Xylophone plans

[cgallery]

Anyone know of plans for building xylophones like these:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...F7376?v=glance

???

[drumpriest]

No, but I've been wanting to build one for a while. I did some research on it, and part of the issue is with tuning. You basically have to nibble away a cove on the underside of the key to tune that key, removing small amounts of the stock until you acheive the proper tone.

Aside from that, there isn't much to it. The keys usually have 2 holes drilled for mounting. The mounting is a loose one using machine screws, and they keys rest on felt strips that run across the top and bottom supports.

I have in the past build midi controllers in this way, but havn't built an actual marimba or xylophone. I've found that I'm allergic to rosewoods, which makes it problematic. The best wood to use would be honduran rosewood, fantastic tone.

[cgallery]

I've done a pretty exhaustive search and the only thing I've come up w/ (that I have access to, at least) is a book that is about 50-years old. I have a copy on reserve at the library. I've glanced at it before. It gives a rather cursory overview.

I've also wanted to do this for a while and have decided now is the time. My only problem w/ Rosewood is the cost. Yikes!

Thanks,
Phil

[linear]

I recommend the books Musical instrument design : practical information for instrument making and (to a lesser extent) Making simple musical instruments by Bart Hopkin.

The first book walks you through the practical considerations of building a bunch of stuff. Including xylophones and related idiophones.

The second book is more of a projects-you-can-make book while the first is an encyclopedia of building instruments. Check your library, or Amazon has it.