Bars For Sale! Bars For Sale!

I often think of designing and constructing my own vibraphonette.  But I think, "Where will I get the bars from?" and, "Where will I find room in my apartment to do it?"  Well, if only I had my own shop because here are original vibraphonette bars for sale!

Michael, one of our readers, has recently acquired a few complete sets of vibraphonette bars for the 2.5 octave version.  They were in the original packaging!  These are the thicker bars and they look like they are in near-mint condition.   These would be great for anyone who might happen to have their own case without the bars.  Or I bet they would sound great if they were hung.  A friend of mine bows the bars of his vibraphone with a viola bow to get some very beautiful harmonics.

Do you have a shop and the know-how to make these bars sing?  I think Michael is taking offers so send him an email at mrusso5@gmail.com.  I don't think he will sell them by-the-bar.  He has more photos so make sure to ask for them, too.

Vibraphonette Original Instructions / Paperwork / Manual

Special thanks to Randy Cloutier who emailed me the original vibraphonette instructions!  It came in several languages, but I've only posted the English version.  This is just the basic part names and not a schematic of the electronics or hardware.  (Click on the photo for a higher quality version.) The paperwork is for the larger 2.5 octave (30 note) vibraphonette so it includes a Volt Changer, Vibration Frequency Control and four legs instead of three.

One of the most interesting parts about this is the top right - where it has the company name and address.
Premiata Fabbrica Fisarmoniche which means Award-Winning Accordion Factory and Vibrafoni Portatili Brevettati means Patented Portable Vibraphone.  It also mentions a few other products from Galanti - Electric Pianos, Normal Guitars and Electric Guitars.  There's an address in Genova, which is on the coast in the northern part of Italy. Above the address it says Coadiutore Alieto Galanti (figlio) which means Coadjutor Alieto Galanti (son).  I wonder if the son assisted the father in making the vibraphonette?  Who's the father?  The last thing I'll mention is the old 6 digit telephone number 310.126.  Hard to imagine phone numbers were just 6 digits long.

Again, special thanks to Randy Cloutier for sending this along.  He is a percussionist who performs and teaches in New England.  He has owned a 2.5 octave vibraphonette since the mid 90s.  He plays it regularly with a group called Bistro Beat (accordion, upright bass, guitar, and vibraphonette).  Also, check out Randy's myspace page which has a great video of him tearing it up on a full sized vibraphone!