Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Habanera Hal on August 26, 2011 at 8:43am

Very nice!  I've built a few with the flea-market idea in mind, but haven't set up in one yet.  Do you mind my asking how much you price and/or sold them for?  I have no idea what I shoud ask. Thanks!

Permalink Reply by George Durbin on August 26, 2011 at 10:06am

I'm asking $10 for the kid's boxes (5 note @ 2.5x5) and $25 to $45 for the bigger ones based on the box size, number of twangers and how fancy they are. Haven't had anybody claim my prices are outrageous so I'm probably not asking enough but I'd rather sell them than have 'em pile up.

If I were making them with the split bridge instead of the grounding bar, I'd be asking more because those are much harder to put together & tune.  Granted, the split bridge sounds better (to my ear) but they take a lot longer to build.

Permalink Reply by rusty case on September 12, 2012 at 4:51pm

IMO

'Tis fine to build 'em using a buss bar so you can sell 'em cheaper...  It will at least give more people an opportunity to try playing one one their own.  The more the merrier!

:-)

rc

Permalink Reply by Blake Williams on August 17, 2013 at 11:15am

Hi all! I am new to the kalimba now owning 3 of them. 7 8 9 keys can't play a thing and tabs online are missing.

I like your homebrews! what did you use for the tines?

Permalink Reply by George Durbin on August 17, 2013 at 12:58pm

Haven't built these for quite awhile now - had to let my booth go (just barely making expenses), so most of the stuff I've been working on lately has been dulcimers, guitars and banjos.

Anyway, mostly I used lawn rake tines but sometimes fish tape or bicycle spokes.  You can get a basic lawn rake at Loews for about $9 and that will make 3 or 4 kalimbas or more depending on your design.

I found several sites for tabs, starting at the KalimbaMagic site.  You have to dig but I came up with at least a dozen songs (free) that I was giving away with the kalimbas when they sold.

Good luck and have fun!  They're a blast to build!