New vibraphone day: Milt Jackson - Willow weep for me

[Strat-itis]

I got a new delux full sized vibraphone and I have a transcription of Willow weep for me from Milt and Monk.

[wintermoon]

Cool, eventually you need to find a prewar Deagan Imperial like Milt, I'd like to own one myself but they take up too much room.
Many years ago I hooked up a friend that was entering college for percussion w an ultra fancy set of 30s Leedy vibes w engraved metal parts in mint condition I found in the classifieds of the Tradin Times, haven't seen another since. The guy that had it was a rocker that bought out an old mom and pop music store that was closing. As we were leaving I spotted another mallet instrument under a cover and asked to see it. It was a dead mint prewar Deagan Imperial marimba and my friend left w both. He used to bring it over and we'd play vibes/guitar duets. He shedded and studied his ass off and became a college percussion professor.

[Strat-itis]

Nice. That's some deep vintage correct equipment.

[wintermoon]

Nice. That's some deep vintage correct equipment.

The tone was off the charts great. Milt used ultra heavy mallets that added to the fatness of his Deagan.
Imperials are hard to find, they didn't make them after the war but they pop up occasionally.

[Strat-itis]

I bet. Those old Deagans had a special sound. Huge fundamental and no harshness. You can really hear why Milt sounded like that on the records. That heavy mallet plus big bar combo is formidable. That’s actually what I’m feeling now on this Yamaha YV-2700, way more lushness. I’d like to try a real Imperial someday, but for now I’m just happy to have something that lets me play freely without fighting the instrument.

[Mick-7]

I got a new deluxe full sized vibraphone and I have a transcription of Willow weep for me from Milt and Monk.

Do you have to tune these every so often, as you do a piano?

[Strat-itis]

Yes

[pauln]

Nice

What's going on at 1:14? You strike the a... you're in G minor, the Eb at 1:13 and it sounds, and again at 1:14 but it does not sound. Or maybe it just looks like you strike it? Or the pedal ate it?

[Strat-itis]

Thx! That's the C minor chord as the tonic for the bridge. I actually think my camera settings caused lag in the video haha. It's just G, C, D, and Eb during that time.

[rictroll]

Congrats on the new vibes! You and the vibes sound great!

I have a late 30's Deagan Imperial Marimba that turned up in a local music store in the late 70's. I missed getting the matching Imperial Vibes by a day.

Enjoy your new instrument.

[Strat-itis]

Congrats on the new vibes! You and the vibes sound great! Enjoy your new instrument.

Thanks! Much appreciated. This thing is inspiring already. It feels like it wants you to play real music on it.

I have a late 30's Deagan Imperial Marimba that turned up in a local music store in the late 70's. I missed getting the matching Imperial Vibes by a day.

Wow, I bet the late 30s Imperial marimba is remarkable. Missing the matching vibes by a day is rough, but you have quite a rare instrument.