Vibraphone Frame Concepts
Vibraphone frames with different folding concepts for individual transport are presented. The accordion frame is specially designed for use with pickups, while the suitcase frames are specially designed for air or rail travel. In addition, there is another lightweight design (women's frame) and a case frame made primarily from 3D-printed components.
Design data for the accordion frame and a suitcase frame are available for free download.
Vibraphone Bars - Own Production
A complete set of bars was manufactured in-house. All steps are described here.
Resonance Tube & Flap Concepts
For the usual rigid “pan flute” arrangements, foldable and/or interlocking (tube-in-tube) resonance tube variants made of aluminum, PVC, or completely 3D-printed resonance tubes are presented.
Various flap variants were tested. Starting with magnetically mountable, split flap units, several flap variants were developed:
- 3D-printed replacement flaps for clipping or gluing on without dismantling
- 3D-printed clamp flaps for sliding on for DIY projects
- 3D-printed, twisted flaps
The design data is available for free download.
Bar Post Concepts
Various flexible bar post designs are presented that significantly reduce the impact pulse on the frame.
Silicone Damper Pad
Silicone dampers for vibraphones are relatively easy to make yourself.
The necessary data is available for free download.
Mallet Winding Machine
A machine for winding your own mallets has been developed. The relevant data is available for download free of charge.
Stepper Motor Unit with Control System
Compared to the gear motors commonly used in vibraphones, stepper motors have the advantage of being much lighter and can be operated with a lower supply voltage of 12V. Their disadvantage is usually that the step operation causes noise interference.
Pick-Up
Opinions are divided when it comes to the use of pickups. Some reject them outright because they alter the sound, while others see them as a way of playing the vibraphone even in loud environments (big bands).
Buying commercially available pickups (K&K, Malletchech) and the associated technology is usually very expensive.
With a little skill, you can make your own pickups and the necessary contact strips at very little cost.
Other
- Vibraphone Practice Pad (as a bath towel)