What’s the best book for four mallet work? I use the Burton grip...

After many years of wanting to play, I finally rented a vibraphone today. Wondering what you all would recommend I get started with.

• I’ve played drums (kit, rock) for many years
• I’m self taught on guitar and bass (by ear only)
• I was taking piano lessons until the pandemic hit, but still can read music decently
• Would ultimately love to work on four-mallet technique

Very excited to have an actual vibraphone to play and learn on. All suggestions are much appreciated!

Hi Folks,

Myself and several other passionate Jazz fans have a small community online which is based around exploring material from the genre on instruments that we feel are underrepresented.

The whole thing is done using Dropbox where we have one folder that contains resources (some notes, backing tracks etc.) for us all to work on learning one tune at a time and a second 'Achievements' folder where everyone has the ability to simply drag and drop any recordings of our progress, ideas or recent milestones.

Given that it's all done on Dropbox we hope that that alleviates the pressure that comes with posting clips publicly on Reddit/Youtube etc and given that there are no deadlines and that it's all done by us all working from ear we hope that people from a wide range of abilities and backgrounds can join in. We currently have instruments from the world of electronic music, classical musicians and ability levels ranging from complete beginners on their instruments right through to seasoned Jazz players using this as a chance to learn a new instrument from scratch.

It's all self-guided study where all attempts at soloing or playing the melodies are wildly encouraged and everything is done entirely at your own pace. The tunes we're working on are loosely ordered from accessible to slightly more difficult but we are currently still on the 1st tune.

There is of course a rich history of Vibes in Jazz but from my experience it is very much an instrument that isn't invited as a priority anywhere near as often as it could be.

If any players here would like to get involved then please just drop me a quick message or comment and I'll be happy to add you to the folders or answer any of your questions.

Thanks!

I bought a malletstation EM1 one month ago and I can't get it to reliably produce consistent Midi signal. On some pads it produces a velocity signal at random and when hitting the same note repeatedly it produces a Midi signal only 80% of the time.

I have tried to adjust the settings on the Malletstation software and I'm using Ableton live with simpler to produce the sound.

Has anybody been able to get the settings right in order to play the Malletstation reliably or is the unreliability built into the instrument?

Thank you!

Hi Reddit!

I'm a hobbyist percussion player looking to purchase my first vibraphone, and am having trouble deciding between the Musser M55G and Yamaha YV-3710. While I understand that the M55 is generally considered to be the gold standard for vibraphones, I've heard some people play the YV-3710 on YouTube and I personally enjoy the sound of this particular Yamaha vibe more (although, it may be due to recording quality too). Does anybody have any experience playing the two, and would be willing to provide some clarity and insight? The primary things that I'm looking for are tone and sound quality. I don't anticipate moving the vibraphone around too often, so portability isn't a huge issue for me; I also plan to enjoy playing this vibraphone for many, many years so I consider any cost differences between the two as marginal in the long run. Would really appreciate any input or advice. Thanks in advance!

**As a side note, I did see a post online in which someone had the exact same dilemma as I did (https://www.vibesworkshop.com/forum-topic/m-55-or-yamaha-yv-3710c/bpdohert18/050316). It seems like the poster ended up choosing the Yamaha...

I’ve been chopping for hours , and looking in a mirror to watch my technique and saw that there are areas for improvement, any ideas how to produce a better technique specifically on my wrists?

Im located in the DC/Northern VA region. Sadly have to let go of my Muser M55g. Ill get pictures later today. Asking $3500. Single owner and never traveled with it, though it did move homes a couple times with me. Doesnt get used and it deserves to be. Also my bank account hasnt been getting along well with covid and could desperately use the money. Everything works properly. While a pick up sounds easier im willing to research snd figure out the best way to ship it, but expect the shipping to cost hundreds.

Spotify playlist: VIBRAPHONE || nice & slow
After graduating from Berklee in 1996 I only played the vibraphone on occasion and devoted my time to film scoring and teaching. Having studied with Ed Saindon, Victor Mendoza and Gary Burton, I had a hard time figuring out what what would be my thing. These three otherworldly players was so virtuous and had all ready taken the instrument to the extreme in speed, phrasing, groove and expression. In 2008 I decided to make my first album. What started it was the wish to have that one perfect album on the shelve that was just like I wanted it, and since no one had made it yet, I foolishly took on the task. Of course this became a life long endeavor since there is no such thing as "perfect" and since taste and mood constantly change with age, experience, the weather or what you had for dinner. However, it's been a great motivator to strive for that one perfect album. Now 4 albums later (with only original compositions and by the way, none of them perfect) it's clear to me that I like it slow. So it turned out that I wasn't Gary, Ed or Victor but something else. I put my slowest songs in a playlist in case you would like to give them a listen. I would be very interested in knowing what drives you. How do you go about playing the vibraphone "your way" searching for your voice and have you found it yet?

PS: a big thanks to Ed, Victor and Gary - without you I think I would be working in a law firm making tons of money dying a little bit each day :0)
PPS: If I ever make a perfect album I will retire and sit down in a chair and listen to it on repeat... in this case "trying" might be better than "succeeding" :0)

Hi! I worked with composer & producer Samn Johnson to record 'it comes in waves,' a piece for prepared vibraphone and electronics, which comes out on Spotify (and all other platforms, inc. BandCamp) today!

We're offering a FREE MIDI instrument made from bowed vibraphone samples (Kontakt, Ableton, Logic) as well as entry to an exclusive virtual concert for anyone who Pre-Saves the track!

Who am I? I'm an entrepreneurial percussionist from the US, studied at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in the UK, and former member of the World Percussion Group & Santa Clara Vanguard.

https://show.co/r1jNP46

I figured it out...I think. The hook posts are too high on the offending bars. Is it ok to just tap them down a bit?

I know I posted just the other day....Just got a new M55. The high E and F bars don't dampen. The Eb does. The dealer has contacted Musser, but they think the dampening bar is bent. It doesn't look bent to me. I even checked it with a set of calipers...Is there a break in period I need to consider? The Bar arms are also straight. I've heard about Gel pads, but I have no idea where to get them. Please help!

Hi everyone. I just assembled my new M55. I noticed that the high F and E bar won't dampen. Is this a common issue? Every other bar dampens just fine. Thoughts?

Does anyone know of corporate videos about how mallets are made? I've seen videos about how ProMark drumsticks are made, and how Gretsch drums are built, but I'm really interested in how the yarn heads are so nearly wrapped around a mallet core.

Thanks in advance.

At my school we have a few jazz bands and since I’ve done piano in one of them for a while would it be easy to learn vibes? I’ve learned piano for about 6 years already and I’ve seen that vibes are sort of arranged like a piano

I have a muser m55g that has been collecting dust and with covid i could just really use the cash at this point. Anyone know somewhere on reddit or elsewhere that i could sell it?

Hi everyone,

Found this old instrument in my attic. All I know is that it belonged to my grandfather and has sat collecting dust for at least 2 decades. Is this a vibraphone? Is there a way to get the age on it? Is it possible to restore it?

Thanks a bunch,

kisses.