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Michael Barone
From:
Downingtown, Pennsylvania
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Posted 26 Jul 2005 10:59 am
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It reminds me a little of the days (70's) when we had to tune a Fender Rhodes Piano replacement tine by shaving the lead off of a new tine with an X-acto blade. You could only raise the pitch. If you made the mistake of shaving off too much, good luck with putting lead back on with a soldering iron. They were about $8 each.
At least you can raise and lower the pitch on your marimba. Sounds like a fun project.
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Mike Barone
Sho-Bud Pro-1, Nashville 112, Assorted Guitars & Keyboards
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Earnest Bovine
From:
Los Angeles CA USA
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Posted 26 Jul 2005 2:16 pm
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Rhodes pianos were tuned by sliding a spring along the tine. You could change it flat or sharp as needed.
Wurlitzer reeds were tuned by sanding off a little bit of lead. Don't sand off too much or your pitch will be sharp forever. And don't let the shavings get stuck in the space by the reed where they will short out make a very loud noise on stage, embarassing you in front of your female vocalist. |
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Archie Nicol R.I.P.
From:
Ayrshire, Scotland
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Posted 26 Jul 2005 2:43 pm
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I got as far as `cutting the arch` and freaked.
Fears, Arch. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 26 Jul 2005 3:56 pm
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Anything that vibrates can be slowed down by adding mass. I used to tune people's pitch forks with a Conn strobe tuner, just file a little off to raise the pitch. If I had to lower the pitch, I'd simply put a small band of splicing tape about 1/2" from the bottom of the "U" of the fork. The more tape added, the more the pitch would lower.
Getting back to the marimba, that is a lot of science for such a simple instrument. I guess it goes without saying you don't tune them very often...
(Overheard at the International MARIMBA convention)
"Say, my marimba's out of tune...did anyone bring their Shop-Smith with 'em?"  [This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 26 July 2005 at 04:58 PM.] |
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Michael Barone
From:
Downingtown, Pennsylvania
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Posted 26 Jul 2005 4:06 pm
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Ernest, I stand corrected. You're right, it was the Wurlitzer. It's been about 30 years since I touched either. It's very easy to forget the days of carrying a B-3, leslie, and other dinosaurs.
It's interesting how the 10th harmonic, as faint as it's presence, seems to be important characteristic for the marimba sound.
Mike
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Mike Barone
Sho-Bud Pro-1, Nashville 112, Assorted Guitars & Keyboards
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 26 Jul 2005 5:57 pm
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Drew Howard
From:
48854
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Posted 26 Jul 2005 7:25 pm
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HAHA! Howard, dude, man, I'm collecting all of these hilarious photos. You are quick on the digital draw there.
HEH HEH! Man...I really needed that. (ahem)
Drew
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Drew Howard - website - Fessenden D-10 8/8, Fessenden SD-12 5/5 (Ext E9), Magnatone S-8, N400's, BOSS RV-3
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 26 Jul 2005 8:31 pm
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Surely you're choking, Howard...
Cheembeaux[This message was edited by Jim Cohen on 26 July 2005 at 09:31 PM.] |
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