Array Mbira

All instruments that aren't guitars (or bass guitars).
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mackerelmint
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Array Mbira

Post by mackerelmint » Thu Nov 17, 2016 2:37 am

I stumbled across this thing quite accidentally last night and it's just the coolest. I've always loved my little kalimba and wanted to be able to do more with it.

I never thought that a 5 octave stereo acoustic-electric kalimba was a thing, but it is. It's also got a pretty neat way of arranging notes. It's not cheap by any means, but they give enough information on the site that a motivated person could build one. What a cool instrument.
This is an excellent rectangle

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Re: Array Mbira

Post by Whiny Minotaur » Thu Nov 17, 2016 4:56 pm

I've been eyeballing this for a few years myself.

The price is way over my budget but the possibilities are pretty exciting.
soundcloud.com/kkamaguicrow

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Re: Array Mbira

Post by mackerelmint » Thu Nov 17, 2016 5:08 pm

Very exciting. And really, all you'd need is a few simple tools to make one, if you wanted to just make a simple electric one. And I kinda do.
This is an excellent rectangle

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Re: Array Mbira

Post by Whiny Minotaur » Thu Nov 17, 2016 7:56 pm

Seriously, it'd be great for doing Tom Waits/Nick Caveish creepy shit, with some accompanying glassy guitar and synth drones.
Or you could run these through delay pedals and create huge church bell sounds. The possibilities are endless :w00t:
soundcloud.com/kkamaguicrow

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Re: Array Mbira

Post by mackerelmint » Thu Nov 17, 2016 8:19 pm

I'm thinking stereo trem/pan stuff and phasing for bizzarro vibraphone/electric piano gone awry sort of sounds. You're right, there are just too many possibilities.

Ring mod! :w00t:
This is an excellent rectangle

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Re: Array Mbira

Post by Shadoweclipse13 » Wed Aug 02, 2017 11:23 pm

I've been eyeing Kalimbas/Mbiras for awhile, and have been wanting to make one more than anything else. I'd hope for it to have acoustic resonance, but I'd absolutely want to electrify it for funky music or sound effects.

https://youtu.be/cqOn0TjUELg
https://youtu.be/B5WwyXoDIAg
These things are incredible, and the people playing them are extraordinarily talented.

I just bought a 10 foot section of 2" thick ash for my slide guitar that I only need 36" for...
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Re: Array Mbira

Post by shadowplay » Tue Aug 08, 2017 11:52 pm

^^^

You should listen to Francis Bebey, he made amazing music on his Sansa. Forest Nativity is an absolute favourite.

D
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Re: Array Mbira

Post by Shadoweclipse13 » Wed Aug 09, 2017 4:50 am

shadowplay wrote:^^^

You should listen to Francis Bebey, he made amazing music on his Sansa. Forest Nativity is an absolute favourite.

D
I like it! Very happy and upbeat! Usually happy and upbeat annoy me, but that's good!
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Re: Array Mbira

Post by StevenO » Sun Aug 13, 2017 2:47 pm

Not quite the same, but I made little thumb piano/mbira electric by adding a piezoelectric pickup to it and playing it through a looper and one of my guitar amps.

https://soundcloud.com/steven-o-4/pastoral

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Re: Array Mbira

Post by Shadoweclipse13 » Mon Aug 14, 2017 6:48 am

Hell yes!! That's badass Steven!
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Re: Array Mbira

Post by sears » Mon Aug 14, 2017 9:13 am

I'm off to the land of make believe!
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Re: Array Mbira

Post by jakeisjake » Tue Aug 15, 2017 6:05 pm

that sounded great, steven!
If I was a byrd, I'd be mighty sore every time they shut the door and I don't think I'd sing...

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Re: Array Mbira

Post by mackerelmint » Tue Aug 15, 2017 9:50 pm

I really like that track, Mr. O. Well done.
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Re: Array Mbira

Post by StevenO » Wed Aug 16, 2017 4:39 am

Thanks everyone! :)

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Re: Array Mbira

Post by Telliot » Wed Aug 16, 2017 6:57 am

Well done, Señor Esteban. ;)
The cool thing about fretless is you can hit a note...and then renegotiate.

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