Those of you who know me know I love microphones and the different colors they generate. Years ago, I was looking for a great vibes mic and a good friend of mine who is an audio engineer recommended the Earthworks SR69. They were still a new company, so I bought two of them at a reasonable price and LOVED them for many years. Eventually one broke down and, when I went to replace it, I found out they were both not made any more and that the new model was VERY expensive.

I LOVED Victor Feldman! He was a pretty busy studio player back in the day but ventured out and recorded some GREAT vibe recordings. I went to his house for lessons a few times and it was a huge treat but like the other masters I studied with, I wish I was a better student. Victor was an amazing artist.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fchnx2ESjIk

This is from wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Palmer_(musician)

John Michael "Poli" Palmer (born 26 May 1943 in Worcester) is an English rock musician who was a key member in the progressive rock band Family. Though he was not an original member, he was regarded as being integral to the group's sound. He played the vibraphone, flute, piano, synthesizers and occasional drums, and he was with the band from late 1969 until late 1972.

Vibraphonics: The PiperCussion Damper Pad aka, the gel pad

In mid to late 1980’s I was trying to learn to play solo vibraphone. It was so difficult and so frustrating! For one, I felt that my instrument (Musser M55 Pro Vibe) wasn’t working correctly and needed repairs. At that time, I didn’t know other vibraphonists who I could compare my instrument with so I just thought mine didn’t work. So I drove to the Ludwig/Musser factory in Chicago with my vibraphone to get the needed repairs. (I lived in Los Angeles at the time so it was quite a trip).

Back in the mid-1980's I started using pencil grips on my mallets. I was obsessed with finding and eliminating every little thing that contributed to extraneous noise on the vibraphone. As I became a little more known for my "Vibraphonics", I got an endorsement opportunity with Michael Balter to make the John Piper Mallet. I sent him pencil grips and told him the mallets have to include the orange ones (see photo) because for some unknown reason, the orange ones have a better feel and longer lasting quality.

The idea of the MBraces was created WAY back in the 80's when I first started working on my M55 vibraphone for improvements. I discovered (with the use of two cymbal stands) that by placing two braces from near middle of the pedal rail to the sides of the leg frames, the results were fantastic for stability. Very simple but they are the braces that were missing on all previous designs of the instrument! Many people had secondary braces added to their instruments but for some reason, no one was doing the obvious. In the L.A.

Doxy" composed by the great Sonny Rollins. Had a request from a special friend and great vibist to post this song. I love everything Tim played on this clip. I learned this song many years ago from the great Herb Pomeroy. Herb was a wonderful mentor to so many musicians in the Boston area. Tim and I played with Herb for many years. Herb was a one a one of a kind musician and gentleman. He always will be remembered and missed. His legacy and influence continues in the music of all of us that knew him and played with him. This one was for Herb.

.... Don't Transcribe, don't play licks.

IMHO
Licks are vocabulary and phrases and words and sentences. I never understood this. Learn the vocabulary and then use what you want.

Just my opinion!

Thanks Tristan!
Thanks Matthew!

For some weird reason I always felt a Cimbalom was in a strange way similar to a vibraphone. The sticks, the strings like bars. It's in a sort of bed.

So it's a little off topic, but check this guy out. He's pretty happening!