This instrument was my first attempt at the portable Vibraphone frame
for the needs of the working player.
Performing in a concert hall and having road crew to set up is really
not the bastion of the Vibe playing
artist. Most of us have to check our luggage at the airport, pay for
the overweight instrument, check
it at the other airport, load it into the CAB! Go to the site, set it
up ourselves, do the sound check
(hoping everything works) and get something to eat (maybe) do the show,
talk with the nice people
that came and then PACK IT UP AGAIN!
So to this I have been working
with many great performers on their wish list and getting to a
design that truly is portable and finctional.
This unit was back
in 1996. I used Zebra wood on this frame as a unique touch. I showed this at the
PASIC in Nashville that year. I shared a booth with K&K Sound Systems
since I used thier pickup
amplification system. Mike Maineri performed on this unit for one hour
on each of the 3 days. It was
this time that I came to know Mike and began this deeper more elaborate
exploration in vibe design.
The new design (being worked on currently) has
1. quadrant dampening
2. cable
dampening system
3. damper on outside of bars allowing inner bar free of distortion
4.
totally portable
5. height adjustable
6. shared resonating chamber (no more resonator tubes)
7. lightweight packing
system
8. floated bar suspension system
more to come soon
